30 Minutes with Mayor McCamy

Clarion Top News

Wednesday, 01 September 2021 12:00

Scottsboro City Mayor Jim McCamy recently expressed concern over the growing COVID issue in Scottsboro and Jackson County. According to Highlands Medical Center, as of Tuesday, August 24th, there were 12 COVID positive inpatients and 10 of those were unvaccinated. Wednesday the 25th, saw that number at 10 positive inpatients with nine of them unvaccinated. By Thursday, August 26th, the number jumped to 14 positive inpatients with 11 unvaccinated, and as of Friday, the 27th, the number was sitting at 20 positive inpatients at Highlands with 16 of those unvaccinated. Medical staff all over the nation are reporting that the overwhelming majority of patients that have to be put on a ventilator are unvaccinated against the virus.
“I just encourage everyone to get the vaccine,” stated the Mayor, “because it’s available at several places here in town.”

Masks are still required for the staff at the Scottsboro Rec-Com, and everyone who visits is encouraged to wear one when they are inside the facilities if at all possible.
The budget process for the city and department heads began earlier this year to allow more time for City Council to complete their budget hearings this month. With only a few meetings to go and with a few things to finalize, everything is on track for Council to have the first part of the budget adopted. As a whole, the entire process went smoothly this year.

Mayor McCamy and his staff attended their monthly meeting with city partners, Economic Development Authority (EDA), Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce, IMPACT Learning Center, Commercial Development Authority (CDA), Downtown Redevelopment Authority (DRA) and Main Street.

“This was something we initiated back in December, and we’ve missed a few due to COVID and other things, but we try to have this monthly partners meeting so all of us are on the same page, and we know what each other is doing, so that we can all be successful.” The next meeting should take place in September.

The next resurfacing package should begin toward the end of September. As previously stated, the next paving package will entail Bob Jones Road from Wynn to Anderson, and then will continue on Anderson from Bob Jones Road to Broad Street. The bid has already been accepted and after some ditching is done and tiles placed, work should begin on Bob Jones.

“I appreciate what the Council has done this year relative to resurfacing,” the Mayor stated. “This is a significant effort that they have funded to resurface what’s been done. We were really pleased with the first paving package, and I think the second package will turn out just as well.

Mayor McCamy also discussed the upcoming activities planned downtown in Scottsboro and on the square this weekend. Saturday, September 4th will see the Labor Day Jamboree on the square and the First Annual Family Fitness 5K and Fun Run. Sunday, September 5th will be the long-awaited Art in the Park, organized by the Three Arts Club of Scottsboro, at King Caldwell Park.
The park is also boasting a new cedar fence that was installed by Scottsboro Street Department. “We’re really proud of the fence. It’s almost complete. There’s one other section they’ve got to put in because we’ve actually added a little bit to it from what was originally there. It looks great, and I really appreciate what the Street Department has done.”

Staff from the Rec-Com and the Street Department have also been busy with putting finishing touches on King Caldwell Park in preparation for Art in the Park, cleaning and trimming and disposing of fallen limbs.

Scottsboro’s own Main Street organization and Katie Kirkland, Events and Marketing Coordinator for the City were recognized by winning two awards at the recent Main Street Alabama Awards of Excellence Banquet held on Thursday, August 19th. The categories of the awards were design and promotion. Scottsboro took home Excellence in Placemaking for the Scottsboro Boys mural and Excellence in Promotion for Salsa on the Square.

Kirkland, pictured at left with the awards stated, “I am so honored for our Main Street organization to have been recognized by Main Street Alabama. It’s so rewarding to know our hard work has not gone unnoticed! I would like to thank every person in Scottsboro who has supported us, whether it’s through an encouraging word on Facebook, or coming to one of our events; it really means so much to us. I would also like to thank the Mayor and City Council for their support. They believe in us and have entrusted us with making our downtown a better place. These awards prove that we’re on our way to accomplishing that.”