An exciting time for the City

Right now, plans are in full swing for Holiday in the Hills. 

Festivities begin with respective area kickoff parties, with the first on Nov. 14 at the Library in the Forest, and the second on Nov. 21 at the New Merkle House. We have many merchants that have come on board for these programs, and we look forward to welcoming you and your families.

The City’s functions will begin Dec. 4 with a tree-lighting ceremony at the Vestavia Hills Civic Center, featuring special music by our own Cas McWaters. On Dec. 7, we will host our annual Breakfast with Santa at the Vestavia Lodge. Dec. 8, we will have the City’s annual Christmas Parade in Liberty Park.

In other news:

We do have a contract on the old library and are currently in the 90-day due diligence period. In light of the fact that we have other potential buyers for that same property, we have reduced the standard 180-day due diligence period back to 90 days. Should they need more time, they have the opportunity to add another 90 days for an additional fee.

The Library has received a $300,000 tech grant from the State ADECA Program. Right now, the Library is consulting with its board on the facility’s equipment needs to determine the most effective allocation of those funds.

There is movement on the pedestrian bridge project (walkover) to connect the Vestavia Hills Civic Center area to the Library in the Forest. A tentatively designed bridge has been submitted to ALDOT. Gresham Smith is doing the design work along with UAB. We’re hoping that within 18 months it will be out of ALDOT review so that we can proceed. Bridge funding is an 80/20 match, with 80 percent funded federally, and the City of Vestavia funding the remaining 20 percent.

This is such a wonderful time of year in our community. With our recently held National Night Out, which was very well attended, to the upcoming Holidays in the Hills events, there are so many opportunities to get out and enjoy fellowship with friends and neighbors. 

I especially want to thank our police and fire departments for their efforts to attend and show off the police and fire equipment that night, which allowed our citizens to meet those personnel. I also want to thank Vestavia Hills United Methodist for allowing us to use their parking lot, and a special thanks to the sponsors we had for that event.

I look forward to seeing you at Holidays in the Hills.

Your Mayor,

Butch Zaragoza