A passion for change
When Jack Norris saw children walking to school down Dolly Ridge Road in Cahaba Heights, he was immediately concerned for their safety.
“I would not allow a child of mine to walk down this road,” Norris said, noting that the intersection at Cahaba Heights Road and Dolly Ridge Road lacked proper pedestrian signage and signals.
Norris came to Cahaba Heights in August 2013 but he and his wife have been living in Alabama for 17 years. During his short time in the Cahaba Heights area, Norris has made a myriad of observations about his community.
His concerns included no crossing guards at the intersection of Dolly Ridge Road and Cahaba Heights Road, a lack of a Vestavia Hills Police Ordinance Enforcement Officer, an overgrowth of weeds around the Cahaba Heights welcome sign, and stream erosion near Dolly Ridge Road and Meadow Lane.
“People love to complain but it’s important to complain in the right way,” Norris said of effective ways to make a request to the city. “It’s important to show up to council meetings and be involved.”
Norris contacted the school system and city officials about the Dolly Ridge Road and Cahaba Heights Road intersection. He had several meetings with City Manager Jeff Downes and addressed the city council during a May meeting.
Now, nearly a year since he made his first observation, his efforts have come to fruition and Norris has deemed himself successful. There are now caution ribbons with a plan for wall and railings on the stream area near Dolly Ridge Road and Meadow Lane. Warning signs have been placed along Dolly Ridge and Cahaba Heights Road.
Additionally, the weeds have been cleared around the Cahaba Heights welcome sign.
“This is the welcoming sign to our community,” Norris said. “It’s very important it stays clean and beautiful.”
Norris gave a presentation at an August city council meeting summarizing his efforts titled “A tribute to the city that listens.” He thanked individuals in the city government, city school system and police and fire departments and deemed Vestavia Hills a great place to live.
“My efforts truly show that a citizen, especially senior citizens, can take an active part in government affairs and be a positive influence in the community,” Norris said.
Norris is also active in the greater Birmingham community. He is a volunteer public speaker and training coordinator at the Birmingham Career Services, a division of the U.S. Department of Labor. He will also soon be speaking at the Vestavia Chapter of the Osher Lifetime Learning Institute (OLLI) about his time working for the railroad in the 1950s.