CULLMAN, Ala. – The Cullman City Council on Monday evening approved the event permit for Rock the South, bringing the annual music festival one step closer to its post-COVID return. The event will take place August 13-14, 2021 and will feature performances by Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Nelly, Ashley McBride and Jordan Davis.
Event founder/coordinator Shane Quick told The Tribune, “We are thrilled to welcome back to our way of life and traditions. We believe this is going to be the best year ever for Rock the South and we are excited to welcome people back to our great city, Cullman, Alabama. We want to say a big ‘thank you’ to all of the fans that stuck with us through the pandemic, as well as our incredible sponsors and partners.”
Tax abatements support industrial expansions
The council also approved two tax abatements that will make southside street, John H. Cooper Drive Southeast, a busier place in coming days. Neighboring manufacturers Goat Island Brewing and JELCO (listed in the resolution under its original name J.E. Lortie, Inc.) are both undergoing major expansions:
- Goat Island is making an estimated capital investment of $659,000
- JELCO is making an estimated capital investment of $408,170
Both companies received a 10-year abatement of “all state and local noneducational ad valorem taxes, all construction-related transaction taxes, except those construction-related transaction taxes levied for educational purposes or for capital improvements for education.” Taxes that support the school system will still be collected.
Other council business
The council approved a resolution to enter into an agreement with St. John & Associates, Inc. for engineering, design and administrative services related to the construction of a parking area along Field of Miracles Drive Southwest.
The council voted to condemn “avigation” (air navigation) easements for flight safety at the Cullman Regional Airport. The condemnations will not remove any properties from private hands but will allow the City to trim certain trees on those properties if they are determined by Federal Aviation Administration policy to be a potential danger to aircraft landing or taking off at the airport.
Property annexations
The council suspended the regular rules of procedure to annex three properties into the city on the first reading of their requests. The annexations were recommended by the City of Cullman Planning Commission at its monthly meeting earlier in the day.
- 953 County Rd. 1332 on Lake George, annexed as a residential district
- 222 Golf Course Rd., annexed as a residential district
- 248 County Rd. 1335, annexed as a residential district
Special events approved
In addition to Rock the South, the council approved two special event permits:
- From Col. Ken Brown of VFW Post 2214 for third Saturday social events featuring live bands from 6 p.m. – 11 p.m. on June 19, July 17, August 21, September 18 and October 16, 2021.
- From a local resident for a surprise birthday party at Festhalle from 5 p.m. – 11 p.m. on June 26, 2021 (name withheld by The Tribune to help preserve the surprise).
The Cullman City Council meets next at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 28, 2021 in the City Hall auditorium. The public is invited to attend.
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