Vinemont to microsurface several roads

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Councilwomen Bonnie Goodwin and Sonya Copeland, along with Mayor Radginal Dodson, discuss local roads at Vinemont’s monthly town council meeting on Feb. 13, 2024. (Cheyenne Sharp)

VINEMONT, Ala. – At its regularly scheduled monthly meeting on the evening of Feb. 13, the Vinemont Town Council met to discuss a few business matters, new and old.

New business began with a request from Public Works Director Mike Graves, who asked the council for funding to microsurface certain roads that have cracked pavement and are settling in areas, creating damage; tree roots from some roadside residences have also been a culprit in roadway damage, he said. Microsurfacing will cost an estimated $100,000 and about seven to 10 days to complete. Approximately half of the cost would be pulled from the Town’s gas tax allotment, already intended for road repairs and refurbishments, while the remainder would be pulled from the Town’s General Fund.

“As soon as we get on the list with these contractors, they’ll come in and probably do all this in a week or seven days; they’ll move in at one time and do what we need done,” said Graves. “They’ll need to set the road patches and let them cure for about 30 days, then they’ll have the roads done in about a week.”

The roads scheduled for microsurfacing later this year are High School Road, Kelly, Woods, Feder, Roberson, Avenue B, Lipsey, Johnson, Nesmith, Virginia Lane, County Road 1297 and the turn lane on Park Drive.

Mayor Radginal Dodson brought up the old business that needed to be tended to: the Town’s proposed Planning Commission (Ordinance No. 2024-01-09) and Board of Adjustment (Ordinance No. 2024-02-01). The council agreed to table both matters until further discussion and increased community interest in serving on the proposed boards; both committees must hold seats of registered voters within the municipality for a voluntary three- or six-year term.

“At this time, I don’t know if that would be good,” said Dodson. “If we follow the rules by the State of Alabama, it would be hard to get enough individuals. We’ll table that to a later date.”

Tuesday night’s meeting also saw several events discussed, as well as an addition to the town’s storm shelter: a mural depicting the Vinemont’s rich history, which will earn the town a spot on the Alabama Mural Trail. The cost of the mural would be around $1,200 and work is slated to begin this spring.

Councilman Chris Thompson shared details with the council, saying, “We are going to be on the Alabama Mural Trail. We will try to get two spots; Cullman has five, I think. We’re going to do the history, Vinemont Vineyards on the Mountain; We’re going to do grape vines and a dirt road, which (U.S. Highway) 31 used to be. We’ll put the four landmarks that everyone would remember – the water tower, the old school, the town hall and maybe the sports complex.”

Vinemont’s Senior Luncheon will be held on Monday, Feb. 19, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Vinemont Community Center.

Upcoming events and notable dates:

  • The last day to purchase wooden eggs and participate in the town’s Bunny Trail is Feb. 20.
  • The town’s Easter event will be held on March 23, from 3-5 p.m. at the Vinemont Community Center and Art Park.
  • The town’s fourth annual BBQ Fest is tentatively set for Oct. 19, 2024. Interested sponsors, vendors or competitors should contact town hall.
  • The Cullman County Sherrif’s Office will hold its second cook-out in May, date TBA.

The next meeting of the Vinemont Town Council will be Tuesday, March 11, at Vinemont Town Hall. The work session begins at 5 p.m. with the meeting following at 6.

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