BERLIN, Ala. – Mayor Patrick Bates commenced the monthly session of the Berlin Town Council on Monday, May 19, 2025. The meeting opened with an invocation and pledge of allegiance led by Councilman Donald Gunter.
The Town of Berlin was awarded a $295,627.25 Rebuild Alabama grant, which the council discussed.
Said Bates, “We have applied for this grant for the past four years and finally got it. I’m told the site development for the new farmers’ market is what finally got it done.”
The grant will be used to assist in developing the roadway and intersection at Mt. Carmel Drive, creating an entrance to the new farmers’ market.
The Rebuild Alabama Act Annual Grant Program is administered by the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT). “The Alabama Legislature passed the Rebuild Alabama Act in 2019, raising the gas tax for the first time since 1992. The 6-cent increase was gradually implemented over three years, bringing the gas tax total to 10 cents.”
The next order of business was establishing a timeline on the farmer’s market project. Bates proposed accepting bids throughout the summer of 2025 and having a start date of Nov. 1, 2025, with completion set for May 1, 2026. The council expressed concerns about the majority of the project occurring during winter months and the possibility of weather delays to construction. The council came to a final decision of extending the timeline an additional month setting completion for June 2026.
Regarding the progress of the farmers’ market, Bates disclosed that the general contractor had made an error regarding the block used for the bathroom building. He explained to the council that the original block chosen was an architectural-grade, colored block that required little to no maintenance. When ordering the block, the contractor learned that there would be a 10-week delay. Therefore, the council had to decide whether to postpone the building of the bathrooms in order to receive the originally agreed-upon materials or to change the material to construction-grade cement block. A motion was made unanimously to delay the building and obtain the original block in order to save on future maintenance costs.
In other business:
- Bates is working on getting a construction and drainage easement for County Road 1614 to make necessary repairs to the roadway
- Quotes are being accepted for roadwork on County Road 1611
- Upcoming historical dedication scheduled for June 21
The next meeting of the Berlin Town Council is scheduled for June 16, 2025, at 7 p.m. Berlin Town Hall is located at 461 County Road 1615, Cullman, AL 35058.
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