BERLIN, Ala. – Mayor Patrick Bates opened the monthly session of the Berlin Town Council on Monday, Sept.15. The meeting commenced with an invocation and Pledge of Allegiance led by Councilman Donald Gunter.
The meeting began with the council wrapping up 2025 fiscal year paperwork. Bates stated that the only budget adjustment needed was to allot $12,000 into engineering costs to wrap up farmers market construction. He suggested taking the money from the Town’s excess revenue funds. The council agreed unanimously.
Bates noted that the only change made to the proposed 2026 budget was to merge “road resurfacing” and “road mowing” into a single “road maintenance” line item.
Councilman Keith Hardman asked about how future park expenses would factor into the budget. Bates said the entirety of the Town’s state capital improvement funds would be dedicated to the park. This funding totals $5,000.
The council continued talking about future park plans and expenses.
“I’ve had several younger teenage boys asking for a basketball court. It doesn’t even have to be a two-goal court… If you don’t do something for the teenagers around here it will hurt them,” stated Hardman.
Bates suggested looking into a park planning company to assist the Town in determining how much room they have to work with and how many projects they can complete.
He stated, “I have received a verbal commitment from Sean Butler, a top ALDOT man for this area, to permit a walking trail in the easement by the park. All it will cost us is a permit fee… but in order to submit it, we need a plan.”
Bates also suggested getting input about Berlin residents’ top priorities for a park. Ideas suggested thus far included a walking trail, basketball court and pickleball court. Currently, the Town has funded a playground as the first park resource.
The next meeting of the Berlin Town Council is scheduled for Oct. 20, 2025, at 7 p.m. Berlin Town Hall is located at 461 County Road 1615, Cullman, AL 35058.
Copyright 2025 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
