CULLMAN, Ala. – The Cullman City Council at its meeting on Tuesday, May 26, passed a resolution to approve an economic development tax abatement for “Project Panel” in the amount of $364,914. The total capital investment for the project is expected to be $5,335,500. It is expected to create 18 new jobs in its first phase, and 75-100 jobs in its second phase.
The resolution authorized the tax abatement under Alabama’s Tax Incentive Reform Act of 1992 for what city documents describe as “a new project or major addition to an existing facility within the city’s jurisdiction.”
The abatement applies to noneducational ad valorem taxes and construction-related transaction taxes, with the noneducational ad valorem portion listed for a 10-year period. City documents state the company name does not have to be revealed until the project is publicly announced.
The request was submitted by Cullman Economic Development Agency (CEDA) Director Jamie Troutman.
“This is phase one – a $5.3 million investment. This can expect to create 18 jobs,” Troutman explained.
She said the wages for hourly employees will be between $24 and up to $33, with salaried employees expected to make $70,000-plus per year at entry level.
“Phase two of this project is expected to be three to five years from now, creating an additional 75-100 jobs at that time,” she continued.
Troutman reported that throughout the 10-year abatement period the total tax revenue collected for education will be $283,113.
The council also moved forward with a large public works bid package, sidewalk grant application, airport engineering contract, city job description updates, nuisance declarations, landfill financial documents and a one-time retiree bonus.
Approved annual public works bids cover concrete material, concrete finishing, plumbing services, electrical services, general excavation and utility work, rock material, black and gray pipe, concrete pipe, hot and cold mix, laying hot mix and surface treatments.
The work went to Ready Mix USA, LLC; Ortiz Concrete, Inc.; Dulaney Plumbing; K & M Electrical Contractors; Manning Construction LLC; Grayson Carter and Son Contracting Inc.; Ferguson Waterworks LLC; Foley Products Company LLC; Rogers Group Inc. and Chilton Contractors Inc.
The public works approvals come as the city continues to formalize how it plans and prioritizes transportation work.
The Tribune reported April 7, 2026, that the council adopted an ordinance establishing an annual Street and Transportation Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan and approved a First Step Pavement Management agreement for a citywide street assessment.
That assessment includes street inventory and condition ratings, as well as sidewalk, curb, gutter, striping and signage review.
Council members also approved applying for a fiscal year 2027 Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant through the Alabama Department of Transportation for ADA-accessible sidewalks beginning at the intersection of Fourth Avenue Northeast and Clark Street Northeast, extending west along Clark Street Northeast to Third Avenue Northeast, then north and south along Third Avenue Northeast to Arnold Street Northeast and First Street Northeast.
The project cost is estimated to be $1,206,507.25, with a maximum TAP award of $800,000 and a local match of $406,507.25, plus engineering design and administrative costs.
The sidewalk grant follows another transportation-related action earlier this month. The Tribune reported May 21, 2026, that the council voted during a special-called May 18 meeting to seek a U.S. Department of Transportation Safe Streets and Roads for All grant to develop a citywide roadway safety plan.
The May 18 minutes show the council also approved a contract with Simple Grants, LLC, not to exceed $10,000, for grant-writing services tied to the application.
The council approved a contract with Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood for professional engineering services for taxiway rehabilitation at Cullman Regional Airport. The contract amount is not to exceed $58,381.
The Tribune reported May 12, 2025, that the council had previously awarded a $2,734,670 airport hangar contract, with Airport Director Ben Harrison saying at the time that the airport’s north apron would be rebuilt, a new taxiway added and a new hangar constructed.
“The total project was around $279,000. That’s a 95-5 grant, 90% federal, 5% state and 5% local. That 5% is split between the city and the county being 2.5% each.” Harrison clarified. “So that’s about $3,076, I believe, is that this grant would be for each the city and county.”
The council also adopted 28 amended job descriptions across several departments. The resolution included two job descriptions for Court, four for Garage, six for Right of Way, one for Sanitation and 15 for Street. The request was submitted by Human Resources Director Michelle Bates.
Two properties were declared public nuisances due to the overgrowth of grass and weeds. The properties are 1315 Maple Drive NW and 611 Cleveland Ave. SW.
The resolution states the conditions include grass or weeds exceeding 12 inches in height, creating an unsightly condition, fire hazard and pest concern.
The council passed the resolution, therefore a public hearing was set for June 22, 2026, at 7 p.m. at Cullman City Hall. The property owners will be notified 21 days prior to the public hearing via mail.
If the nuisances are not corrected, the city may abate the conditions and assess the costs against the properties. The council clarified that, if the property continues to be unkempt after the matter is resolved, a new resolution will not be required of the council to address. It will then fall upon the city to proceed with action.
Mayor Jacobs was authorized by fellow council members to execute documents tied to the city’s share of closure and post-closure care obligations for the sanitary landfill operated by the Solid Waste Disposal Authority of the City and County of Cullman.
The supporting financial assurance calculation lists the 2026 inflated closure and post-closure cost at $6,493,794.33.
A one-time retiree bonus was approved by the council through the Employees’ Retirement System. The supporting Retirement Systems of Alabama letter estimates the city’s obligation at $57,520.
The payment is scheduled for October 2026 and applies to eligible retirees or beneficiaries who retired before Oct. 1, 2025, and are entitled to an ERS monthly retirement benefit as of Sept. 30, 2026.
Councilman Jason Willoughby called on City Engineer Erica York to give road condition updates. The council passed a resolution in a previous meeting to begin a partnership with FirstStep Pavement Management in efforts to more effectively assess roadways.
The assessment was shown to the audience, with different road conditions including green / light green (excellent / good), yellow (fair), orange (critical) and red (lost).
“We are able to click on a road segment and we can view actual assessment data that they took,” York stated as a video was shown to the audience of a road within the city limits that was being surveyed.
This allows the city to review assessments without traveling roadways themselves. The data is compiled in a spreadsheet, showing rates given by FirstStep and condition summary overviews associated with locations.
The 2026 Condition Summary conducted by the City of Cullman Engineer Department concluded about city roadways: 15.9% were excellent, 53.6% good, 19.3% fair, 7.6% critical and 3.6% lost.
Recognitions
Council President Kim Hall called for Cullman High School Coach Will Drake to be recognized. Drake was named the 6A Boy’s Coach of the Year by the Alabama High School Soccer Coaches Association.
Jacobs had previously declared May 2026 as Mental Health Awareness Month. Hall, next to WellStone Chief Operating Officer Chris Van Dyke, stated that in 2025, 2,801 Cullman residents experiencing emotional and behavioral challenges as well as continued need for mental health services were served by WellStone. The council recognized Van Dyke and Cullman Police Chief Joey Duncan.
Special event request approvals
- St. Paul’s Lutheran Church’s request to close a portion of Sixth Street Southeast for Vacation Bible School activities June 1-4
- The Link’s Race to Restock Scavenger Hunt on June 6
- Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce’s Tasty Tuesday events on June 16, July 21 and Aug. 18
- Friends of the Public Libraries of Cullman County’s Spooktacular Storybook 5K and Fun Run on Oct. 24
The council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 15, at 7 p.m. at Cullman City Hall.
