CULLMAN, Ala. – Six months into his term representing Place 4 on the Cullman City Council, Paul Schaffer said the city’s ability to grow will depend largely on infrastructure most residents rarely see.
Schaffer, whose council responsibilities include utilities, said water, sewer, electricity and gas systems often become noticeable only when service is interrupted or existing capacity cannot support new development.
“Utilities are the part of city government nobody thinks about until something goes wrong, such as a water main break, a sewer line that can’t handle a new subdivision or a business that can’t get adequate power or gas service to operate,” Schaffer said.
His experience managing a local dealership has shaped how he approaches the city’s utility needs. Schaffer said business growth is often limited by available infrastructure before zoning or permitting becomes an obstacle.
“Utility capacity is often the real ceiling on growth,” he said.
Schaffer said Cullman’s infrastructure must remain ahead of population and economic growth rather than responding after problems develop. That includes planning for new housing, industrial recruitment, commercial development and annexation while considering how each decision affects the city’s utility network.
He said the city should not view water, sewer, wastewater treatment, electricity and gas as isolated operations.
“A new industrial park doesn’t mean much if the wastewater treatment capacity isn’t there to support it,” Schaffer said. “New rooftops on the west side of town don’t mean much if water pressure and sewer capacity weren’t planned for that density.”
Schaffer said utility representatives should be involved when the city discusses housing, development and industrial projects so potential capacity problems can be identified before construction begins.
Long-term planning, he said, is especially important because major infrastructure projects are expensive and cannot be completed quickly.
“You can’t fast-track a sewer trunk line the way you can fast-track a permit,” Schaffer said.
Deferred maintenance does not eliminate an expense, he said. Instead, it can turn a manageable project into a larger and more costly emergency.
Schaffer supports developing multiyear capital plans for water, sewer and electrical infrastructure. Those plans, he said, should be based on realistic growth projections rather than year-to-year reactions to immediate problems.
He also wants residents to understand that utility investment is directly connected to housing affordability, economic development and quality of life.
“You can’t have affordable housing without adequate water and sewer capacity to support it,” Schaffer said. “You can’t recruit industry without reliable electricity and gas service on an industrial scale.”
Reliable infrastructure also affects residents’ daily lives, he said, through water quality, sewer service and electrical reliability.
“Every economic development win the city celebrates was made possible by utility capacity that was built years before anyone noticed it,” Schaffer said. “Residents should see utility investment as the quiet engine behind growth, jobs and housing affordability.”
Among the city’s most important utility priorities during the coming year, Schaffer identified wastewater treatment capacity, aging water and sewer lines and coordination with utility providers serving new commercial and industrial sites.
He said the city must ensure its wastewater system can keep pace with residential construction and industrial recruitment. Older lines should also be addressed before deterioration results in emergency repairs.
Rising construction and material costs will create another challenge.
“Utility upgrades aren’t getting cheaper,” Schaffer said. “The city needs a clear plan for how those costs get funded without putting an unsustainable burden on ratepayers.”
During the next six months, Schaffer said he would like the council to make visible progress toward a multiyear capital improvement plan for water and sewer infrastructure.
He said the plan should be understandable to residents and businesses rather than existing only as a series of budget entries.
“If the council can point to a concrete plan with funding attached, that’s a meaningful step forward regardless of which specific projects come first,” Schaffer said.
Schaffer said cooperation among city departments will also be essential as Cullman continues to grow.
He compared municipal operations to the dealership departments he managed, where sales, service, parts and finance had to work toward the same goals.
“Utilities, public safety, planning and economic development can’t operate as separate islands,” Schaffer said. “They have to coordinate if we want to move this city forward in a way that’s safe and comfortable for everyone who lives here.”
He said bringing that cross-department approach to the council table will remain one of his priorities throughout his term.
Publisher’s Note: All council members were sent questions on the same day but only Schaffer and Hall elected to reply. David Moss stated he would reply but nothing as of yet. Chuck Shikle and Jason Willoughby never replied to any email requests.
