THE GRINCH THAT STOLE THE PARKING DECK

Let me recap the Florence City Council work session and meeting from 12-03-2024. This is the time of year that kicks off the holiday season, and in the spirit of good cheer and peace on earth, I am going to compliment the council for one action they took. They removed the original agenda item that was kicked down the road at the last meeting and placed on this agenda to demolish the “original” parking deck at the corner of Tennessee and Pine Streets. When I checked with my agenda sleuth at city hall, I was told it probably would not come up again until after the new year. So that gives the old parking deck a reprieve from the wrecking ball....for now anyway.

Let’s get to the votes on the agenda items at the meeting. It was kind of a smooth meeting, but two agenda items got passed in the consent agenda that really needed "further discussion" in this reporter's humble opinion. One was resolution (f) a proposal to sign a contract with a company called "The Ground Guys of Northwest Alabama”, to provide lawn care for the Southhall house, the Kennedy Douglas Center, Pope's Tavern and the Indian Mound in the amount of $2,083.33 per month not to exceed $25k a year. One question I had: Do we not have a LAWN CREW we already employ full time on the City of Florence payroll to take care of mowing the grass? And to cut 3 city lots each about 50’ wide and the grass on the Indian mound has a going rate of $25K a year? Man, and to think when I was a teenager, I mowed half acre lots for $10 a cutting! Of course, that was back before the gas-powered mower came along.

At the work session. Bill Jordan used the famous Jordan double talk, well actually the Jordan “mumble”, to try to justify the expense saying it would save paying overtime and Brian Murphy, Art and Museum Dept. head who is responsible for the property in question, just sort of stood there. AND THIS WAS PASSED! If this is not a prime example of a waste of taxpayer money that is going on in this town, I do not know what is.... well, I COULD make a list but that wasn't even the biggest waste of money at this meeting. There was another: agenda item (bb) which was a MATCH for funds from the state of Alabama Land and Water conservation fund in the amount of $437,073.32 which will be used to renovate the campground at McFarland Park. For those who have not seen the plans for this project, it appears only to involve pouring new pads for parking spaces for campers at the park. No remodeling of bathrooms or pavilions added, just some parking pads. The taxpayer is getting hosed TWICE on this deal. Once from the state and then from the city. That is almost ONE MILLION taxpayer dollars that will go down the river after a flood or two. Your tax dollars may not be working, BUT they can sure swim!

Let me end the report of the meeting on a positive note in the Christmas spirit. The lighting of Wilson Park is coming up Friday. And there was a ceremony from the beautification board for the lighting of the “official” Florence Christmas tree on North Court St. It was a beautiful event. Downtown Florence is in the holiday spirit with the streets decked out in Christmas decorations and the stores open for business. And as you shop and eat and are generally merry at this special time of year........think of a poor brave parking deck. Proudly clinging to life and being used by shoppers while gallantly defying the wrecking ball that the mean old Grinch is trying to lob its way. The Grinch may look like Santa with his round belly and white hair but there is a hard heart underneath his sweater vest, and he has his greedy hand on the lever to knock our noble parking deck down. We need another Christmas miracle on Pine Street.