Mayor looks back on 2018

In the past year, the City of Daleville saw the completion of several projects, the start of others and the growth of entertainment options for citizens. Even with these changes and plans, Mayor Jayme Stayton called 2018 a year of learning.

“(I was) learning how everything worked, trying to figure out the best way to reach out to certain businesses and industries,” he said.

For the economic standpoint of the city, Stayton said he learned what information was needed to catch the eye of new companies. He created packets of information, such as traffic counts and population, that are used to encourage new businesses to come to Daleville.

“We do have some people that are looking Daleville’s way,” he said, stating that he is still working to bring industry to the city. “Even though I’m trying to get other businesses here, it’s hard. It doesn’t happen overnight.

“What I’ve always said – and I want to stress this – is that I am super thankful for the businesses we have in Daleville right now, the restaurants and our other retail shops.

“Without them, we wouldn’t have anything,” he said. “I just want them to know that I’m grateful that they’re here and keeping their business in Daleville. I just want Daleville to grow more.”

Despite having a year of learning, Stayton said 2018 was a successful one for the City of Daleville. One success was addressing certain safety issues, which Stayton said were brought to his attention by concerned citizens.

“We’ve covered some safety issues around the city,” he said. “We’ve put speed bumps in certain areas, and we plan on putting in more. We put some in where cars needed to slow down because of children and people walking.”

Speed bumps are not the only issue the city addressed.

“We’ve fixed potholes,” Stayton said. “We’ve repaved roads.”

He said the city also received a grant to provide waterline maintenance for certain subdivisions in the city. The grant, which totaled $450,000, covered maintenance and rehabilitation work for the Morris Byrd and Battle Park Subdivisions.

Specifically, the project provided water line rehabilitation and street and drainage improvements for Vita Street and Marnett Drive in the Morris Byrd Subdivision and Patton Drive, Stillwell Drive, McArthur Drive and Clark Street in the Battle Park Subdivision.

The Morris Byrd Subdivision was built in 1962 with some additions built in the 1980s. Battle Park Subdivision was built in 1968.

The city saw the beginning of the sidewalk project, which affects County Road 134 between Heritage Drive and Bruer Road.

The Daleville City Council approved a bid on this project from Beasley and Company for $282,377 on Oct. 2. This project also included changes to the width of the sidewalk and drainage work.

Other projects were reviewed by the city as well, though work will not begin until some time in 2019, according to Stayton. One such project is drainage work in some areas of the city.

In 2018, the city also saw the start of projects to grow the city. Stayton said the city’s Planning Commission worked with the city to bring in a new subdivision.

On March 27, the Daleville City Planning Commission sent a recommendation to the Daleville City Council to rezone an area near Highway 84 from business to residential to start steps to build a new subdivision in Daleville.

The new subdivision will feature 17 lots for small, single-family homes. Each lot is 65 feet wide.

After the city council approved the planning commission’s recommendation, the planning commission cited to present the city council with a plat, or plan, for the new subdivision.

“They’re in the early stages right now, but that’s growth,” Stayton said.

In addition to this subdivision, he said there are several houses being built along Gritney Road.

Stayton also said the look of the city started changing in 2018.

Daleville Avenue is “starting to look different” thanks to enforcement of a zoning ordinance to help clean up the city, according to Stayton.

In 2016, the city council approved an updated zoning ordinance that rezoned part of Daleville Avenue and provided limitations on the siding on business buildings and the screening of HVAC units and non-outdoor items or merchandise.

At the time the zoning ordinance was passed, existing businesses had two years, or until 2018, to comply with the provisions of the ordinance.

“We’ve got some other stuff in the works to beautify that (area),” Stayton said.

Additionally, the city council created and approved a new bin ordinance on Oct.16.

“(The companies) were claiming to be people they weren’t,” he said. “They were claiming to be a charity, nonprofit. The research that we did, it turned out that wasn’t true.”

Stayton said the bins also became a cleanliness issue with donated items piling up around the bins.

“We’re trying to clean Daleville up, and it was making it look worse,” he said.

In addition to the several projects that started in 2018, the city also saw the completion of several projects that have been ongoing or that began last year, such as the completion of Phase II for Culpepper Park that included adding additional walking trails, lighting, a pavilion and more to the park.

The city council also addressed issues with the playground at Culpepper Park, including fixing the equipment and installing pour-in-place rubber surfacing to cover the areas underneath and around the playground equipment.

“When I became mayor, Phase I was almost done,” Stayton said about projects at Culpepper Park. “That was started by the previous administration, so when I came in, we basically just started Phase II. Phase II consisted of finishing the lighting, finishing up the ball fields, the sidewalk around it and fixing the equipment out there.”

Stayton said the newly completed fields have been used since the major projects have been completed.

“People rent it,” he said. “They rent the fields. They rent (fields) and play tournaments all night long… and on the weekends.”

He said kickball tournaments are also held at Culpepper Park.

“People outside of Daleville are getting word,” he said. “Daleville’s becoming a place to where people like to come and have their tournaments. It’s exciting.”

The council also started discussions on a concession stand project for Culpepper Park in 2018. Currently, the city council is waiting to receive plans for possible project designs.

In 2018, the City of Daleville saw a growth in entertainment and family fun opportunities as well.

One opportunity was the Daleville Family Fun Fest, which was held from March 13-17 at Culpepper Park. The event featured rides, allowed event-goers to interact with animals and more.

“It was super successful,” Stayton said. “Over 5,000 people came to it. We expect more for 2019.”

The city also saw the Daleville Department of Public Safety host a Fall Festival for the community. This free event brought businesses, churches and other organizations together to provide games and treats for families.

“We had a fall festival, which we hadn’t had in a long time,” Stayton said. “It turned out to be great.”

The DPS also hosted National Night Out on Aug. 7, which featured demonstrations by the separate public safety departments as well as Fort Rucker Fire and Rescue Squad, Fort Rucker’s Military Police Department, the Clayhatchee Volunteer Fire Department and the National Guard Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team.

Last year also saw the return of the Inter-Tribal Native American Powwow on April 27-29. This was the first time the Powwow has been in Daleville in about five years, according to Stayton.

“It came back in the spring, but they’re actually going to bring it back to when it originally was, which is November,” he said, stating November is National Native American Heritage Month.

The Powwow, which was sponsored by the city and the Daleville Area Chamber of Commerce, provides event-goers the opportunity to learn about several Native American tribes through presentations of food, dance and other items.

Though several events, both new and returning, came to the city, Stayton said even those events the city has held for years grew this year.

“I would just like to say that the Christmas parade this year, it was bigger,” he said. “It was very exciting.”

He also said Spartan Fest grew in 2018. It became a tournament between the City of Daleville, the 1st of the 223rd Aviation Regiment, Daleville’s National Guard Unit and the Captain Career Course.

“Daleville, I feel, just hasn’t had entertainment in a long time,” he said. “People have tried, but for some reason it didn’t work.

“Citizens deserve some entertainment. I think that when we have stuff that we’re doing and we’re going to continue to do, it draws other people in here. People come and they buy gas here; they eat here.”

With growing entertainment options and changes being made around the city, Stayton said eyes are on Daleville.

“I think (everything) has made Daleville better because it’s made people look our way,” he said. “People are starting to look lively again. They’re perking up.”

He thanked the citizens for supporting the events that have come to the city.

“Every event that Daleville’s had, our citizens have shown up and so has surrounding areas. (There has been) excitement in the air, and you know, people are asking, ‘Is (this event) coming back next year?’ That’s exciting.”

He said the citizens have also stepped up during times when disaster relief or disaster prevention were necessary.

“Volunteering is just crazy,” he said. “With (Hurricane)Michael and everything we’ve had, every time Daleville’s had something that we’ve needed volunteers for, especially disaster relief, our people have come out in droves and volunteered to help.

“People are taking pride in their community again. I’m not saying they ever lost it; I’m saying it’s a new feeling in Daleville.”

He thanked the citizens for doing their duty and talking with him about concerns or cares for the city. He said he “can’t always see” what citizens notice in their communities.

“If there’s a problem, come and let us know,” he said. “People come, and they’re concerned about certain issues that we wouldn’t know about unless they come.”

He said the city council and city employees are also working hard and well for the community.

“I’m proud of Daleville.”