Tuscumbia Council votes to make 2nd attempt on statue

There were a number of items on the agenda during the March 2 meeting of the Tuscumbia City Council, including the ongoing issue of the music-related sculpture.

More specifically the lack of one, as it were.

A project was launched a number of years ago to have a sculpture related to The Shoals’ musical heritage placed in each of the quad cities.

Florence, Muscle Shoals and Sheffield all have completed sculptures, but the project for Tuscumbia went awry.

The artist hired for the work absconded with the project and the funds paid to that point and has failed to deliver for quite some time.

The issue has come up on various Council agendas across a number of years, with former members working on aspects of the cause.

Mayor T.W. Billings asked the Council to vote to restart the project with a new business out of Tuscaloosa.

He said the City has $38,000 available in the general fund that is left over from the original fundraising for the sculpture.

Billings said the project will cost over $100,000, but he suggested the Council vote to get the ball rolling on a new statue with the available $38,000.

Once passed, he said the City could look into raising the remaining funds necessary for completion.

“The Poarch Creek Indians might help,” Billings said.

The Council passed the measure unanimously.

Council member Len Gregory was unable to attend the meeting.

In other business, the Council voted unanimously to begin work on a new carousel for Spring Park.

Parks and Recreation Director Tammy Holt said the original estimate for parts to fix the existing carousel was close to $700,000.

“My question then was how much does a brand new one cost?” she said. “Then I found a new one for $275,000.”

Billings said the City is set to receive $138,000 in insurance money for the existing carousel, and around $69,000 of that will be used to pay the initial 25% down payment of the cost for the new carousel.

Council member Roderick Metcalf confirmed the City will receive the insurance check as soon as the parts list is turned in.

Billings said he was told to expect a delivery time frame of 12-16 weeks on the new carousel after the down payment is made.

He said the city will then have that time to come up with the remaining funds.

Also on the agenda was business owner and former Council member Katie Logan speaking on behalf of the city’s downtown merchants.

She told the Council of an initiative started back in 2017 called Tuscumbia 30.

“It’s a simple challenge of our citizens,” Logan said. “As you know, there are a lot of complaints about money and there not being any. I don’t think people realize just how important every dollar spent in Tuscumbia is. This is a challenge for our citizens — for 30 days only spend your money in Tuscumbia.”

Logan said, for example, if a Tuscumbia resident needs groceries but shops at a Dollar General in Sheffield, that does not help their hometown at all.

“The majority of things you need you can buy in Tuscumbia,” she said. “Gasoline, cat food, dinner, air filters, etc. I’m asking to work with the City for a social media push on this.”