A Message from Mayor Stimpson - January 5
Jan 5th, 2021
Good evening,
It is 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 5, and I am writing to give you an update from the City of Mobile.
Today, the Mobile County Health Department reports 27,240 COVID-19 cases, an increase of 310 cases. To review MCHD's detailed report, click here.
The Alabama Department of Transportation began work this morning on replacing the Perch Creek Bridge along State Route 163. The project is also being partially funded as one of the City of Mobile’s NFWF’s Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund projects.
It will include the demolition of the existing bridge, construction of a new bridge in its place, new paving and the addition of a buffered bicycle lane. This project will ultimately help spur hydrologic and environmental restoration in this area and will also address persistent stormwater runoff issues.
The new bridge is part of larger plans we have for the Perch Creek area that include the preservation of sensitive habits and additional amenities for residents.
If you’re still looking for something to do with your Christmas tree, I’d like to remind you about the City of Mobile’s Christmas Tree Recycling program which will remain active through Friday, January 15. Any resident can drop off their used trees from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at Langan, Medal of Honor Park, Dog River, Baumhauer-Randle, James Seals or Tricentennial parks or the Pinehill Recycling Center.
We ask that you remove any lights, stands or ornaments from the trees, which will be chipped up on site to create recycled material that can be used for gardening, filling and other purposes. The material will be distributed from the same drop off locations beginning next week on a first come, first served basis.
This afternoon I had the pleasure of touring USA Health’s “Fanny Meisler Trauma Center” with members of the Mobile County Commission and our respective staffs. From the ground up, the facility is built to accommodate a mass trauma event were one to occur in our community.
In addition to the health benefits, this type of state-of-the-art facility also helps set Mobile apart when recruiting new businesses and industries to our area and will create more than 100 new operational jobs.
I started my day listening to a message from Dr. Kevin Elko about how he’s moving forward from a difficult year. He told the story of a woman in Virginia who had an old family tree damaged during the Civil War. After the fighting had stopped, the woman angrily showed someone damage done to her tree. Their advice? “Cut it down and move on.” Dr. Elko said he feels the same way about 2020.
“Cut it down and forget about it. Take some lessons from it, but let’s go plant something new. Plant new dreams, new ideas, new friendships. Plant new, plant big and plant bold.”
I believe we are at a good place heading in 2021. There are plenty of good new things on the horizon for Mobile. Let’s go plant them!
Sleep tight,
Sandy Stimpson