TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WIAT) — Leaders in Tuscaloosa County are addressing the economic and public safety needs of their communities.
The annual State of the Community event was organized by the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama and held at the Bryant Conference Center on the University of Alabama's campus.
Among those in attendance included UA's Dean Stuart Bell, Sen. Gerald Allen, Northport and Tuscaloosa city councilors and others with private and public organizations.
Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox, Northport Mayor John Hinton and Tuscaloosa County Commissioner Judge Rob Robert spoke on the communities' successes and what issues or challenges should be overcome.
The COVID-19 pandemic and a recession were among the financial stressors Tuscaloosa faced. Yet those situations did not hamper the city's success, according to the city's mayor.
"We don't know how to lose. Even when things get tough, we don't know how to fail," Maddox said. "That's not just me, that's not just City Hall, that's just who we are as a whole."
However, there are still improvements to be made. The event's moderator said the biggest concern residents wanted leaders to address was public safety.
Maddox said the crime rate is statistically down when compared to 2006. He also said the city's population has increased by nearly 25,000.
"Currently the City of Tuscaloosa puts forth 40% of the budget to public safety," Maddox told the crowd. "Not many people go into law enforcement. It's a nationwide shortage."
The city invested $3 million in an officer take-home vehicle policy. TPD's salary was increased and the city plans to expand the Cyber Intelligence Unit.
"We know we can use technology as a force multiplier and technology is a 24/7 app that'll continue to make Tuscaloosa safer," Maddox said.
The City of Northport is also making expansions and upgrades of its own with a Sports Complex and the University Beach Resort. Hinton said they're expensive projects, but they're expected to bring in more economic growth for the city.
"It's predicted it will bring 1.2 million people annually," Hinton said.
The University Beach Resort developer has not set a date to break ground, but Hinton expects that to happen within the next two years. While many Northport residents are against the development, he says the city keeps in mind what draws people into town in the first place.
"People know that Northport is a generally safe place. It's a small town atmosphere and a good place to raise a family, a good place to live," Hinton said. "We will continue to grow and as we grow, more business will come in and Northport will get larger, but we will try to keep the small-town feel."