Andalusia Star News
City of Andalusia employees began disassembling Candyland earlier this week, moving cottages from the Court Square and Springdale. On Friday, the giant Christmas tree which has been in place since mid-November came down, officially ending the season in Andalusia. The event drew thousands to the city during December. |Photos by Christopher Smith and Michele Gerlach
Andalusia Star News
A regional focus on economic development, working to close the deal on potential projects that could mean jobs for local residents, and moving forward – and to closure – on construction projects currently underway, and some expected to start in the near future … those are among the things local officials expect in 2018.
Construction
“In Andalusia, you will see us finishing the South Three Notch Street project, as well as the sidewalk project on Stanley Avenue and Lindsey Bridge Road,” Andalusia Mayor Earl Johnson said. “You will also see us starting and completing the projects at the Andalusia High School auditorium and stadium and the environs thereabout.”
Construction on the $8.6 million South Three Notch Street project began in November of 2016. It was funded by a 2013 ATRIP grant which required a $2.1 million local match.
Phase VI and VII of the roadway reconstruction began in December of 2017, which means there are “moving road closures” as work nears completion.
The City of Andalusia, the Andalusia Board of Education, and the Public Educational Building Authority have collectively and simultaneously worked on plans for renovating the auditorium and stadium, raising private funding for the project, and financing a portion of the project. Board members are expected to contract with a builder as early as this week.
Johnson said he hopes to move forward with work on the Timmerman building, which the city acquired around the 2017 new year.
“We had a lady lined up to open a restaurant in the first floor of that facility, but she had a health issue that arose that put that on sidetrack,” he said. “She still wants to do it and really loves the Andalusia market. Hopefully, she will soon be able to move forward.”
He said others are interested in developing offices or condominiums in the upper levels of the building.
The mayor said he also expects the Utilities Board to address infrastructure on the south side, in a project similar to one recently completed in the north side basin, designed to cut down inflow from rain water into the sewerage system.
“That may well take us into 2019 to complete, he said.
Commission Chairman Greg White said the county will replace several bridges in 2018, and will implement a more aggressive right of way maintenance program that he believes will enhance public safety.
Jobs
“I believe the most important area of focus will be on job creation – working with our communities to support and grow existing employers and hopefully bring new employers,” White said. “Several things have begun to take shape in recent months that should enhance our prospects long-term. Those include the dual enrollment programs that our schools offer (and Now provide transportation for) and the improved certification programs in career tech training.
“I’m aware that some of our local employers are increasing production and stabilizing their operations,” White said. “A case in point is the recent Shaw announcement.”
In 2017, Shaw announced it is investing $186 million in upgrading its Andalusia plant.
Covington County Economic Development Commission Executive Director Rick Clifton also referenced a “good, long-term prospect” which local officials are working to land.
“We’ve got to do everything we can to make ourselves a viable option,” he said, adding that the cities of Andalusia and Opp, as well as the county – which collectively pay the notes on the large commercial hangars at the airport – have agreed to lease them at reduced rates if they can land that prospect.
Meanwhile, Clifton said, he and others in the economic development business are working regionally.
“Our attitude is that if it is good for the United States, we want to attract it to the Southeast, and hopefully to the state,” he said. “Then, we promote our area.”
The thinking is to market regionally and recruit locally, he said.
CCEDC is working with PowerSouth to promote specific sites, White said, adding that those include industrial complexes in Andalusia and Opp, as well as the South Alabama Regional Airport.
Meanwhile, Clifton said, the county and is municipalities need to do all that they can “to make ourselves a viable option” for industries.
Always, the airport
“CCEDC and the South Alabama Regional Airport will continue to provide leadership in our economic development efforts, with prospects in view now that we hope will utilize some of our existing facilities,” White said.
“As always, we are working very hard at the airport,” Johnson said, “trying to get a long-term tenant for our big twin maintenance hangars at airport. There is always talk going on, and sooner or later we will be successful. It never gets off table with leaders of Andalusia, Opp, the county commission, and airport authority.”
Promoting the community
“We will continue to work very hard to recruit, attract and bring to our city new and more retail opportunities for city and our market,” Johnson said. “We have demonstrated that can be done, with successes we’ve seen, we have extended our market, and can draw peoplee from 50 miles to Andalusia to shop.
That’s what we want to continue to work on,” he said.
By CHRISTOPHER SMITH
Candyland visitors can easily to get lost in the lights, music and extravagance of it all, but one thing most people overlook is the work put into building and operating this Christmas wonderland.
Volunteers from schools all over the county help staff the Candyland cottages and attractions that have drawn people from all over the region. Even the Lurleen B. Wallace Community College has had students, and particularly student athletes, volunteer to work with the event.
Some volunteers have separated themselves from the group and have been put onto the payroll for the city. Melanie Ray, the supervisor for these temporary workers, said, “I love working with these kids. Some of them have put so much dedication into volunteering that we couldn’t help but hire them for this year. They work hard and truly love what they are doing.”
The temporary workers are mostly students from different high schools. When asked about her experience working Candyland, Anabell Bryant, a junior from Andalusia High School, said, “I really do love Christmas. It is my favorite holiday, so when I get to light up a child’s face with Christmas cheer it makes me feel happy, since I am a child at heart.”
The city has approximately 24 temporary workers helping with the event, Ray said.
City crews have been working since October to set up and build the Candyland attractions, but their jobs are not over once the attractions are up. Instead,they work multiple 80-hour weeks to keep every maintenance issue under control. They wake up early to make sure the skating rink is ready, the slide is slick enough to slide down, and the train will be ready for rides.
While this is a very demanding job for the workers and volunteers alike, many of them still have the same answer when asked about the rewards of the job.
Wendell Dyess, who engineers the train, said, “It is really hard to tell the kids ‘no’ when they come running up to you with a huge smile on their face screaming about wanting to ride the train. No matter how many times I say, ‘This is the last ride,’ I always get suckered into one more.”
Christmas in Candyland and Springdale on Ice will be open every weekend until Dec. 30.
Local officials estimate as many as 5,000 people enjoyed the Candyland attractions this past weekend.
Saturday’s Cocoa with Characters, featuring Meredith’s Miracles’ most popular characters, drew the biggest crowd do date. City Director of Planning Andy Wiggins told city council members Monday night the crowd included residents of Daphne, Gulf Shores, Spanish Fort, Mobile, Crestview, Birmingham, Dothan, Midland City, Ozark, Ft. Rucker and Auburn.
“There was one group from Gainsville, Fla.,” he said. “They told us they read about it in Southern Living in August and immediately booked a room here.”
Visitors stood in long lines to visit with Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Belle, Mickey and Minnie, Paw Patrol, and Santa. Wiggins said at one point the line for snow tubing extended from the tubing entrance to the playhouses.
The feedback in person and on social media was very positive, Chamber Executive Director Chrissie Duffy said.
Kayce Wolf Wood of Fort Rucker, posted on the Christmas in Candyland Facebook page, “We visited Candyland yesterday and has a wonderful time! It is soo awesome that you all provide affordable family fun this time of year. All the staff were so helpful and friendly, but I specifically wanted to compliment your younger and teen staff. They seemed to be enjoying themselves which totally added to the enjoyment for the kids.
“he younger boys working the top of the slide were so fun! Multiple times they were offering to help and doing it with smile! Especially during the ice skating when lots of kids needed help,” Wood wrote. “The characters were having fun and really getting into it. That’s not something you see all the time and was so awesome. So high five, teenagers! You are making a difference in the lives of a lot of kids but treating them how you did. We will definitely be back to visit for as long as we are in Alabama.”
Another visitor from Dothan posted, “I highly recommend going here with the kids! We went tonight and they had snow and the light show and they had the cutest cottages for kids to play in.
“It was well worth the hour drive from Dothan,” she wrote. “We loved how they had snow tubing and the meet with Santa. The cutest downtown for Christmas I have seen yet.”