Pelham Mayor Don Murphy spoke about the fund to retire the Davis family mortgage, the new Opportunity Baseball League, road construction, the possibility of expanding U.S. 31 to six lanes and new businesses moving into the area Tuesday during the Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce monthly focus meeting at Johnny Ray’s Bar-B-Que restaurant.

Murphy began the meeting by giving an update on the Davis Family Mortgage Fund Committee, which has begun a campaign to raise $200,000 in 20 days to retire the mortgage of the Davis family home. The fund was established in honor of fallen Pelham Police officer Philip Davis, who was killed in the line of duty Dec. 4. Davis left behind a wife and two children.

Murphy also gave an update on the new Opportunity League beginning in March. The Opportunity League will allow special needs children from all over the area to play baseball once a week for eight weeks. Registration for players, coaches and volunteers is Saturday, Jan. 16 from 1-3 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 23 from 1-3 p.m.

The mayor also spoke to the chamber members about the current road and bridge construction on Interstate 65.

“It’s coming along,” Murphy said. “It’s going to depend on the rain when it is finished, but we see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Murphy also said he met with highway officials two weeks to discuss the widening of U.S. 31 to six lanes.

Although he said that project could be as far as 10 years down the road, citizens should voice their opinions on the U.S. 31 projects and others they would like to see completed to make the city better.

“If you would like to have input on that, we’re all ears,” Murphy said. “It’s your city.”

New business ventures were also a topic for the mayor, as he said Dunkin’ Donuts would soon be opening on Alabama 119, as would a new Fairfield Inn hotel and an Enterprise Car Rental. Furniture Gallery recently opened on Alabama 119.

The mayor closed out his update by addressing some concerns citizens have had about the removal of trees along Amphitheater Road.

Murphy said the trees were being bulldozed by a private entity.

“It’s not our property; it’s not in the city,” Murphy said. “It’s not in Pelham and (the city is) not doing a big development there.”