By LAURA BROOKHART / Community Columnist

The attendance at the October HBA meeting revealed new energies, new local business members and Mayor Hall’s semi-annual State of the City address.

Bob Van Loan brought members up to date on the partnership with Brock Business School and Professor of Entrepreneurship and Marketing, Clif Eason.

The first project with Gretchen B. Photography is complete and a next business will be selected.

“If your business wants to be considered,” Van Loan recommended, “owners should ‘polish up’ their business plan to submit.”

Guest speaker Mayor Hall also invited all city employees to meet HBA members, including new Chief of Police Pete Folmar, who was sworn in at City Council just the night before.

Folmar holds a B.S. in criminal justice administration and is a graduate of the Northeast Alabama Police Academy.

Chief Folmar and his wife, Tara, and children have lived in Helena for 10 years.

In regard to the budget, details have already been published, but Hall praised the City Council for always finding ways to get money out and into the community, saying, “We can take a nickel and stretch it into a dime.”

Local road infrastructure, paving and resurfacing as needed in various neighborhoods, will continue using capital funds.

Hall mentioned a steady growth in housing, adding that the city will add estate lots, rather than 0-lot homes or high-density complexes.

Praising our Helena Police and Fire departments, Hall noted each has 23 fine men at the three stations.

The police department added two new vehicles and the fire department has a new 78-foot ladder truck.

“The previous truck dated from 1993, so this purchase was important to meet the emergency needs of our area,” he said.

Commending the spirit of volunteerism in our community of 17,000 and growing, Hall added, “Other great things are in the works. I am very optimistic about the next 12-18 months.”

“A lot of gears have to turn together to run this city, but we work for you,” he said.

Residents will notice pink fire hydrants painted by the fire department in honor of Breast Cancer Month.

Plans are underway for the anticipated Helena Christmas Parade.

The theme this year will be “Have a Blue Christmas.”

There is no charge to enter a float in this annual event.