FROM STAFF REPORTS

HOOVER – Several town hall meetings have been scheduled to allow Hoover residents the opportunity to give input about the city’s future.

Mayor Frank V. Brocato announced the “Future Hoover” initiative in June.

“Hoover is a bustling town, the children are back in school, football season is here and we will be in the process of holding town hall meetings to hear from you,” Brocato said in a statement published on FutureHoover.com. “Please get involved; we welcome your ideas, no matter how big or small! We are interested and are here to serve you with our doors open.”

Future Hoover is intended to provide a roadmap for meeting the city’s economic needs by encouraging residents to provide feedback on where the community stands now and looking ahead to where the city aspires to go.

The town hall meetings will allow for the beginning of conversations among city leaders and residents about desires for the city and how to fund those plans.

All meetings last from 6:30-8 p.m.:

•Tuesday, Oct. 17 at Hunter Street Baptist Church Chapel (2600 John Hawkins Parkway)

•Tuesday, Nov. 14 at Hoover City Hall Council Chambers (100 Municipal Drive)

•Tuesday, Nov. 21 at Jefferson State Community College Shelby-Hoover Campus (4600 Valleydale Road)

•Tuesday, Nov. 28 at Greystone Elementary School (300 Village Street)

“Hoover has set a high bar of civic services and education, and the city is proud of the quality of service that residents and visitors receive,” reads the purpose message on FutureHoover.com. “It is without question that Hoover must maintain a high level of excellence in all facets. As the city surveys the changing economic landscape in our nation and the region, it must make wise decisions and plan carefully to ensure its ability to meet the needs and expectations of those served.

“With Hoover’s success has come many challenges. Growth in Hoover has been a blessing, but it has also created serious questions regarding the impact to Hoover’s school system, the sufficiency of the city’s traffic network, the ability to provide public safety coverage to all parts of the city and many other issues. For the past several years, these concerns have dominated collective dialogue and have served to limit the city’s ability to pursue new opportunities for the community.

“The best way to create a solid and strategic plan moving forward is to engage citizens and research what suggestions they have for making Hoover stronger for the next 50 years.”