By Briana Harris / Staff Writer

PELHAM – For the past four years, City Council President Rick Hayes said he and the council have been laying the city’s foundation in preparation for more economic and residential growth.

Hayes, who is currently serving his first term on the council, said he decided to run again for Place 1 because he still wants to help lead his hometown.

“I’m so excited because we are on the edge of something special,” Hayes said. “Right now we are negotiating seven different economic development opportunities and we can’t let up or let anything happen to derail our progress.”

The creation of Pelham City Schools, the redevelopment of Pelham City Center and planned road projects were critical first steps to reinvigorating the city. He said the results of those efforts are already starting to show.

The city center will include a new middle school, commercial property, public library, an all-inclusive playground, recreation center, outdoor basketball court, sand volleyball court, walking trails and restaurants.

From January to July 90 new residential construction permits, totaling $19 million, were approved by the city. That number is up from the 68 that were approved from January to July 2015, which totaled $14.5 million.

Since the passing of an amendment to allow Sunday alcohol sales in Shelby County, Hayes said restaurants have shown more interest in Pelham.

Hayes moved to Pelham when he was 6 years old. After traveling and living throughout the nation and abroad, he said he decided to return to his hometown to raise his family. Four years ago when he could see that his three children’s interest in living in Pelham was waning, he decided to run for City Council.

Hayes is the owner of Ingenuity, Inc., a business, technology and telecommunications services provider. He and his wife Joni have been married for 21 years and have three children, Robert, Kristen and Connor.

His oldest son Robert is a student at the University of Alabama, his daughter attends the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia and his youngest son is a senior at Pelham High School.

“We have to bring back families moving to Pelham in strong numbers,” he said. “It takes a long time to get the inertia going and we’ve got it going now.”

Pelham residents will vote in the 2016 Municipal Election from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Aug. 23 at the Pelham Civic Complex, 500 Amphitheater Road.