HARPERSVILLE – Several officials and business leaders gave updates about items of interest to Harpersville residents during a Coffee with the Mayor event hosted by The Shelby County Chamber on Thursday, Oct. 24.

Mayor Don Greene gave a brief update on the town’s finances and highlighted some of the features Harpersville offers.

Greene said the town’s income and expenses have seen slight increases.

“It goes hand-in-hand, but we’re in good financial shape,” he said.

Jeff Mullins with Smith Douglas Homes said new homes planned for the Farmingdale development would likely range in price from about $160,000-$200,000.

“We’re excited about what we can do for the town and what we can bring to the town,” Mullins said.

About 120 homes will begin going up “very soon,” with the first closings expected at the beginning of 2020.

Reggie Holloway, manager of community services for Shelby County, stressed the importance of high participation in the 2020 Census.

Each person in the county represents about $1,600 in terms of school and road funding, grants and other projects, Holloway said.

“We cheat ourselves if we don’t participate,” he said.

Also, Alabama could lose a legislative seat through reapportionment.

“Here’s the time for us to step up and participate in our democracy,” Holloway said.

Shelby County had an 80-percent participation rate in 2010, highest in the state, and this time around officials have set a goal of 90-percent participation.

Then, Jennifer Cardwell with The Meadows of Harpersville golf course said the restaurant, driving range and chipping/putting green should be open in November.

“We took over the project and hoped we could get it ready in a year, but it was a forest,” Cardwell said about the task of clearing the overgrown course. “Our whole goal with this has been to keep it a golf course that when it opens, everybody can afford to play there.”

Before the program concluded, Mindy Nash with the Shelby County Emergency Management Agency informed attendees at the Harpersville Community Center about a free severe weather notification system available at EMA.Shelby.com. The free service tracks weather up to 10 miles outside the county and sends a notification for a tornado warning.

Greene reminded those in attendance that Harpersville Day is coming up on Nov. 9, and the 3 Mayor 5K is scheduled for Nov. 23.