Midfield has grown steadily over the past several years with the addition of the new
Jefferson County Western Health Clinic, Save-A-Lot Super Market, Walgreens, Village Thrift
and Dunn Construction Manufacturing Plant in our Industrial Park, walking trails and
sidewalks. Midfield has become a regional hub for the western area of Jefferson County.
Midfield is a City in which all stakeholders can be proud. In our previous newsletter and
town hall meetings, it was demonstrated how Midfield was “a small City doing big things.”
Once again, we would like to take this opportunity to inform Midfield constituents and
stakeholders of the City’s recent progress. The information provided in this newsletter
presents evidence that we are indeed “a small City doing big things,” as well as provides
support for Midfield’s longstanding motto of being “a City on the move.”
The projects described in this newsletter provide even more reasons why we, as stakeholders,
should take pride in Midfield. Some of the projects presented highlight Midfield’s emergence
and willingness to assume an increasing role in regional development. Teamwork,
collaborations, and partnerships have all played roles in the success. These updates on the
City’s projects demonstrate that Midfield is continually moving “forward and upward.” In
maintaining the City’s momentum, proven leadership and committed stakeholders remain
as the key ingredients for our success.
Fire Department
- The City of Midfield has taken delivery of a 2015 NEW Fire Engine with modern equipment to
meet National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1901 Standards. The equipment includes a new generator, a new positive pressure ventilation fan, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA’S) and other small tools. - Hired four paramedic firefighting personnel with an accumulated 100+ years of experience in the fire service. These firefighters help maintain our current Insurance Service Office (ISO) rating of Class 4 saving our residents thousands of dollars in insurance premiums.
- $64,110 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants to purchase Heart Monitors and Thermal Imager
- Received additional Heart Monitors through the United Stateds Military Surplus 1033 Program .
Upgraded and/or replaced much of our equipment. - Increased our mutual aid relationship with neighboring cities through training and increase in
equipment. - Continually monitors water systems and reporting weaknesses to appropriate water providers.
- Maintained advanced life support services through hiring practices (paramedics) and through
continuing education training required by State Health Department and National Registry for
Paramedics.
Police Department
For the past three years, the Midfield Police Department has worked diligently to expand and improve
the capabilities of the police department and its ability to better serve the residents and visitors to
our great City! During this time, the Midfield Police Department has:
- Reduced the number of property crimes, burglaries and thefts of the past three years.
- Successfully submitted a new Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant to increase the number of officers employed (Midfield currently has 15 Full-Time Officers, one Part-Time Officer, and five Full-time Public Safety Dispatchers).
- Successfully applied with the Department of Justice and received bullet-proof vest funding, each of the last three years.
- Improved our patrol fleet by purchasing three additional Dodge Chargers, three Chevrolet Tahoe
SUV’s and two Crown Victoria vehicles. We are presently outfitting our patrol fleet with GPS
devices, computers and accompanying equipment, radars, and printers, all in an effort to adhere
to future Alabama State Requirements. - Successfully partnered with the United States Military, 1033 Surplus Program, to obtain vehicles
and equipment to aid our department and city during inclement occurrences. - Instituted a Red Light Camera Program and a Speed Detection Program with American Traffic
Solutions. These programs have produced 30,578 red light camera violations over the past three
years and 2,407-speed detection violations (The Speed Detection Program was implemented May 2015). - Contracted with the Midfield Board of Education to have a uniformed officer and School Resource Officer (SRO), working with Midfield City Schools. While on duty, the SRO is stationed inside the high school, where we now have fewer school disturbances since the program’s inception.
- Successfully Implemented a Chaplain Program to aid Midfield residents during extraordinary times of need, to help employees during times of struggle and to help bolster the relationship between police officers and the public.
The Midfield Police Department is committed to meeting the growing needs of our great city. We
will meet those needs by improving our department’s technology; increasing officer training; by
improving community policing; and by continuing to provide the fast, professional and effective
services that have always been the foundation of our department.
Public Works
- Road paving projects totaling $2.2 million (Three miles of paving).
- B.Y. Williams Sr. Drive paving from Woodward Road to the City limit.
- Woodward Road paving from City limit to City limit with sidewalk rehabilitation currently under construction.
- High School Road paving with sidewalks to start in the Spring 2016 (A joint project with the Midfield Board of Education) $650,000.
- Martin Luther King Drive paving with a new sidewalk starting August 2015 (Tiger Grant $1.1 million).
- Since 2013, 427 notices have been sent out to property owners about high weeds and unkept property.
- Completed the lighted walking trails in Midfield Park and also in Brookwood Park next to Wendy’s. $300,000.
- Installed a new gym floor in the Community Center and installed hundreds of feet of ranch style fencing around the Park. $85,000.
- A renovation project will start on the Community Center in coming days; this project will add bathrooms on the outside of the gym for the Splash Pad. $130,000.
- Community Center weight room will be renovated with a new floor, paint and lighting with some repairs in the gym.
We have also been awarded a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to replace all fencing at the athletic fields in the Park. Demolition of the old shop building will make way for a paved parking lot for the walking trail in Midfield Park. - New sidewalk from Lovoy Street Midfield Elementary School.
- New sidewalk from Rutledge Middle School to Alden Avenue.
- New sidewalks on 12th Avenue from 8th Street to 12th Street.
- New walking trail starting from Martin Luther Drive to the Red Mountain Park. This trail is built on the old High Ore Line abandoned railroad. The Midfield Trail is the start of the new Red Rock Ridge and Valley Trail system, a 750-mile multi-use trail system throughout Jefferson County.
- The City of Midfield has been awarded a $500,000 Transportation Alternative Program Grant (TAP) that is currently in the design phase. This will include sidewalk rehabilitation in the Business District on B.Y. Williams Sr. Drive; this will also include a new sidewalk on B.Y. Williams Sr. Drive from Woodward Road to High School Road. The new sidewalk will tie in the Business District with the new Red Rock Ridge and Valley Trail systems.
- Pipes installed in several ditches along Woodward Road.
- Used a high-tech infrared patching contractor to assist us in patching potholes around the City. $22,000.
- A total of 12 abandoned houses has been torn down in the last two years, with 10 to be torn down as soon as bids are received.
In addition to the above-stated work by our Public Works Department, they have also been busy with routine tasks
such as cutting grass, repairing storm drains, installing signs, striping streets, picking up litter, patching potholes,
trimming trees and performing building maintenance on all City facilities.