News

News

Mayor Interview--David Frings, Mayor of Alabaster

June 6, 2012 9:01 PM

  • Has been the Mayor since October 2000
  • Earned a B.S. in geology at UAB and a master's from Samford University in Environmental Management
  • Prior to becoming Mayor, Frings worked as a geologist for almost 30 years for Southern Company Since retiring in 2006, Frings works as a part-time professor in the Environmental Management Program at Samford University. He is also a director of the Oak Mountain Interpretive Center
  • Has been a resident of Alabaster since 1982

Mayor Frings on current challenges for the City of Alabaster: Alabaster felt the economic downturn just like the rest of the country. Roads in new subdivisions that were being built were left unfinished when contractors were forced to stop building. We are slowly getting them finished. Of course, we are also feeling the effects of the Jefferson County situation. We can't rest. We have to keep our guard up and monitor situations that could potentially be detrimental to the City of Alabaster.

On growth for the City of Alabaster: A major goal has been to bring new businesses into Alabaster. Retail revenue has grown from $8 million to $24 million dollars. The Alabaster Exchange, currently under construction, holds 30,000 square feet of retail space and will be finished in 2014. Georgia Crown Distributors, opening this summer, will bring around 75 new jobs to Alabaster. We hope to keep growing our industrial and service industry so people will be able to live, shop, and work in Alabaster.

On upcoming projects: Revenue generated from retail growth has been used to build more green spaces and make improvements throughout the city. We are in the transition period of establishing Alabaster's own school system which will be finalized by December 2013. We predict it to be one of the best, if not the best, school system in Alabama. The Children's Activity Center, an addition to the public library, will be finished just in time for summer reading programs. We are also moving City Hall to Highway 119 and turning the current building over to the Police Department. Finally, we are very proud that Alabaster is the recipient of a new dog park being built by Beneful, the makers of Purina, and it is the second one of its kind. Alabaster has a very exciting future and we have worked hard to grow in a fashion that will allow the community to continue to grow.