Community Heroes Series
From the July 2005 issue of Alabama Living magazine

Interview by Kay Marshall

KM for TEC: What are your goals for 2005?
Segraves: “We're still working off of our Five Year Strategic Plan, and re-addressing some of those goals. Our immediate goals are to see the completion of the downtown highway construction, and the widening of Highway 44. Follow-ing that is the Street Scape project; an enhancement project for new sidewalks (from Plaza BBQ to City Park), new decorative lighting for the downtown area, and tree plantings. We're just waiting on the DOT to tell us when we can start to get that project underway.

Guin actually has a lot of great things going on, including getting a new Senior Center built. We are seeking funding, through FEMA, for the Safe Shelter portion of the center, making our Senior Center a model for future centers in Alabama. We’re very optimistic that this project will move forward.
We've also just approved a security and technology grant for our police department which we hope can be implemented in 2005, allowing our department to better serve the community.”

KM for TEC: What goals do you have for our region?
Segraves:“I keep in touch with elected officials in all of our neighboring counties. Anything we can do to improve the NW Alabama region is what we strive towards. Guin has secured grants, to show where highways and infrastructures need to go, so that we all can work together to build something positive. This highway is crucial for all of us, and the good news is that we're all trying to work together.”

KM for TEC: What, in your opinion, what is the greatest detriment we have in Northwest Alabama?
Segraves:“I think that there is a negative image of Northwest Alabama, and that needs to change! We need to work on educating the state, and our elected officials, on the opportunities that are in this area. Another detriment is the highway system, but we're working on that. We've also got to develop opportunities for our graduating seniors, who may want to stay in this area… and that's an area of concern for ALL of us.”

KM for TEC: What would be your solution for pulling ALL of the communities within Northwest Alabama together to work towards the task of job creation?
Segraves:“I think partnerships work when everyone wins. In order for everyone to be on board, there must be solutions that benefit all involved - and not just one community. The question is how do we support something that only benefits one community? A possible solution might be the sharing of revenues and jobs. Perhaps together we can come up with a formula based on percentages, so that jobs and revenue can be split between all of the communities. Finally, it would be advantageous if we could access what each community needs, to be considered as a viable recruiting asset, and then help that community achieve what it lacks. If we came together in that way, we would make our entire area favorable for industry and job growth.”

KM for TEC: What is Guin’s greatest assets?
Segraves:“One of the most beneficial things in Guin is our One Cent Sales Tax, for education. This program goes toward classroom enhancement and is monitored by a panel of citizens within the community. Guin’s school system is a vital asset, and we are fortunate to have great leaders at both of our schools. Of course, our Water Park is a tremendous success as well.
In fact, Guin has a great team of city employees - they all do a fantastic job, so that is also an asset to our city. We’re basically trying to make Guin a place where Quality of Life is applied in our projects, programs, and through our principals. I think we’re on our way, especially as an ACE community, and as a community willing to work with others for the future!"

Kay Marshall is the Internet Projects Coordinator and Editor for TEC

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