February 2026 | Volume 13 | Issue 10
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New blood at city hall New finance director, city clerk bring fresh ideas, innovation By JON ANDERSON The city of Vestavia Hills recently said goodbye to two key city officials with the retirements of Finance Director Melvin Turner and City Clerk Rebecca Leavings. But the city didn’t have to go far to find their replacements — choosing to stay in house with people who essentially have been in training to follow in the footsteps of the two longtime leaders. Zach Clifton, who has been Vestavia’s deputy finance director for the past four years, was selected to follow Turner, and Umang Patel, the city’s court director, has been tapped to take on city clerk responsibilities with a new title of director of administration and innovation.
See CITY OFFICIALS | page 22
Left: Zach Clifton is the new finance director for the city of Vestavia Hills. Right: Director of Administration and Innovation Umang Patel also carries the title of city clerk. Photos by Jon Anderson.
Officials debate merits of building library in Liberty Park By JON ANDERSON Vestavia Hills officials are moving forward with plans for new capital projects in Liberty Park, but there still is some debate about whether the city needs a $9 million library facility there. The previous city council had preliminary plans for a 12,000-square-foot library facility at the Sicard Hollow Athletic Complex. The projected cost is $9 million, with at least $2 million of that coming through outside fundraising. But new Councilwoman Ali Pilcher has questioned whether that’s the most important need in the city right now.
“When we campaigned, you heard a lot of people talking about stormwater drainage. You heard a lot of people talking about girls sports facilities,” Pilcher said. People have touted a Liberty Park library as something that people in Cahaba Heights would use, too, but the current Library in the Forest actually is closer to Cahaba Heights than the proposed site for a new library facility at Sicard Hollow, Pilcher said. She questioned spending that much money on a library facility that will only benefit one community.
Preliminary plans call for a 12,000-square-foot library/community meeting space along Sicard Hollow Road, but a feasibility study is pending as some people question whether another library is a high priority. Map courtesy of city of Vestavia Hills.
See LIBRARY | page 23
INSIDE
Sponsors.................. 4 City............................ 6
Schoolhouse............8 Business..................10
Events......................18 Sports......................19
Community............20
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