Northport Council President Christy Bobo Discusses Future Growth, Calls For Unity

NORTHPORT, AL — Northport City Council President Christy Bobo on Friday issued a lengthy statement on her first full day in the new role following the abrupt resignation of her predecessor, Jeff Hogg.

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As Patch previously reported, Hogg stepped down on Thursday, citing personal threats and the impact of recent public backlash on the future of his private-sector job selling commercial insurance as the reasons for stepping down near the end of his second term in office.

This comes as the city is moving forward on a public-private partnership for a $350 million resort-style water park, while also coming on the heels of the Kentuck Festival of the Arts moving to Tuscaloosa and the highly public spat over the future of the Northport Community Center.

"The news of Jeff Hogg’s resignation is concerning," Bobo said on Friday. "Our City Council, while Jeff Hogg was president, worked tirelessly to increase our tax base through the pursuit of growth instead of looking to increase taxes on our citizens in order to address certain issues."

Bobo then said the council and city staff members have identified partnerships to make investments in public infrastructure yield a greater return in quality of life, economic development, and an increased tax base.

"Separate private partnerships have taken on the lagoon resort and other recreational projects, reducing the city’s liability and injecting growth, jobs, and revenue into Northport," she said. "To promote transparency and understanding of processes, city staff has been tasked with uploading feasibility studies, impact studies, and information surrounding these projects onto our city website as they become public record."

What's more, Bobo said Northport City Administrator Glenda Webb is assisting the council and mayor in leading the charge to facilitate workshops for citizens, staff, council, planning commission, and community to voice ideas for the betterment of the community.

"The schools in our city are not adequately funded," she said. "Many of our roads are in need of significant improvement. Our infrastructure and city services demand costly maintenance and attention. The solutions to these issues come at a hefty price that must be paid for by increasing our revenue streams."

Indeed, Bobo said the aforementioned issues will only get worse if citizens and officials do not work together to find common ground.

"I pledge, despite the handful of people who have encouraged discord, to continue to work to promote transparency and accountability while pursuing fiscally conservative principles," she said. "It is to be expected that we do not always agree, however, disagreement provides an opportunity for betterment, and if people desire to work together, an opportunity for oneness to derive what is good for the whole."

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