Mayors from Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery and Tuscaloosa completed a two-day retreat yesterday in Clarke County that was designed to strengthen ties between Alabama’s five major cities.

Participants included Mayor William Bell of Birmingham, Mayor Tommy Battle of Huntsville, Mayor Sandy Stimpson of Mobile, Mayor Todd Strange of Montgomery and Mayor Walt Maddox of Tuscaloosa.

Stimpson hosted the retreat at his family lodge near Jackson, Ala.

The group had no formal agenda but shared ideas and best practices on significant challenges facing their communities, from public safety and municipal finance to regulatory and economic issues.

Stimpson, who took office on Nov. 4, said he was pleased to host the meeting after the idea was suggested by Strange and Maddox.

“Being the newest mayor, I had more to gain than anyone else simply by listening to some of their experiences,” Stimpson said. “It was very enlightening for me to hear how each of the mayors handles the difficult, day-to-day challenges that each of us must face.”

Bell, who took office in 2010, described the meeting as the first of its kind in Alabama.

“This was the first time that the mayors representing the five major cities of Alabama have come together to discuss common issues and common solutions for our communities,” Bell said. “This should result in seeing our cities strengthened as we address issues that will help move our state forward.”

Maddox, who took office in 2005, said mayors are uniquely empowered to make an immediate impact on the lives of their constituents.

“Mayors are best positioned to change the future of our communities,” Maddox said. “The information exchanged over the last 24 hours has given each of us new ideas to go home and implement.”

Battle, who took office in 2008 and this morning ended speculation that he may run for governor, said the five mayors share a commitment to public service.

“When we work together, we can do great things for our entire state,” Battle said. “There’s no question these relationships will benefit us but more importantly they will pay dividends for the people we are elected to serve.”

Strange, who took office in 2009, said the mayors each face demanding public schedules but that the time together was well spent.

“In discussing the challenges that we all face, it was a great opportunity to build fellowship and share solutions,” Strange said. “By applying these best practices, we will help build a better future for our citizens and others across the state of Alabama.”

Stimpson said the mayors agreed to conduct the meeting on a regular basis going forward with the next summit tentatively scheduled for June. The location is yet to be determined but Stimpson said the group enjoyed the relaxed and distraction-free environment provided by the lodge setting in rural Clarke County.

The mayors said they paid their own travel expenses to attend the retreat.

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