It was the last city council meeting of 2013 and Selma Mayor George Evans was wrapping up an abnormally quick mayor’s report.

Topics on the night’s report included: purchasing stun guns, an update on the St. James Hotel and allocating money for emergency sirens.

The report ended with a statement that seemed routine at the time, but has potential to ring true.

“I truly believe that 2014 is going to be a big year for the city of Selma,” Evans said.

The city has several projects on the horizon. Some are directly related to city government, while others are simply proposals from private or semi-private entities.

The first and most exciting is the completion of the Riverfront Amphitheater. The project has dragged on for quite some time. There were some complications surrounding the architects, but a recent proposal could have the theater ready in time for the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday.

The St. James is heralded as the cornerstone of downtown, but it would have a difficult time competing with the amphitheater, which would quickly become a premier music venue in Selma upon completion.

The St. James also has potential as the Selma City Council works to finalize a deal with a potential lessee.

Finding a way to seamlessly incorporate the hotel and amphitheater into a proposed entertainment district would certainly revitalize downtown Selma.

If the entertainment district is successful in drawing more Black Belt residents to downtown Selma, perhaps the business climate in our city will gradually increase, allowing new businesses to open and old, crumbling buildings to be filled with new life.

Selma’s infrastructure, though it still needs some work, also has potential. The city still has multiple road paving projects to complete. At some point, construction on the Dallas Avenue Bridge will finish, returning a more normal traffic flow through the city.

The Selma Water Works and Sewer Board is working to replace all water meter and fire hydrants in the city. The projects wouldn’t be immediately noticeable, but would certainly be a part of a productive year.

Bienville Park still needs some work, especially as it is within the proposed boundaries of the entertainment district, but the city is working to repair the sinkhole. A completion date in 2014 is a reasonable expectation.

It’s not directly related to city government, but the Teppers Building sits uncompleted. Though work inside the building is ongoing, there haven’t been any noticeable changes in recent history. For a productive 2014, progress needs to be made on the building. It sits on the busiest street in Selma.

It can’t be stated enough — 2015 is going to be one of the most important years for Selma financially and historically.

Our city prides itself on its rich history and, with three important historical anniversaries approaching, Selma is poised to capitalize on tens of thousands of tourists flocking to our city.

For 2014 to be a productive year, Selma needs to ensure its ongoing projects are completed in a timely manner. A successful 2014 could lead to an impressive profit margin in 2015 and an overall improvement in our city’s quality of life.