When the crew from Olympia Construction finally completed the Magnolia Gardens housing complex on Range Street, they were so impressed with the cooperation they received from the City of Selma they decided to create a public display of their appreciation.

Now, the signs of their appreciation are available for Selma and all its visitors to enjoy.

Surrounding the four “Welcome to Selma” signs at various entrances to the city, the Olympia Construction crew cleared away the overgrown grass and created a flowerbed.

“They really did some beautiful landscaping,” said Elizabeth Driggers, director of Planning and Development.

Butch Richardson, development manager of the Albertville-based construction company, was impressed with the city and its residents during his time overseeing the creation of Magnolia Gardens, a 48-unit apartment complex for low- to moderate-income families.

“I’ve worked in eight different states, and I haven’t found any place more cooperative than Selma,” Richardson said during the ribbon-cutting of Magnolia Gardens. “When we came here, we put our hearts here. We received support from the mayor.”

Along with the City, Richardson said he also enjoyed the support from Selma’s businesses.

“The local businesses have been great to work with,” Richardson said. “When we showed interest the property, they jumped in and were ready to help.”

Driggers said the landscaping work around the signs was the company’s way of doing something for the community that welcomed them in.

“Butch Richardson just wanted to do something nice for the city,” Driggers said. “It’s a really wonderful thing, especially after the League of Cities meetings.”

The signs are ringed with a bed of wood chips filled with a variety of plants, flowers, bushes, and small trees.

Magnolia Gardens was dedicated on June 11 in a ceremony that involved representatives from the company, along with City and Dallas County officials.

The project was a joint project of Olympia Construction and the Jonathon Daniels CDC.