City Manager

Seddrick Hill Sr. was named City Manager in May 2021, when the Talladega City Council voted unanimously for him to serve in the municipality’s highest-ranking post. He oversees close to 250 employees, including Talladega fire fighters and police. Mr. Hill is the first African American to hold this position.  

One of his chief priorities as city manager is to restore a sense of pride in the community by making Talladega a better place to live, work and visit. Under his leadership, the city has initiated major capital improvement projects, reduced crime, implemented extensive cleaning and beautification programs, increased support for events that enrich the community and attract tourism dollars, expanded appropriations for organizations that help improve the quality of life in Talladega, and adopted ordinances and resolutions that promote economic growth.  He spearheaded the revival of the Talladega-Texaco Walk of Fame in Davey Allison Memorial Park and has been widely recognized for strengthening relationships between the business community and the city.

By forging partnerships with community leaders and working closely with Talladega City Council, city staff, and volunteers, Mr. Hill is helping to revitalize Talladega. The city recently applied for and was accepted into the highly competitive Main Street Alabama program. It was commended by Governor Kay Ivey for being named a Main Street Alabama Designated Community in June 2022.

The city has developed a master plan for downtown and park redevelopment, and received a $280,000 Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant. Additionally, construction of a downtown pocket park begins shortly. The city recently utilized a Community Development Block Grant to demolish 15 abandoned, dilapidated buildings in Talladega’s Knoxville community, and will begin demolishing 16 additional buildings in February 2023.

In 2021, under Mr. Hill’s leadership, the City of Talladega held a police chief candidate forum and selected a new chief.  Mr. Hill has worked closely with Chief Diane Thomas and the Talladega City Council to increase safety in the community. Murder rates dropped from eight in 2021 to five in 2022. Burglaries dropped from 121 in 2021 to 63 in 2022. Robberies dropped from ten in 2021 to three in 2022. Rapes dropped from eight in 2021 to four in 2022.

Prior to being appointed city manager, Mr. Hill served as executive director of institutional advancement and community relations for Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind (AIDB). He reported directly to the institution’s president, and distinguished himself by working successfully with diverse organizations to gain funds through grants and donations for handicapped students and disadvantaged students.  

Before joining AIDB, he served in various capacities at Talladega College, his alma mater. During his tenure as vice president of institutional advancement for the college, he generated funds by aligning with alumni, corporations, foundations, and philanthropists. 

Mr. Hill earned a Bachelor of Arts in public administration with a minor in criminal justice from Talladega College in 2006, a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in criminal justice from Jacksonville State University in August 2009, and a certificate in`Philanthropy and Fundraising at the New York University (NYU) George H. Heyman, Jr. Center for Philanthropy and Fundraising in 2013.  He is pursuing his Ph.D. in educational management at Hampton University. In addition, he was accepted as a Minority Fellow with the Atlanta Association of Fundraising Professionals and completed the H.E.L.F. (Higher Education Leadership Fellows) Program in June 2019, Cohort 9. He is also a graduate of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) High Performance Leadership Academy. 

He is a recipient of numerous awards, including the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Mu Tau Omega Chapter, Outstanding Leadership Award.  He is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. He is also a certified mentor through the 100 Black Men of America, Inc. and a member of the National League of Cities, International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and Alabama City/County Management Association (ACCMA).

Mr. Hill is a native of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and a first generation college graduate.

He has one child, Seddrick Hill Jr.

City Manager is appointed by the City Council. The City Manager is the head of the administrative branch of the City Government. The City Manager shall be responsible to the council for the proper administration of all affairs of the City. The City Manager shall have the power and shall be required to:
 

• Enforce all laws and ordinances.
• Appoint and remove all officers and employees of the city except as otherwise provided by law and except as the City Manager may authorize department heads to appoint and remove subordinates in their respective departments.
• Exercise administrative supervision and control over all officers, employees, offices, departments, boards and agencies except those otherwise provided for by law.
• Prepare and submit the budget proposal and to administer it after its adoption.