Birmingham City Council appropriates money for capital improvements
The Birmingham City Council, at its regular meeting for Tuesday, Aug. 14, voted to amend the city’s capital fund budget for the 2019 fiscal year and appropriate about $40 million for large capital projects.
The money to pay for the projects will come from a bond sale that the Council voted to approve on July 31. The appropriations are as follows:
- Bus Rapid Transit grant match, $20 million.
- Bus Rapid Transit (additional expenditures), $1.75 million.
- Landfill Cell, $7.5 million.
- Industrial Park (near Barber Motorsports Park). $4.6 million.
- Legion Field Improvements, $2.5 million.
- Boutwell Auditorium improvements, $750,000.
- Central Library new main stairwell, $1.5 million.
- Wylam Library, $800,000.
- Crossplex Courts, $600,000.
The appropriations — approved as part of the council’s consent agenda — were submitted by the Mayor and the Budget and Finance Committee and recommended by the Director of Finance.
Members also voted to approve the city’s purchase of some property in Woodlawn for $457,000 to use as the site of a transit station for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. The property, to be purchased from Ken Gerelds Company, is located at 5601 First Ave. N. and 11 56th St. S.
The Council voted to authorize Mayor Randall Woodfin to accept the 2018 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. The grant, in the amount of almost $348,000, will be used by the Birmingham Police Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. The city will use its share, about $278,000, for law enforcement and technology improvement programs and disburse the remaining $70,000 to the Sheriff’s Office.
The Council also granted an Alcohol Manufacturer License to District Brewing Company for use at Birmingham District Brewing Company, 2201 Second Ave. S. The item was submitted by Councilor Hunter Williams, chairman of the Public Safety Committee. The brewing company will be located in The Battery, a mixed-used redevelopment currently under construction in an old commercial structure.
PETITION TO EPA
During his weekly remarks to the Council, Woodfin requested that the citizens of Birmingham sign an online petition asking the federal Environmental Protection Agency to add the North Birmingham 35th Avenue Superfund Site to the agency’s National Priorities List.
Woodfin announced on Aug. 7 that he wants the EPA to add the site, which consists of contaminated soil from industrial pollution, to the NPL.
The Mayor said that U.S. Senator Doug Jones has sent a supporting letter to the EPA.
Woodfin said that he has also spoken with Terri Sewell and Gary Palmer, the two U.S. representatives from the Birmingham area.
The petition is available at birminghamal.gov/EPApetition.