Tuscaloosa Public Projects Committee Meeting Summary - August 18, 2026
Tuscaloosa Public Projects Committee Meeting - August 18, 2026
The Tuscaloosa Public Projects Committee convened on August 18, 2026, to consider a range of items including water infrastructure contracts, sewer project acceptance, airport grants and fee collection changes, alcohol license applications, and a property sale proposal. All items were approved except for a development RFP which was tabled indefinitely.
Discussion Items
- Civil Works Construction Contract: Brian presented a contract to replace a 475-foot, 1.25-inch galvanized water line with 2-inch PVC. Low quote from Civil Works Construction. Funded from water distribution capital repairs. Scheduled for September. Approved unanimously.
- Culver Road Sewer Project Acceptance: Mike presented acceptance of completed sewer infrastructure installed by the Tuscaloosa County Commission. Council members raised concerns about property damage (e.g., a sinkhole). Mike clarified the county and contractor are responsible for the one-year warranty. Approved after discussion.
- Oakmont Subdivision Sewer Acceptance: Mike requested acceptance of sanitary sewer infrastructure for a townhome development on Hargrove Road. Approved.
- Black Warrior Barge Mooring Project: Bill presented awarding a contract to Southern Marine Construction Company for $2,743,038 to install two mooring piles downstream of Woolsey Fennell Bridge. Final project under a 2020 BUILD grant. Previously over budget; scope reduced. Approved.
- Runway Extension Reimbursable Agreement Amendment: Jeff presented an amendment for construction services with FA. Within budget. Approved.
- Memorandum of Understanding with Ascension FBO Network: Jeff outlined a new fee collection arrangement where the FBO collects special event fees (game day weekends) and remits a 20% share to the city. Approved.
- Termination of Vector Airport Systems Contract: Jeff presented termination of Vector's contract due to the new FBO arrangement. Approved.
- Ordinance Amendment (Section 5-41): Jeff presented an amendment making special event fees optional and updating fee schedules. Approved.
- Cargo and Overflow Ramp Phase II Grant Agreements: Jeff presented execution of grant agreements with FA and ALDOT totaling $2,599,230 with a city match of $68,401. Approved.
- Court Referral Contract Renewal: Jessica requested authorization for the mayor to execute a contract with the Administrative Office of Courts for the FY 2007 Court Reform Program. Renewal doubled up due to seven-day deadline. Approved.
- HUD Agreement: Heather presented authorization for the mayor to execute an agreement with HUD for $46,520 to fund HMIS lead data management. Approved.
- ATT Lease Amendment: Tom presented an amendment for the cell array on the 29th Street water tower: 15-year term (three 5-year terms), rent starting at $2,000/month with 10% increases every 5 years. Approved.
- Alcohol License Applications: Kelly presented two applications: Westerfield Club (club liquor class two) at 3100 Yacht Club Way, and Beef O'Brady's (restaurant retail liquor) at 3799 McFarland Boulevard East (hours Sunday-Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm, occupancy 245). Both approved.
- Fifth Street Spark LLC RFP Response: Brandon Hayes of Heartbrook Development presented a proposal to purchase a remnant parcel adjacent to their lot at 3502 Fifth Street to build seven townhomes (approx. 1,800 sq ft each, 3BR/2.5BA). Councilman expressed desire to table indefinitely pending investigation of connectivity improvements related to ongoing construction. Motion to table indefinitely carried.
Key Outcomes
- All consent-like items (items 1-14) were approved by voice vote with no recorded opposition.
- The RFP response from Heartbrook Development was tabled indefinitely to allow the council to study connectivity options before selling the parcel.
- Meeting adjourned after completion of the agenda.
Meeting Transcript
Brian approval of minor works pro public works contract with civil works construction. Yes, sir. Um we had uh three quotes we asked for for this project. Civil works was a low quote. Um we'll replace them. This line is actually 1.25 inches in diameter. It's galvanized. Um so we want to replace it. Uh it's 475 foot. We'll replace it with two inch PVC. The funding for this is pay for out of the water distribution capital repairs accounts, operational account. Um, and we'll do this in September. Um, any questions? Any questions for Brian? Second. Got a motion second. All in favor, aye motion passes. Uh Jenna item number two, Mike resolution accepting the install public infrastructure improvements for cover road. Yes, sir. So this is a project that was uh uh through the Tuscaloosa County Commission. Uh it's called the Culver Road Sewer Project. There's your general location along Culver Road and some of the side extension roads. Um the the project's complete, the punch lists have been taken care of with these grant projects. Um the county obtains the easements, then they turn the easements over to the sewer uh to us, and this is ready now for us to accept maintenance on the system. Mike, I've been getting a lot of complaints about some work done on this project. We sure like I've getting a lot of calls about yards being damaged from it and all kinds of issues. Has all that been taken care of? And if if not, will that be on us or will that be on the county? So it would be on the county. This resolution just allows the residents to connect. Okay. So for them to keep it. So any issues with the project that that's still that's not on that won't be on our dime to fix, that'll still be on the county's dime to fix right. Um Brian, you might combat that there'll be a warranty period with the contract, any issues like that. We handled by the contractor if you're not here. Um actually went out. One lady had developed like a sinkhole in her yard that they had to go back and fill in and all any kind of issues like that they'd be responsible for, correct? Yes, sir. That's right. And for that entire one-year warranty period. Okay, all right. Any other questions for Mike? Number four. Second, got a motion and second. All in favor. Uh motion passes. Uh number three, Mike, you back up. All right, so our next one is uh for a subdivision called Oakmont. This is on the south side of uh Hargrove Road, just beyond the curve. Um this is a townhome development, and in this situation, uh only public infrastructure is a sanitary sewer.
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