$3.3M In Water Projects, New Storm Shelter On Commission Agenda

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The Tuscaloosa County Commission is set for its regular meeting Wednesday at 9 a.m., with several big items on the agenda.

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The most impactful of the measures on Wednesday's schedule will see commissioners vote on $3.3 million in water infrastructure projects for three different rural water associations in northern Tuscaloosa County. The funds are District 1's allocation of money given to the county through the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan.

District 1 Commissioner Stan Acker told Patch on Monday that the list of projects was developed through talks with the different water associations in the hopes of address their most pressing needs.

He explained the overall goal will be to improve access to drinking water for those in rural areas of the county.

"We want to get people clean, reliable, safe drinking water," Acker said. "A lot of us don’t think about that or take it for granted in a lot of areas. But that's not always the case everywhere, even in our county. We just want to have that opportunity for everybody."

Proposed projects in District 1

Buhl Elrod Holman Water Authority

• Boyd Road Booster Station ($174,050)
• Water main expansion on Cooper Road and Crawford Road ($707,425)
• Water meter replacement, with half the cost split with District 4. ($235,551)

Carrolls Creek Water Authority

• Expansion of service on Mormon Road ($446,300)
• Highway 69/Wilcutt Road expansion ($169,300)
• Traweek Road expansion ($31,500)
• Goodwater Road expansion ($506,700)
• Reed Mountain tank rehabilitation painting ($150,000)
• New Lexington tank rehabilitation painting ($600,000)

Coker Water Authority

• Belaire tank rehabilitation painting ($100,000)
• Lake Lurleen tank rehabilitation painting ($150,000)

"The reality is recognizing that we literally can't get water economically to everywhere, so we’re doing the ones we can, the best that we can," Acker explained, pointing out that the expansions will not be for the entire roads, but for targeted sections. "These are just the best attempts at getting the most bang for the buck and the most projects we can get done."

District 2 Commissioner Jerry Tingle saw his $3.3 million in water infrastructure projects approved in July. Click here for an itemized list of expenditures and projects for District 2.

Duncanville Storm Shelter

Commissioners will also vote Wednesday to secure the land for a new storm shelter in Duncanville. District 3 Commissioner Mark Nelson told Patch that the property owner, Johnny Free, has been instrumental in the project, as he has donated the land and materials.

The property is located off of Highway 82 down Duncanville Middle School Road.

Nelson then said he aimed to make the shelter a year-round multi-use facility instead of just letting it sit empty when severe weather isn't imminent.

"I want to this to have job fairs, community events, picnics," he said. "The volunteer fire department in Duncanville will be responsible for it and run it, so it’s really a community effort."

Nelson also said the accessibility from Highway 82 will be another big selling point for the new shelter, which is expected to carry a price tag in the range of $750,000 to $1 million. However, he said the Commission is currently in the process of trying to secure a grant in the amount of $550,000 to help cover costs.

Click here to view the full online agenda for Wednesday's meetings and follow us here for updates and coverage.

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