Commission Approves TCSO Hangar Sale, TCSS Playground Upgrades

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The Tuscaloosa County Commission on Wednesday approved the sale of the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office Patrol Division Hangar on Robert Cardinal Airport Road at the Tuscaloosa National Airport.

Click here to subscribe to our free daily newsletter and breaking news alerts.

Commissioners awarded the sale to the high bidder — Jones Properties — in the amount of $1,061,000. The money from the sale will then be put toward the construction of a new hub for the TCSO Patrol Division on 35th Street.

Patch previously reported that the land on 35th Street was acquired by the county from the state Board of Education, before a plan was formed to relocate the TCSO Patrol Division from its current airport hangar location to the new site.

Site work on the project began in the spring, with the metal building initially estimated to cost $1.2 million in all. Harrison Construction is the general contractor on the project.

County officials also pointed out that the sale of the hangar would have to be approved by the Tuscaloosa City Council before the transition can begin.

In other news, Commissioners ...

• Approved $25,000 in repairs of existing equipment, along with new playground equipment at Walker Elementary. This includes a Cosmic Climber, swing frames and seats for special needs students, a miniature whirl, a Gumdrop play unit and rubber mulch.
• Approved $25,000 for Huntington Place Elementary School to cover the partial costs of a new obstacle course for its playground.
• Heard an update from Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox on the Saban Discovery Center and proposed event center at the current site of the Tuscaloosa News building
• Approved re-striping parking spaces in the Old Holt High School parking lot.
• Approved a resolution supporting an Industrial Access application for roadway and access management improvements in the area of Mercedes-Benz U.S. International in Vance.
• Approved the County Public Works Department to work with Sipsey Valley High School to construct, pave, and stripe a parking area on the school campus. The estimated cost of the project is $80,000.

Have a news tip or suggestion on how I can improve Tuscaloosa Patch? Maybe you're interested in having your business become one of the latest sponsors for Tuscaloosa Patch? Email all inquiries to me at ryan.phillips@patch.com.