[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6057130,"mediaKeyId","3307815-f8ada48129ae21791aca03b6fe174e38","parentId",3307815,"title","Council approves multiple contracts, grants and FY2025 budget amendment","audioSeconds",130,"startMs",1430000,"endMs",1560000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3307815-f8ada48129ae21791aca03b6fe174e38&start=1430&end=1560","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3307815-f8ada48129ae21791aca03b6fe174e38/thumbnail_1430000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6057130/Tuscaloosa-City/Tuscaloosa-County/Alabama/Council-approves-multiple-contracts-grants-and-FY2025-budget-amendment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6057130-e2fa3f561324aabc5882a75f5289298d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207662&Signature=oiNOwipe6wbVTIAZIRZSFwNH1Oj2aGAvgkQPwISS4kCbo5jzqxD8rqQ7SfZ6pEWiR2kafkwBj~TokIm6YJ-gs3I22P4H4ZBAq3cdWwzxYUr48qX-IlW4Zq4b8cRYciWyjAeQ11LEfZonF7VT5trN7u9SwcRgnNFOHypWuAw7jgmvFPYsAVqN60pG~SWVzCMD7ixuiWNeKVlORmRgCXW-K5R3~wgEf9JLM3Mivl8HVjef4kdePcNfcF7o7KZAhAvw4WKhkjsQEnUStfjloU5RKvvacy8ZXqeJn-m-G9OhZvKawB8RH4ZFubPjMrt98DFi-I7MTtt6bBqr86n878Jg1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Tuscaloosa City, AL","date","2025-05-14T11:37:44Z","article","The Tuscaloosa City Council approved a batch of routine and time-sensitive items, including vendor contracts, grant applications for public-safety and transportation programs, district disbursements and an amendment to the fiscal year 2025 general-fund budget.

Council action included authorization to purchase equipment from Tuscaloosa Tractor Inc.; minor public-works contracts with Knight Sign Industries, K & A Builders and Nixon Power Services; and an emergency public-works contract with Price Civil Services Inc. The council also approved consulting agreements with Kavanaugh McDonald Consulting LLC and with Kavanaugh Consulting LLC on a project described as the conversion of police and fire pensions to \"RSA.\"

The council authorized disbursements from District 1 improvement funds for Oakdale Elementary School and from District 7 improvement funds for the Benjamin Barnes YMCA. Staff were authorized to submit a grant application for the 2026 Transportation Alternatives Program, and the council approved execution of 2025 State Homeland Security Grant Program applications for both Tuscaloosa Fire Rescue and the Tuscaloosa Police Department.

Other actions included adopting a 2025 sales-tax holiday for covered items, declaring an emergency public-works contract and approving Amendment No. 10 to the FY2025 general-fund budget. Several of the items were passed by unanimous consent and votes recorded on the meeting record; the transcript does not show line‑item budget details or grant award amounts in the meeting discussion.

The actions authorize staff to proceed with procurement, grant submission and contract execution; specific project budgets, contract amounts and timelines will be handled through departmental processes and follow-up reporting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Tuscaloosa City Council Meeting - May 13, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The council approved a series of vendor contracts and grant applications, authorized district disbursements, adopted a sales-tax holiday and passed an amendment to the FY2025 general fund budget; several measures passed by unanimous consent.","taxTitle","Tuscaloosa City, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama","taxId",4830,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6057135,"Council approves annexation and rezoning for 19-acre Westervelt residential development",108,1262000,1370000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3307815-f8ada48129ae21791aca03b6fe174e38&start=1262&end=1370","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3307815-f8ada48129ae21791aca03b6fe174e38/thumbnail_1262000.jpg","/articles/6057135/Tuscaloosa-City/Tuscaloosa-County/Alabama/Council-approves-annexation-and-rezoning-for-19-acre-Westervelt-residential-development","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6057135-61e4e27f4bba2646bdc7f4179aadbd54/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207662&Signature=XVlR~rNckpEnHtbNxv0CkRPiRqwCPybwehVACnmvWEnOtLG9MOVrgvxqDzzWTpQsAx~0MaJZ2V1ioKrniUgI4h~weJWYX4nfGSkJucE7Kym9juguMRno1BEm~GK1sRdORXu54uiTbdgei~mRr3lFoZFS7oV304bfXeSjmpC1EREwXnCQZ517WzZ1yiG9jDf7-t1-QAa1fwNZU9lNQ1ee7d~mBEKcOAJWvgh0viDC27ItzIHKvagqrN7JsxqWz7HUy2RovdkFcIncPGltUuR62NtFvxyN2TNXzbCu1i8bcttkMVTw7u0-j8Jh6r-9XPBEFRghEj9Sm15VzOE4yFMjJQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tuscaloosa City Council approved a rezoning and annexation request from the Westervelt Company for roughly 19 acres located south of 7415 New Watermelon Road, changing the zoning designation from SFR‑1 to LR to allow a new residential development.

City staff presented the site location and proposed lot layout and said the planning commission had unanimously recommended approval. Lance Stripling of the Westervelt Company said he was available to answer questions and confirmed the parcel lines under discussion.

After a public hearing with no speakers opposed, the council voted to approve the rezoning and annexation. The transcript shows the motion carried without recorded dissent.

The approval allows the developer to proceed with city zoning in place to support the residential subdivision; the council set no additional conditions in the record at the meeting.","The council unanimously approved rezoning and annexation for about 19 acres south of 7415 New Watermelon Road from SFR‑1 to LR to allow a new residential subdivision; the applicant represented the Westervelt Company.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6057140,"Council OKs occupancy increase for Decades Pub, expands Coppertop under conditional use permit",155,955000,1110000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3307815-f8ada48129ae21791aca03b6fe174e38&start=955&end=1110","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3307815-f8ada48129ae21791aca03b6fe174e38/thumbnail_955000.jpg","/articles/6057140/Tuscaloosa-City/Tuscaloosa-County/Alabama/Council-OKs-occupancy-increase-for-Decades-Pub-expands-Coppertop-under-conditional-use-permit","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6057140-7f969e22daa9ed043dfd3addf1b902f1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207662&Signature=WK-D3~x2O-m1l1AkNTkpzULDI5TkVK9Ch5igmiu4xAsYZS2HoQ3xhJch9hlc5KgvYNd-ut7t6ct45PDN9WXv5WWCPA4RWQHudr7R2bBSttn-~nBz52ljQmvupS6MsSuIMIml5hn-dItUAtqIveoZh5KLRUsAPF5ttexPftuxE15VUktrbgf6aIfkS0UhBLqTJaRUnBegNezRmcsLGC9p4Nswm06Q6090zGA962edE9RKf9ZITYMkFUfluerDgMXfutBVH9Eam2Up5355EhSIQ7~K91hD~6UlIxdVVoogQS~M1HNH3sOXEqemclEW6F~nBhFOQOZRwzwMpv7-p7lekQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tuscaloosa City Council approved two downtown bar expansions: an occupancy increase for Decades Pub and Grub and a conditional-use permit allowing Coppertop to expand into adjacent tenant space.

Decades Pub representative Clifton Clark told the council the business will move into an adjoining suite and add indoor and patio seating that increases capacity by 76 patrons (36 plus a 40-person patio). The council approved the occupancy increase after a public hearing; no objections were recorded.

Coppertop applied for a conditional-use permit because it is classified as a bar/club. City staff said Coppertop’s hours of operation would remain unchanged, that the expansion would add space consistent with other recent downtown suite takeovers, and that Fire and Police departments “do not have any issues with the request.” Staff reported a proposed maximum occupancy of 250 for the expanded premises, and councilors were told that the city's entertainment-license audit at the end of the year factors into ongoing compliance.

The council moved and approved both items after public hearings; the transcript shows the votes carried without recorded opposition. Councilors and staff noted that conditional-use approvals can lead to zoning violations and business-license consequences if an operator does not comply with the permit conditions.","Council approved an occupancy increase for Decades Pub and a conditional-use expansion for Coppertop, allowing both businesses to occupy adjacent suites; Coppertop's expansion was limited to a maximum occupancy of 250 and will be subject to entertainment-license audits.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6057144,"Council approves club liquor license for 2 Dimes after police raise crowd-control concerns",471,438000,909000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3307815-f8ada48129ae21791aca03b6fe174e38&start=438&end=909","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3307815-f8ada48129ae21791aca03b6fe174e38/thumbnail_438000.jpg","/articles/6057144/Tuscaloosa-City/Tuscaloosa-County/Alabama/Council-approves-club-liquor-license-for-2-Dimes-after-police-raise-crowd-control-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6057144-80bfaad5fb877a7d3576fa39d4db0ede/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207662&Signature=PmQgVgCiEO2XKA~Q9j13wiK7NrBSIBSjPz7cWNMOpJ~LML0guJ68qfV2S~N6G3QD4x8NAhQ52~9f8~1RtkaMZT1lQqNcReOjBh5sHsiIqCxijI8tpvzh-HCOMFGH4prMRZsNoNbrvE8OnLFDoWpZIzi2QEMbk2UQMpnZwcu0clwPaJX-UjESnBCQCwxyGrAV1OKv-w5KLAiRtQFFjzGxTTlTCEzxMZtasJPBv49E-cjQlpUDqfH8uQkGz5EEQH30Vc9ZHwWADtVE8yaCBPZHxim8XljyKZzEfxl8Sg~JO7bBxwv7AXKqDNHtLWUxnAdBzPGwEvtWGEMZtJ3aclA4vQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tuscaloosa City Council approved an ABC application for a Class 2 club liquor license for 2 Dimes, a proposed events venue at 1307 University Boulevard, after police outlined public-safety concerns about large late-night crowd dispersals.

Chief Blankley of the Tuscaloosa Police Department told councilors that when the venue was first discussed staff believed it would operate primarily as a concert hall, with crowds clearing out earlier. He said he learned before the meeting that the applicant planned to rent the space to fraternities and sororities and that those private‑party 'dump outs' could occur later at night, increasing the risk of overcrowding on adjacent sidewalks and streets.

Applicant Rick Myers said bookings now typically start at 5 p.m. and last into about 10 p.m., with most events drawing 700 people and one expected at about 1,200. \"We don't have any bookings anywhere close to [1,500]. Majority of the bookings have been around 700,\" Myers said. His operational partner, Grant McCabe, said the venue will staff in‑house security and install interior and exterior cameras; McCabe said the operators would provide footage to police when law enforcement needs it.

Council members voted to approve the ABC application; the motion carried 5 to 1 on the record. The transcript shows Chief Blankley recommended caution and that councilors asked for commitments that the venue operate as presented.

The approval allows 2 Dimes to operate as a private club venue with the licensing class requested; the record does not show post-approval conditions beyond the general public-safety concerns noted by police and the applicant's on-record statements about security and cameras.","The council approved a Class 2 club liquor license for 2 Dimes at 1307 University Boulevard despite police concerns about large late-night 'dump outs' and potential overcrowding; the measure passed 5–1.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6057149,"Tuscaloosa council declares former Fire Station 11 surplus as residents question new station south of tracks",300,1790000,2090000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3307815-f8ada48129ae21791aca03b6fe174e38&start=1790&end=2090","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3307815-f8ada48129ae21791aca03b6fe174e38/thumbnail_1790000.jpg","/articles/6057149/Tuscaloosa-City/Tuscaloosa-County/Alabama/Tuscaloosa-council-declares-former-Fire-Station-11-surplus-as-residents-question-new-station-south-of-tracks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6057149-80556ff3a0039ad5d9c477f3c1df9f05/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207662&Signature=ZDd8QPwi6BO7g8h-2QXanipKe~76DtoNbj7PIddZEL9cghQPlaXxefNwLB4d85Gm0u3LMhe2HCk7M~kgmQGowe5n62VHBmSPviJQJB93c0suE9ZCwekDr6SB0pyBRDEaw4ImlhWfZGElPKVVOH6yZRxuS9XwLboY4IRtv8UfdXFDvY9x2KvTP99lYcRFtrgcLMgw8g3OLNpwpQJcP3PUcnmv826CR-SFhtqFXynH4smZouTVT3l4bGHM2FWKkKyXjYCZYG87O7jEW9QJ7KvpikxsaDTXszNL5AOSGhlSdAdbnri9pYchFFcGZ2sqDnCPH4K5Tp-h~avo9PH6q8ikjw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tuscaloosa City Council voted to declare former Fire Station 11 surplus and authorize its disposal, and residents pressed officials about a separate plan to place a new fire station south of the railroad tracks.

During the public-comment period, Dennis Collins, who gave his address as 1011 Thirtieth Street, said he was “very concerned” about siting another station near existing stations and questioned the need for what he estimated could be a $2,000,000 project. “I just don't see the point in that. I think it's a waste of the city's money,” Collins said.

Chief Wells Williamson responded that putting a station south of the railroad would reduce response time for parts of the city that are frequently blocked by trains. Williamson said the change would likely produce “a gain of about 3 or 4 minutes” for first-unit response in affected areas, and that such a reduction could be critical in cardiac arrests or house fires.

The council action to declare the former Fire Station 11 surplus and authorize disposal was moved, seconded and approved during the meeting. The vote on the surplus declaration was recorded as carried by unanimous consent. The transcript does not show a formal council vote on siting or funding a new station; the remarks about a new south-of-the-tracks station occurred during public comment and staff response.

Councilors and staff did not adopt a construction plan or budget for a new station at this meeting. City staff and fire officials were recorded explaining operational reasons for considering a station south of the railroad and noting that railroad crossings can delay apparatus movements. No formal timeline or funding source for a new station was specified in the record.

The surplus-declaration vote moves the former Station 11 property toward disposal; next steps and any proposed reinvestment in fire operations were not detailed in the meeting materials shared on the record.","The City Council approved declaring former Fire Station 11 surplus and authorizing its disposal while residents raised concerns about a proposed new fire station south of the railroad; fire officials said the new location would shave several minutes off response times in some neighborhoods.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves multiple contracts, grants and FY2025 budget amendment

Council approves annexation and rezoning for 19-acre Westervelt residential development

Council OKs occupancy increase for Decades Pub, expands Coppertop under conditional use permit

Council approves club liquor license for 2 Dimes after police raise crowd-control concerns

Tuscaloosa council declares former Fire Station 11 surplus as residents question new station south of tracks