[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",5987255,"mediaKeyId","5774442-348de7905b5e22413d9ceb7f8f5c27e8","parentId",5774442,"title","Parks and Recreation seeks gym floor work, bridge decking and equipment; requests skilled labor positions","audioSeconds",731,"startMs",2067000,"endMs",2798000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5774442-348de7905b5e22413d9ceb7f8f5c27e8&start=2067&end=2798","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5774442-348de7905b5e22413d9ceb7f8f5c27e8/thumbnail_2067000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5987255/Homewood-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Parks-and-Recreation-seeks-gym-floor-work-bridge-decking-and-equipment-requests-skilled-labor-positions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5987255-587d1d767353a32c9c1565ae8c47378c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770401482&Signature=FfNMYbs35rJINjg9ApuGjcjTQ14Uv0rENIyY4yoa6yJXUrAoEWwTDh0X39GYR2ISXhoRDMTg9cI7kHswZFiPP28tkwJKnEvgpp3aLpIkw62TisT8-coAt~J~5noiCKmGPch8Fo72hPovwQEi-w-vMeRe9Bbdo2Oko1ABv~rYfaL8SfAS-rp~HFHHs3nDI3Thhvr28zhLCPDiZ5pMH286BxYbytQrYmWIQL4USElMavGS5y1rm2CNrD2WZazk0fUYQmkKFkCV1jbbPVRUizN5l7igBdMc~cbTWcF6K8Hyl~e8wh2WXqo637kDGNYuCAEB-WHOQMQhg4HtvWrdqoEr~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Homewood, AL","date","2025-09-12T02:28:27Z","article","Parks and Recreation staff asked the council on Sept. 11 to fund several capital projects and equipment replacements, including resurfacing community-center gym floors, replacing decking on bridges at Central Park, replacing pool shades, buying replacement landscape equipment and vehicles, and constructing a storage building at the West Homewood Athletic Complex.
Parks staff said the gym floors have passed their expected life cycle and will be stripped to bare wood and recoated. Staff also described deteriorated bridge decking at Central that requires replacement and said they are consulting suppliers for appropriate composite decking options. The department requested replacement of two stand-on mowers for the walking trail and replacement of aging field and landscape equipment.
Parks operations staff asked for four full-time skilled labor positions for landscaping and trail maintenance (two dedicated to the trail, two for mowing/landscape crew) and said the positions had been previously unfunded dating back to 2011. The parks director cited strong participation in youth athletics — with hundreds of participants across programs — and noted that in-house repairs and ADA ramp work have reduced external contracting costs. “We’ve done 62 sidewalk repairs this year … and we've done 15 ADA ramps … this would give us the opportunity to utilize 2 crews,” a parks/public-works official said while discussing in-house capacity.
No budget appropriation votes were taken; staff said some requests are in existing budgets or are insured projects already completed (for example, repairs at Spring Park and other items). The council asked for cost breakdowns and scheduling and noted future discussion with the landscape-architect team for specific park renovations such as Overton and Woodland parks.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Homewood Budget Hearing September 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Parks and Recreation presented capital requests for gym-floor replacement, pool shades, bridge decking repairs, storage and new landscape equipment, and requested four park skilled-labor positions to support trail and mowing work; staff said in-house repairs have reduced costs and program participation has grown.","taxTitle","Homewood City, Jefferson County, Alabama","taxId",65544,"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},5987260,"Public Works requests covered storage, ADA upgrades, and new equipment to speed sidewalk and paving work",470,1545000,2015000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5774442-348de7905b5e22413d9ceb7f8f5c27e8&start=1545&end=2015","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5774442-348de7905b5e22413d9ceb7f8f5c27e8/thumbnail_1545000.jpg","/articles/5987260/Homewood-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Public-Works-requests-covered-storage-ADA-upgrades-and-new-equipment-to-speed-sidewalk-and-paving-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5987260-e95b713e0d56188c6e4d06fae0cbf9bd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770401482&Signature=SxFJrWNgtAyNWZUiu0zkoR2wvesFL-hntqv9xRjpFTExWCIg3KRb33Hjs7VfaySmmXp2R6lav-n8fLO37T6RyEh6Zb6r4ZJTOMpmKwyxhksFqUL9h51f-tcQHRsBDFn1ylwzoyBTNl3sueYKiRAxMfLZGbFodvfgMsFn-n7WLtJmrQ4sXFWsA1iD7x3-azWT~txLzfEp0yQu0XTXUfRJrmnMH441RAdQ-~d6ui-wPkoX7NJYy9tq4efotQQxJCglcCdw4BT22qjbuUykypiCwWLUTte77Rbu15dXf4LRBii5bd6h6VZMZ3xk19RkM-PiTh7PJdMfMQHDSCMfiPL4kg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Public Works Director presented capital requests to the council on Sept. 11 to renovate the department’s 1984 facility, add covered metal shelters for vehicles and equipment, upgrade restrooms to ADA standards, and purchase compact excavation and paving equipment to improve in-house sidewalk and gutter repairs.
The director told the council the department has completed 62 sidewalk repairs of five feet or more this year and 15 ADA ramps in-house, and said new equipment would allow two crews to operate simultaneously rather than swapping crews across town. “We’ve done 62 sidewalk repairs this year of literally 5 foot or more,” the director said. He said in-house repairs typically cost about $2,500 to $3,000 per 10–15 foot section, compared with $6,500 to $7,000 if contracted out.
Requested equipment included smaller tracked loaders (“dingo”/compact grapple units) for ditch and rear-yard access, additional mini-excavators to support sidewalk crews, and replacement of three aging trucks. The transcript also noted previously approved paving and patching equipment will arrive in January, including a patching truck, excavator and dump truck bought with the 7¢ gas-tax fund. Staff and council discussed funding timing and the practice of using special funds (7¢ gas-tax) to spend down balances on needed equipment.
No formal vote was taken; the items were presented as capital requests within the FY2025–26 budget process. Council and staff discussed prioritizing covered storage for equipment and ADA restroom upgrades, and affirmed the department will provide follow-up cost estimates and phasing details as budget deliberations continue.","Public Works requested a multi-year renovation of its 1984 facility including covered metal shelters for equipment, ADA restroom upgrades, and new compact excavation and pavement-patching equipment; staff said in-house repairs have cut costs and increased capacity.",{"_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},5987265,"Court administrator seeks dedicated warrant officer, bailiff and higher maximum fines",1181,175000,1356000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5774442-348de7905b5e22413d9ceb7f8f5c27e8&start=175&end=1356","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5774442-348de7905b5e22413d9ceb7f8f5c27e8/thumbnail_175000.jpg","/articles/5987265/Homewood-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Court-administrator-seeks-dedicated-warrant-officer-bailiff-and-higher-maximum-fines","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5987265-ce81d8f421a3fad1acff213322caefe1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770401482&Signature=M4vEqeo4lBFLEenhqF5mAjyCGZj1xwoZsA4lIVAP5Wgcn~SG~jzQ2TwngAJN6el5ZVGBlym021bu6ms~K5RRnVRfEriJQN2ud4N9y1BiQjd7GABy9I4ZgW~BufviBfg~r7sPd83sXlfVIIQFYqNQ09mLjSp5UW~HCLIpY2QBAFVpElHbw42Rn1UDdn6wpIzdCRo-eYYPfXDKbtrt8sY9rJkU00mLC8Io1P8y5AgEzgLcWEl0dGZT-l0aaRD5vE5U5VQKu9dbuN5xZti9VUARxCtC~WKCZ3FThOhUOw2QhLpTXH5UWvsgpjGPJgtssHzLzEVmu6Np5fSi2CLsk9J8oA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Laura Roberts, court administrator for the City of Homewood, asked the City Council on Sept. 11 to add a full-time warrant officer and a full-time bailiff to the budget and to approve changes that would allow higher maximum ordinance fines. Roberts told the council the warrant officer would help clear a large backlog of outstanding warrants and that the bailiff position would replace overtime assignments now handled by sworn police officers.
Roberts said the court originally had 12,876 outstanding warrants when she began and that the number is now “a little over 9,000,” and that the court’s printed case docket showed “over 22,000 outstanding cases.” She said a dedicated warrant officer would focus on serving warrants and assist with court security, and that the position would technically be an employee of the police department even though it would work to the court’s schedule. “The police department doesn't have the manpower or dedication time to dedicate to a warrant officer,” Roberts said.
Roberts described the bailiff request as “in dire need” and said she would fund 50% of that position from the corrections jail fund and 50% from the court corrections fund, not from the general fund. She also asked the council to keep one already-funded full-time court clerk position available so she can fill it in the next fiscal year, and requested authority to spend up to $10,000 from court funds on office furniture and up to $45,000 from court funds on a vehicle for court use.
Separately, Roberts recommended updating the city’s fine schedule. She proposed replacing many existing maximum fines capped at $100 with a maximum of $500, while leaving judges discretion to set lower amounts when appropriate. “I'm asking that you all approve the ordinance to be put in place to update what we have and make a maximum bond of 500,” Roberts said. She noted the change would be a maximum cap, not a mandatory fine amount, and said the judge would consider factors such as repeat offenses and indigence when assessing fines.
Council members asked for comparables from other cities and for more specifics about thresholds between lower and higher fines, and one councilor said social science does not always show that higher fines change behavior. The council agreed to place the proposed fine-schedule changes on the committee referral agenda for the Public Safety Committee, where members said they would develop ordinance language and hold a fuller discussion.
No formal motion or vote to adopt the personnel requests or ordinance change occurred at the Sept. 11 meeting; the requests were presented for consideration as part of the budget process and for referral to committee. Council members and staff indicated further review and committee discussion would follow.","Homewood court administrator Laura Roberts requested a full-time warrant officer, a full-time bailiff, and authority to raise maximum ordinance fines to $500; she said court funds would cover some items and the proposed fine schedule will be sent to the public safety committee for ordinance drafting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parks and Recreation seeks gym floor work, bridge decking and equipment; requests skilled labor positions

Public Works requests covered storage, ADA upgrades, and new equipment to speed sidewalk and paving work

Court administrator seeks dedicated warrant officer, bailiff and higher maximum fines