[{"_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",5986508,"mediaKeyId","5774440-887a86a65d0fd754a9c4625e85951375","parentId",5774440,"title","Homeowner plea prompts council discussion of private drainage, easements and a $105,000 placeholder in capital plan","audioSeconds",1628,"startMs",5516000,"endMs",7144000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5774440-887a86a65d0fd754a9c4625e85951375&start=5516&end=7144","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5774440-887a86a65d0fd754a9c4625e85951375/thumbnail_5516000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5986508/Homewood-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Homeowner-plea-prompts-council-discussion-of-private-drainage-easements-and-a-105000-placeholder-in-capital-plan","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5986508-0e96786978c7a90de3d640290efd6564/orig.mp4?Expires=1773620584&Signature=ftoyieB5k42gX1jDYQdLPYrRB5eHaiGDhvQIetIsHhGV-1Il3KRxGWsD9GLriAHv1IkSRdAGD5WAjde3dg7O2P4Lw7ga5LcAP6rn4NxTS4TYFInzqOa~E1J-BRe8UT3MxBTRmuW1~1G4R24r0K7us-SLORxGJjAmB13qp7G1Si9hm3WmuNZ2LIMRiihqv5WwlncfZVV2dNKUfqMrWLdKj7O0H8qRbYcANN~uTs8mJLbJMZSzkpe9BGhUl3ODP~MIx4nlhoN3Ph1uW4gBkPjJ4TWPp8ePuF6YREla7D4swM4mAarPnQ-tivX4eE5wvD6GI3XNufWf~1AuXKy9TbR29g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Homewood, AL","date","2025-09-12T14:50:14Z","article","A homeowner who identified herself as Jenna described repeated flooding of her home and basement and asked the city for help at the finance committee’s Sept. 9 budget hearing. Jenna said the property has flooded many times in the past four years, that a collapsed private storm pipe and an inlet in the backyard have contributed to repeated water intrusion and that she and her family have spent their own funds to address the problem without lasting success. “Please help us. Please,” she told the committee.

Engineering staff and council members described the situation as a private‑property drainage issue that nevertheless involves significant public‑system risk and community concern. Staff said the storm pipe and inlets at the location sit on private property until the line reaches public right‑of‑way and that a durable municipal solution would require an easement granting the city access to construct and maintain drainage infrastructure on private land.

Legal and process considerations: City staff and council members walked through the procedural steps staff said would be needed for any city‑led work on private property: a survey, dedication of a perpetual easement that runs with the land, approval by any mortgage holder on the property and normal procurement and construction approvals. Staff noted the city attorney was unavailable that evening and that further legal review would be required to document the form and scope of a permanent easement.

Precedent and policy concerns: Committee members raised the policy question that often follows requests like this: if the city funds work on private property in this circumstance, how will it decide where to draw the line for other similar requests? Council members urged staff and future councils to develop criteria and to consider past situations where the city had helped tie private drainage into public storm pipes. Staff and a council member emphasized that the city can leverage its procurement and contracting capacity to obtain better pricing than a private property owner could obtain alone.

Budget outcome and next steps: After discussion, the committee agreed to leave a placeholder of approximately $105,000 in the capital plan for this drainage work so the money would be available if the city and property owners can complete required legal steps (surveys, easement execution, mortgage approvals) and complete due diligence. Staff emphasized that the placeholder does not authorize execution of work; any actual construction would require subsequent council approval and the legal conveyances described above.

Ending: Homeowner appeals for help prompted a detailed staff and council discussion about easements, title issues and municipal precedent. Committee members asked staff to document options and legal steps; the $105,000 remains in the draft capital program pending those follow‑up steps.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Budget Hearing - Sept. 9, 2025 @ 5pm","oneSentenceSummary","A homeowner who identified herself as Jenna described repeated flooding of her home and basement and asked the city for help at the finance committee’s Sept. 9 budget hearing.","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},5986512,"Engineering department seeks senior civil engineer as capital spending ramps up; committee reviews projects",876,2348000,3224000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5774440-887a86a65d0fd754a9c4625e85951375&start=2348&end=3224","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5774440-887a86a65d0fd754a9c4625e85951375/thumbnail_2348000.jpg","/articles/5986512/Homewood-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Engineering-department-seeks-senior-civil-engineer-as-capital-spending-ramps-up-committee-reviews-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5986512-b3c28c604b263b8ae1c00b7d1983e375/orig.mp4?Expires=1773620584&Signature=GVuXidAsLX1HA5yxn6eJOs8ZpL9jqC~AythCHVH2XgpabC8yxUrLBpNdLbEwk-zrXAMNCSLsJKx4evOsvnuqTMJ9gX3gfO01IiIn4HngftbSoN4ScaPVPlatdMCxkec0wlIqL-245R80m3U2sX-piBcWGMvxQBr3kJpq0WBOHFnN9kSWjFZ~1SyQHdCJeIDiWW-1fgDbsEBTxBTbywbuYNYP78ATlSjw2jpHnnX3QoSKstmEkFpJQDPPwmDttBMTgLYU--h8Y6XtvbUhHgx3lj1faHnBQNJDt9coYDPYzYOci~Mew3GM-nlSHisFN9t~eGq9RCeQSTgPnA4koRX7xA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City engineering staff presented the department’s 2025–26 general fund and capital program to the finance committee on Sept. 9, asking for a senior civil engineer position and reporting a materially larger capital workload in the coming year than in recent years.

Personnel request: City engineering requested an additional senior civil engineer (grade and pay range discussed in department materials) to address an increased service load, upcoming comprehensive plan work and a growth in capital projects. The department said it has about $8.5 million budgeted for capital projects in the coming year and that workload and succession planning create a risk if experienced staff are not added. Committee members noted municipal experience and the availability of qualified candidates; one attendee said qualified municipal senior engineers had already inquired about the position.

Capital program highlights: The presentation listed dozens of capital items and multiyear projects. Staff called out a demolition line item (Park at Buckingham) needed to remove a long‑vacant structure; staff said asbestos abatement and the demolition process will take time. The Greenway trailhead project already has a contract for a building; staff said the building contract was encumbered and site work and assembly are planned. The Central Avenue TAP sidewalk project was presented as an ALDOT 80/20 match: staff said the city expects to pay roughly $600,000 this year and receive about $480,000 from ALDOT under the grant match structure. Staff also summarized dozens of stormwater and creek‑wall priorities identified in a recent assessment and said the budget includes multiyear allocations for creek‑wall repairs, stormwater emergencies and design for a new stormwater master‑plan phase.

Fire and public safety projects: Staff said an RFQ process for architectural and engineering services for a future Fire Station No. 2 on Green Springs resulted in a recommended firm; the contract for design and engineering services will be referred to council. Staff estimated construction on a new station would be financed and scheduled across multiple years.

Other projects summarized: trailhead site work and building delivery; library phase‑4 renovations (presented separately by library staff); Waffle House parking lot repair; sidewalk projects to close gaps and build ADA ramps; public‑works building renovation for equipment protection; senior center preliminary design funding; and a previously bid pickleball/tennis conversion project that came in above estimate and will be repackaged.

Why it matters: The engineering presentation framed the personnel request in the context of increased capital commitments and longer lead times for procurement and construction. Committee members flagged the workload and the risk of not having sufficient engineering staff to oversee multiple concurrent projects.

Committee questions and next steps: Committee members asked about hiring options and qualifications; staff said municipal candidates have reached out. There were operational questions about specific project timing, coordination with ALDOT and county partners, and the interplay between bond carryovers and new bond or capital funds. No committee action was taken at the hearing; projects and personnel requests will be included in the manager’s budget and brought back to committee and council for ordinance or appropriation action.","City engineering staff presented a personnel request for a senior civil engineer and an overview of roughly $8.5 million in proposed capital work, including stormwater projects, sidewalks (TAP/ALDOT match), demolition at Park at Buckingham and design for a future Fire Station No. 2.",{"_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},5986518,"Library seeks security cameras, lactation pod and one full‑time admin in 2025–26 budget",528,571000,1099000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5774440-887a86a65d0fd754a9c4625e85951375&start=571&end=1099","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5774440-887a86a65d0fd754a9c4625e85951375/thumbnail_571000.jpg","/articles/5986518/Homewood-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Library-seeks-security-cameras-lactation-pod-and-one-fulltime-admin-in-202526-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5986518-c80eeb2bbfe249c6ab4b001976085720/orig.mp4?Expires=1773620584&Signature=g9owQ8V1INaJBwk0LIN20vqbKmK98SHWwbHtYx7J6rVE~xbPJXeLvfwtgPydmt6ZJE78xcFGVdOwcu4gu-o6Hckb~Z-iwAtfh951O90kvjzQWoFQfgTYi7OgTqhdU1Rpbw~LX-fH8zHNZFwJZ5XEEWQLCB4fAt9~4HEV~8q5gI-D-Vd1UQx~SUUlVpw7xCanvCeywJuIhEYWrsygixDTLMLhGutjsHjEgNwHcNeDgIsQ9HDP77ba4wdwWcNGfBnCzT2twbtsON7JJrcoSR3Y44xrRFBi~jhOGp8ExD3~tHLb~i9vmXPN7DrWB4afVusOItzI0MqklyDtWMiJRgpJvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Judith, a library staff member, told the finance committee on Sept. 9 that the library’s proposed 2025–26 capital and personnel requests center on safety, accessibility and finishing an ongoing renovation program. The presentation included a request to replace and reconfigure the library’s security camera system and server, replace public computers with Chromebox devices, finish phase‑4 renovations in the children’s area and update meeting rooms and administrative restrooms. The library also asked to convert a 19‑hour a week administrative assistant position to full time beginning in January to handle grants and board recordkeeping work.

The requests were presented during the special call budget hearing called by the Finance Committee. Judith said the security project includes a vendor audit, repositioning of cameras and a new central server because “the security cameras go up and down, which isn’t helpful when you need access to them.” She described the computer replacement plan as a shift to Chromeboxes meant to save cost while preserving public service; the staff estimate for lifespan of public lab computers, she said, is roughly two to three years.

Why it matters: library capital and staffing changes affect everyday services — meeting room rentals, public computer access and required accommodations for staff and visitors. The library said its meeting rooms are heavily used and that meeting‑room chairs and the boardroom table date to the 1990s. Judith noted the library averages about 4,500 study‑room uses per year and said an additional study room would serve tutoring and small meetings.

Supporting details and funding: Judith said the library received a $10,000 grant from County Commissioner Bolin to help update café furniture; the library proposed covering the remaining $7,000. She described a plan to buy a commercial washer and dryer to launder frequently used story‑time lap mats and other linens. On building accessibility, the library requested replacement courtyard doors to bring them into ADA compliance and an office‑style HVAC unit to replace an inefficient unit in a staff office. The renovation package (phase 4) would finish the children’s area and update administrative restrooms that, Judith said, have not been updated since the building’s previous use as a church in the 1970s.

On nursing‑parent accommodation: the library asked for a mobile lactation pod to be placed in the children’s department, saying the space would serve nursing parents and lactating staff and would be movable for future reconfiguration. “This would allow us to be compliant with the pump, act for nursing mothers,” Judith said. Currently, private space is provided in a staff office when needed, she said.

Personnel: Judith said the library has 55 employees, about 25 full time and 30 part time, and explained the administrative assistant handles grant receipts and board records; the library averages about $100,000 a year in grant receipts and requested the position become full time in January to improve grant management and to help pursue additional funding.

Committee reaction and next steps: Council members asked routine questions about equipment life cycles and placements. No committee motion or vote was taken at the hearing; the presentation will be folded into the larger city manager budget packet for committee and council consideration in coming weeks.

Ending: The library presentation emphasized finishing a multi‑phase renovation program begun in earlier years, replacing aging furniture and equipment, and modest staffing changes to support grant administration and day‑to‑day operations.","At a Sept. 9 special finance committee meeting, library staff detailed a package of capital requests — new security camera system and server, computer replacements, meeting‑room and restroom renovations and a request to convert a part‑time administrative assistant to full time — and described using a recent county grant to update café furniture.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Homeowner plea prompts council discussion of private drainage, easements and a $105,000 placeholder in capital plan

Engineering department seeks senior civil engineer as capital spending ramps up; committee reviews projects

Library seeks security cameras, lactation pod and one full‑time admin in 2025–26 budget