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Homewood finance committee approves contracts, grants, and spending for public works and IT
Summary
At its Sept. 22 meeting the Homewood City Finance Committee approved a series of contract authorizations, a budget amendment for vehicle repair, an architect agreement for Fire Station No. 2 and a one-year email security contract, and set a public meeting date for an ALDOT resurfacing grant project.
The Homewood City Finance Committee on Sept. 22 approved multiple contract authorizations, budget amendments and intergovernmental agreements covering infrastructure, public safety and information-technology services.
The committee authorized a $24,130 amendment to a Kimley-Horn contract to fund a required public involvement meeting for the ALDOT TRIP 2 resurfacing project, approved a $693,875 architect contract for design of Fire Station No. 2, authorized an intergovernmental agreement seeking $1,000,000 from Jefferson County as reimbursement for the I-65 Lakeshore Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) project, and approved a one-year Mimecast contract for email filtering and incident response at an annual cost of $37,210.59.
Why it matters: the votes clear funding and procurement steps for capital projects and security services that the committee said affect public safety, pedestrian access and routine city operations. The items also set near-term public engagement: the TRIP 2 project public meeting is scheduled for Oct. 28 at City Hall from 4 to 6 p.m., city staff said.
Key decisions and immediate details
- Kimley-Horn amendment: The committee approved a $24,130 amendment so the city can host the public involvement meeting ALDOT requires for the TRIP 2 grant-funded resurfacing project. Committee members noted the TRIP 2 grant is federal funding administered by ALDOT; staff said the larger resurfacing package for the corridor is a $2,000,000 project and that ALDOT will host the Oct. 28 public meeting at City Hall from 4 to 6 p.m. No bike lanes will be added on U.S. 31 as part of this project, staff said.
- Fire Station No. 2 design: The committee authorized the city manager to execute a design contract with Birchfield Penwold Architects LLC for Fire Station No. 2. The total design fee is $693,875, based on a percentage of construction costs and requested services; staff said the fee will be paid from the FY25–26 budgeted architectural/engineering appropriation for the station.
- I-65 Lakeshore DDI reimbursement: The committee approved executing an intergovernmental agreement with Jefferson County to pursue a $1,000,000 reimbursement. Staff said the city already paid $5,800,000 to ALDOT for the DDI work and has invoiced the county for its $1,000,000 share; the IGA is intended to formalize the county reimbursement.
- Vehicle engine replacement (budget amendment): Committee members approved a budget amendment to replace the engine in a pickup truck at an estimated cost of $9,500 so the vehicle can remain in service.
- Shades Creek Greenway Trail Head pavilion: The committee set a bid date of Oct. 2 at 3:00 p.m. for the trail head pavilion and associated restrooms near the soccer park. Staff said six contractors attended the pre-bid meeting and there is strong interest.
- Fiber franchise with Lumos: The committee approved a standard fiber-optic franchise agreement with Lumos. No Lumos representative attended the meeting; staff characterized the agreement as the city’s standard franchise template for full-fiber providers.
- Surplus fleet and traffic equipment: The committee declared assorted fleet and traffic items surplus, including portable generators and older radar speed signs that no longer work.
- Additional street lights on South Lakeshore and West Trail parking lot: The committee approved asking Alabama Power to install four utility poles and add 10 lights (three at the trailhead parking lot). Staff provided an Alabama Power estimate and the committee approved an annual operating cost; the estimate discussed during the meeting was $4,626.35 per year (the transcript included an earlier figure of $2,006.35 that staff did not adopt as the final estimate).
- Mimecast email filtering: The committee approved a one-year agreement with Mimecast for email filtering and incident response at an annual cost of $37,210.59; staff said funds will come from existing maintenance-contract budgets.
Votes at a glance
- Approval of minutes (Sept. 8): mover: Mister Balton; seconder: Mister Harden; vote: 4–0; outcome: approved. - Kimley-Horn contract amendment ($24,130) for TRIP public involvement meeting: mover: Mister Grant; seconder: Mister Harden; vote: 4–0; outcome: approved. - Budget amendment to replace pickup engine (approx. $9,500): mover: Mister Brandt; seconder: Mister Harden; vote: 4–0; outcome: approved. - Authorization to execute design contract with Birchfield Penwold Architects LLC (design fee $693,875): mover: Mister Brant; seconder: Mister Guatney; vote: 4–0; outcome: approved. - Intergovernmental agreement with Jefferson County to seek $1,000,000 reimbursement for I-65 Lakeshore DDI: mover: Mister Brandt; seconder: Mister Waltney; vote: 4–0; outcome: approved. - Set bid date for Shades Creek Greenway Trail Head Pavilion (Oct. 2, 3:00 p.m.): mover: Mister Brandt; seconder: Mister Harden; vote: 4–0; outcome: approved. - Fiber-optic franchise agreement with Lumos: mover: Mister Brandt; seconder: Mister Gualby; vote: 4–0; outcome: approved. - Declare miscellaneous fleet and traffic items surplus (portable generators, older radar speed signs): mover: Mister Walton; seconder: Mister Harden; vote: 4–0; outcome: approved. - Additional street lights on South Lakeshore and West Trail parking lot (Alabama Power estimate; annual cost discussed $4,626.35): mover: Mister Brent; seconder: Mister Bolton; vote: 4–0; outcome: approved. - One-year Mimecast email-filtering and incident-response agreement (annual cost $37,210.59): mover: Mister Gualtney; seconder: Mister Harden; vote: 4–0; outcome: approved (the committee first considered a contingency that staff provide the final price; staff supplied the figure during the meeting and the contingency was removed prior to the final vote).
Discussion vs. decisions
Most items were approved with limited discussion. Staff provided project or cost details where requested (for example, the TRIP 2 project scope and the Mimecast price). The committee asked staff to repair existing street lights between Green Springs and U.S. 31 and then reassess the need for additional fixtures before installation, and staff said they would do so. For the street-light approval the committee relied on the Alabama Power estimate presented at the meeting.
What’s next
- City staff will host or support the ALDOT-led public input meeting for the TRIP 2 resurfacing project on Oct. 28, 4–6 p.m., at City Hall. - Staff will publish bid documents and open bids for the Shades Creek Greenway Trail Head Pavilion on Oct. 2 at 3:00 p.m. - The city will proceed with the listed contract executions, surplus dispositions and service purchases following standard procurement procedures.
Ending: The finance committee adjourned after completing the agenda.
