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

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.