Public Safety Committee authorizes public fire hydrant at Oxmoor and Cook Street

The Homewood City Public Safety Committee voted June 30 to authorize installation of a public fire hydrant at the corner of Oxmoor and Cook Street and to use existing budget funds for the city's share of the cost.

Deputy Chief Paul Hall told the committee the request originated with Fire Chief Brandon Broadhead and the developer's original plan to install a private hydrant would not meet the department's operational needs. "That's the only hydrant on that side of the road for pretty much everything there," Hall said, explaining why a public hydrant would better serve nearby businesses and residents.

The action matters because a public hydrant would be available for multiple properties and would relieve the city of relying on a private hydrant that could place ongoing maintenance and liability on the developer. Hall said the city already has the expense in its hydrant budget and that Birmingham Water Works has been consulted about providing water service for the installation.

Committee members discussed funding and cost-sharing. Hall gave the estimated installation cost as $6,500 and an annual maintenance figure of $389. He said the developer had budgeted their contribution and the city would cover its share from the hydrant expense line. During informal remarks a committee member said the split would be roughly half to the city and half to the developer; the meeting record includes a reference to "$3,600 to us, $3,600 to him." The committee did not identify a separate appropriation; Hall said no additional funding was required beyond the existing budget line.

A motion to authorize the installation was made and seconded; the committee approved the authorization by voice vote. The meeting record does not show individual roll-call votes.

Committee staff said installation and coordination with Birmingham Water Works would follow; no additional committee-level conditions or amendments were recorded.