Mobile County amends capital plan to buy 9450 Moffett Road for county garage, allocates $2.5 million

The Mobile County Commission voted April 28 to amend the 2024 Capital Improvement Plan to create a new project for the purchase of real property at 9450 Moffett Road in Sims for use as a county garage and maintenance facility and allocated an estimated $2.5 million for the purchase.

Commission staff told the commissioners the $2.5 million figure represents the purchase price. A commissioner asked whether that sum included renovations; a staff member identified as Ricky replied that the figure was the purchase price only and that renovation costs had not been finalized. Ricky said, "I'm assuming somewhere in the 200. That'd be an estimate," when asked for a ballpark figure; staff characterized that as an informal estimate, not a firm budget. The commission also noted that if all went well they were scheduled to close on the property the following day.

Why it matters: The purchase creates a county-owned garage and maintenance facility project with immediate budgetary implications. Commissioners asked for clarification on renovation costs and on utilities and sewer connections, which staff said still had to be tied into project estimates.

The motion to amend the capital plan and allocate funds was moved and seconded during the meeting; commissioners indicated the closing was expected to occur the next day. The commission did not provide a detailed renovation budget at the time of the vote.

Next steps: Staff must finalize renovation cost estimates (including sewer tie-in and restroom/office build-outs) and present those figures in follow-up procurement and capital project reports prior to construction.