Homewood council unanimously approves Piggly Wiggly incentive amendment, chiller service contract and vouchers; sets demolition hearing

The Homewood City Council on March 10 approved multiple measures by unanimous votes, including an amended tax-incentive agreement for a Piggly Wiggly development, authorization for continued chiller servicing through the end of fiscal 2024–25, and approval of vouchers for the period Feb. 25–March 10. The council also set a public hearing for March 31 on assessing demolition costs for 1509 Beckham Drive.

The most significant public item was the council’s approval of an amended tax-incentive package tied to the Piggly Wiggly construction project. City staff explained the amended agreement keeps the incentive cap at $3,500,000, adjusts the base sales figure to $5,700,000 for recovery calculations, and extends the project completion deadline to the end of 2027; the amendment, as filed, also lists an expiration date for the incentive package (the amendment text as presented included a December 31 expiration date). City staff said that if sales thresholds are not met the developer would not receive the full incentive; the council adopted the resolution after a public hearing and a committee recommendation.

The council approved the amended agreement by voice vote, 9–0. The council recorded the motion as coming from Mr. Hardin with a second from Mr. Guatney; the resolution was identified in the meeting as number 2535.

Separately, the council approved a resolution authorizing the mayor (with the city manager typically executing the contract) to sign an agreement for servicing a new chiller and its control systems through the end of fiscal year 2024–25. The finance committee had recommended the item 3–0 before the full council, and the council approved the resolution 9–0; staff identified that the city manager would normally sign the contract unless the council directed otherwise. The meeting identified that vote as resolution number 2536.

The council also approved vouchers covering Feb. 25 through March 10, 2025, by a 9–0 vote and recorded that approval as resolution number 25537 during the meeting. In non-resolution business, the council raised no objection to an ABC special-event license for the Homewood Library Foundation Block Party and approved that request 9–0.

Finally, the council set a public hearing for 6 p.m. March 31, 2025, to consider a resolution fixing costs incurred in the demolition of the structure at 1509 Beckham Drive and assessing those costs against the property; that hearing was set without objection. The council also announced a hearing scheduling procedure for appointing a Ward 5 Board of Education seat and extended application windows for two beautification-board vacancies (Ward 2 and Ward 3) to April 14, 2025.

These actions followed committee reports and short public comment from a project representative about the Piggly Wiggly timeline and site plan. No ordinance readings were required for the items approved this evening; the council voted by roll/voice as noted and no dissent was recorded.