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Resident urges review of Hoover MS4 reports and consultant billing; alleges lack of progress
Summary
A resident urged the council to review Hoover's MS4 (stormwater) annual evaluations, asserting they are identical year to year and appear copied from other cities. The speaker questioned payments to Hydro Engineering Solutions and said the stormwater program has not shown progress in meeting permit requirements.
During the Oct. 13 meeting public comment period, Katie Thomas of Scout Creek criticized Hoover’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) annual reports and the city’s consultant, Hydro Engineering Solutions.
“Hoover’s MS4 reports are not accurate. They are the same from year to year,” Thomas told the council, handing out material she said shows identical or nearly identical report language between Hoover and other Alabama cities. She said the consultant, Dwayne Smith of Hydro Engineering Solutions, is the common factor and that the city paid over $280,000 to that consultant in the 2020–2025 timeframe. Thomas contrasted that figure with about $300,000 budgeted for stormwater repairs during the same period and argued the consultant work has not produced measurable progress required by the MS4 permit.
Thomas said ADEM (Alabama Department of Environmental Management) had concerns about the reports for Hoover, Mobile, Montgomery and Prattville and suggested the common contractor could be a factor. She urged the council to examine whether the consultant is meeting permit obligations and whether stormwater fee revenue is being spent effectively.
City staff did not provide an on‑record response during the public comment block recorded in the transcript. The speaker asked the council to review the handout she provided to substantiate her points.
