Tuscaloosa council approves asbestos abatement, engineering contracts, festival agreement and community garden permit

The Tuscaloosa City Council approved six routine public‑works and service agreements and a long‑term festival memorandum of agreement during a regularly scheduled meeting.

The approvals included an asbestos abatement contract for a residential demolition site, two professional engineering services agreements, a water‑tank exterior cleaning contract, a 15‑year memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Kentuck Museum Association to host the Kentuck Festival of the Arts, and a right‑of‑way permit to allow a community garden in Heritage Hills. Council votes on each item were taken by voice and recorded as “all in favor.”

The most immediate safety item was a minor public‑works contract with Tri State Abatement to remove asbestos discovered at a residential property at 61320 Third Avenue East. The council approved the contract in the amount of $4,400; staff said the cost will be covered by operations funding. Selvin (city staff) described the work as “appropriate removal and disposal of that asbestos.”

Councilors approved two professional services agreements for engineering work. Porter Higginbotham Engineering received a professional services agreement for engineering on the 30 Sixth Avenue East/Rainbow Drive/Colbert replacement project for $49,761. Staff said bidding for that project is expected in January, with construction likely to require 30–45 days once awarded. Duncan Coker Associates was approved for engineering services on the Veterans Memorial Parkway project for $229,342; council discussion on that item was brief.

The council also approved a $15,400 minor public‑works contract with Alabama Pro Wash to perform an exterior wash of a wooden water tank on Saint Patrick’s Drive. Staff said the contract covers exterior cleaning only and is funded from Ed Love’s operations budget. Frequency of exterior washing varies by tank location; staff noted some tanks are washed about every five years, depending on site conditions.

On events and use of city property, the council approved authorization to execute a memorandum of agreement and a permissive‑use permit with the Kentuck Museum Association to host the Kentuck Festival of the Arts for the next 15 years. Brandon (council member) said the MOA is intended to streamline annual coordination among city departments and Kentuck; no payment will be exchanged under the agreement, and city services (public safety, public works, etc.) will continue to support the event. Staff said the permissive‑use component will be reviewed each year for compliance. A tentative VIP event was mentioned for Friday, Oct. 10, and the festival was described as an October event.

The council also granted a right‑of‑way use permit allowing neighbors in Heritage Hills to establish a community garden on a roughly 2.5‑acre parcel that includes drainage and utility easements. Staff said the permit will delineate the garden footprint, the city will continue routine mowing of the parcel, and the permit allows for a meter to be installed if the group requests metered water (staff estimated a standard meter set at roughly $1,100 plus installation costs). Miss Glenn (resident) and other neighborhood representatives participated in the discussion.

Votes at a glance

- Item 1: Minor public‑works contract — Tri State Abatement, asbestos removal at 61320 Third Avenue East, $4,400 — approved by voice vote (all in favor). - Item 2: Professional services agreement — Porter Higginbotham Engineering, 30 Sixth Avenue East/Rainbow Drive/Colbert replacement project, $49,761 — approved by voice vote (all in favor). Staff said bidding is expected in January and construction may take 30–45 days. - Item 3: Professional services agreement — Duncan Coker Associates, Veterans Memorial Parkway project, $229,342 — approved by voice vote (all in favor). - Item 4: Minor public‑works contract — Alabama Pro Wash, exterior cleaning of wood water tank on Saint Patrick’s Drive, $15,400, funded from Ed Love’s operations budget — approved by voice vote (all in favor). - Item 5: Authorization to execute MOA and permissive use permit — Kentuck Museum Association, Kentuck Festival of the Arts, 15‑year MOA (location not specified by the MOA text in the meeting) — approved by voice vote (all in favor). - Item 6: Right‑of‑way use permit — Heritage Hills community garden (approximately 2.5 acres; residents only) — approved by voice vote (all in favor).

The council chair closed the consent‑style portion of the meeting after the votes and moved on to an update on the downtown University‑quarter streetscape planning project.