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Irondale council accepts Shelby Company bid for Civic Center renovation
Summary
The Irondale City Council approved a roughly $19.96 million construction contract with Shelby Company LLC to renovate the Irondale Civic Center, including interior renovations and several site amenities; council members discussed alternates, funding and a projected 15–18 month construction timeline.
The Irondale City Council voted to accept a low bid from Shelby Company LLC to renovate the city's Civic Center, approving what the agenda identified as a $19,960,366 construction contract for an interior renovation and site improvements.
The mayor said the renovation will reconfigure the interior to seat roughly 1,500 people and will include fitness spaces, an aerobic room, an amphitheater, playground, pickleball courts, a mountain-bike course and a refurbished parking lot. The mayor said the city plans to make the indoor amenities available to residents free of charge.
The contract award follows a multi-year planning process. Officials said the project was included in the city's bond funding and that about $35 million remained in the PBA account to finance the work. The mayor said a separate $1 million Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) grant would help reduce the project's net cost.
Council members discussed bids, alternates and the project schedule before the vote. The council's packet showed a base contract figure and a series of alternates (items added or removed by choice), and some members asked whether alternates could be deferred and constructed later to reduce near-term spending. The mayor and project manager said alternates had been prioritized so the city could include them now at a lower total cost than postponing them.
On timing, the mayor said the contractor expected to mobilize within about 30 to 60 days after a notice to proceed; a project manager in the room said the contractor's schedule targets roughly 15 to 18 months for completion once work begins.
The mayor thanked the project team by name, including architect William Blackstock, the construction manager KMS (Kemp Management Systems), and project lead Brad Dawes, who he credited with day-to-day oversight.
The council approved the bid acceptance in a recorded motion. One council member stated they would abstain; no member asked for the contract award to be delayed for additional review.
If the contractor proceeds on the timeline described by city staff, the Civic Center should begin demolition and initial construction in late summer or early fall and reach completion in 2026 or 2027, officials said.
