Finance committee approves $61,007 transfer for embankment and right-of-way repairs

The Homewood City Finance Committee on June 17 approved a budget amendment, recorded in committee as a transfer of $61,007 from the carryover fund balance into contractual services to address a deteriorating embankment and right-of-way near a CVS and adjacent properties.

Berkeley Squires told the committee the right-of-way is in poor condition and beginning to undermine the road edge. He said staff is coordinating with the City of Birmingham to determine whether Birmingham will undertake repairs; if not, Homewood will proceed with repairs and use the transferred funds to hire contractors.

The chair read the motion to transfer funds and a committee member made and seconded the motion; the committee approved the transfer by voice vote, 3–0. The chair and Berkeley Squires emphasized that staff will continue to pursue external responsibility before spending city funds if possible.

Committee discussion identified the affected location and neighboring properties but did not specify a project contract number, contractor, or timeline for completion. The motion as recorded in the committee hearing referenced the transfer amount as $61,007; portions of the numeric readout in the transcript were garbled in the record, so the committee record should be consulted for the official ordinance text and appropriation numbers when the item advances to council.

The committee approved the transfer to allow city staff to proceed with necessary work if outside parties do not assume maintenance responsibility.