Prattville council orders independent structural analysis, pauses park work at North Highland Park

The Prattville City Council voted to commission an independent, full-range structural analysis of the retaining-wall system at North Highland Park and to halt current work at the park pending the engineer's report.

Councilor Jackson introduced the resolution authorizing Day Structures Engineering, Inc. to carry out the analysis and asked that once completed the engineer's sealed report and any recommended corrective actions be made available to council for further determination. The resolution directs that "all current work taking place at North Highland Park should be stopped upon passage and execution of this resolution until further direction can be obtained following the receipt of the full range structural analysis." The action passed.

Several council members and newer councilors said they had at first heard civil engineers had deemed the walls acceptable, but that structural-engineering certification differs from civil-engineering scope once walls exceed certain heights. Councilor Newman and others said the independent structural review is intended to protect the city's investment and ensure public safety; one councilor said the cost for the analysis was expected to be "a few thousand dollars" and could be paid from existing engineering department lines.

Next steps: Day Structures Engineering will perform the analysis; council will review the sealed report and consider any recommended corrective work. Staff advised that if the report identifies remediation needs, council will need to amend budgets as appropriate.