Jefferson County to assume construction costs for South Shades Crest Road project, staff says

At a Hoover City Council work session, city staff described a proposed amendment to a 2021 joint‑services agreement with Jefferson County on the South Shades Crest Road project that would shift the remaining construction costs to the county.

Mr. Munger told the council the city has already invested about $1.3 million in preliminary engineering, railroad coordination, utility relocation and related work to advance the project toward bidding. "The county has proposed that they acknowledge the city's participation in the project, strike section D from the existing agreement and the county would then bear the entirety of construction cost for the project," he said.

Under the original agreement, the county's participation was capped at $2.5 million, which in practice would have left the city responsible for most construction costs. The amendment as described by staff would reduce the city's remaining share to roughly 15% of the total project cost, shifting the principal financial burden for construction to Jefferson County.

Council members asked staff to confirm the details of the strike‑out language and attachments before final action. Mr. Munger said the attachments provided to council included the original agreement, an expenses‑to‑date listing and a short amendment document.

If approved in ordinance or resolution form as presented, the amendment would limit the city's further expenditures on construction and transfer railroad‑coordination and construction responsibilities to Jefferson County, according to staff.

Next steps: council will take the item up in the forthcoming council meeting packet for formal action; staff indicated a final review of outstanding invoices and attachments would be completed before that vote.