Finance committee approves $75,000 reallocation for fire station repairs and reviews $4M resurfacing, $2.5M school access plan

The Tuscaloosa City Finance Committee approved a $75,000 transfer from a near-closed Fire Station No. 6 project to create a Fire Station No. 8 repair project after kitchen plumbing failed, leaving the station without a functioning kitchen.

"In the packets that you have, you'll see that we are requesting to move $75,000 from the fire station number six project to the fire station number eight project and create the fire station number eight repair project," said Ms. Standridge, who presented the item. She told the committee the damage resulted from a drain backup that partially collapsed and required rerouting of the incoming supply line; staff are pursuing an insurance claim but sought funds to begin repairs immediately.

The committee approved the reallocation by voice vote; the transcript records the approval but not a roll-call tally.

Beyond the fire station item, staff presented a slate of capital requests. Mr. Gardner described a proposed $4 million citywide resurfacing allocation for 2026 that he estimated would repave roughly 13 miles, depending on how much patching is required in advance. "This year's budget proposal is for $4 million. That will equate to approximately 13 miles of street," he said, noting the prior year's $9.8 million contract resurfaced about 28 miles.

Council members asked how roads would be selected. Staff said they use a 0–50 condition grading system and that roads with a grade of about 23 or below would be prioritized for the $4 million program; staff will compile a prioritized street list and separate streets by district for council review.

Staff also briefed the panel on a plan to preserve and improve access to Julia Tutwiler school after state bridge work. The scheme, negotiated with the Alabama Department of Transportation, includes an exit-only ramp off McFarland, a roundabout at the school terminus and separated bus and parent circulation to reduce queuing on Julia Tutwiler.

"The ask is for $2.5 million," Mr. Gardner told the committee, saying the project has a $2 million ATRIP grant (no local match required) and that the $2.5 million would cover the shortfall. He said construction was being targeted to begin in May 2027 and emphasized timing the work with adjacent state bridge work so the school remains functional while ALDOT constructs the Woolsey Finnell bridge approaches.

Staff reviewed neighborhood drainage funding requests, including a Rice Mine Road slope repair with a $200,000 design-and-construction estimate and a Paris Park drainage item estimated at about $100,000. Skyland Park drainage design was described as nearly complete and moving toward easement acquisition.

Finally, staff requested $30,000 to advance Stillman Boulevard Bridge design to 100% so the city can submit a stronger build-grant application due in September; if the grant is awarded the city may need to identify roughly $4 million in matching funds at a future date.

Committee members did not take final votes on the resurfacing program or the Julia Tutwiler supplemental funding at this session; they approved the $75,000 transfer for Fire Station No. 8 and closed the session after agreeing to continue capital-project budgeting in a scheduled work session.