Commission approves application for Recreational Trails Program grant

The Shelby County Commission has approved a grant application for future projects along the Cahaba River. At its last meeting of the year on Dec. 27, the commission approved a resolution authorizing the application for trails in the Shelby County Cahaba River Park and the Forever Wild Land Trust along the Cahaba River.

The county plans to apply to the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs for grant assistance, according to the resolution, and that funding would be used to build about seven miles of multi-use trails along the Cahaba River.

The grant program will fund 80 percent of the project, with the county meeting a 20 percent match. The 80 percent match is not to exceed $200,000, and the proposed project is estimated at $300,000, according to the resolution.

The trails are intended for the north side of the river, located in Hoover and Helena, although that was not specified in the resolution considered during the meeting. County Chief Development Officer Chad Scroggins said the county will not have to specify the location of the new trails or facilities until the application is submitted.

Plans for the overall project include ATV trails on the north end of the river in addition to hiking and mountain biking trails, said County Manager Alex Dudchock, and there will be no motorized vehicle access in the Forever Wild Land Trust property. That portion of land will only have hiking and mountain biking access, he said.

“Nothing has changed in the master plan concerning that,” Dudchock said.

When the application is submitted on Jan. 6, it will specify what amenities are planned for the property, Scroggins said.

“We actually have to give them locations, and if there’s anything else we want to put in there, whether it be a trailhead, pavilion or restroom, whatever it may be, we’ve got to put it in the application,” Scroggins said.

Also at the meeting, the county commission:

• Awarded bids for wall construction in the dayroom of the Shelby County Jail, janitorial services, juvenile detention uniform items and liquid aluminum sulfate for water services.
• Approved the appointment of William B. Burbage Jr. to the Birmingham Water Works Board. Burbage will serve for four years, beginning Jan. 1, 2017 or until his successor is appointed and qualified.
• Approved a resolution adopting a multi-jurisdictional, multi-hazard mitigation plan. The update has to be adopted to allow FEMA funds to be utilized after a catastrophe, Scroggins said.
• Held an executive session regarding legal matters. Following the executive session, the commission took no further actions, Dudchock said.
• Approved the minutes of the Dec. 12 meeting.