County manager discusses potential Dunnavant improvement district
Shelby County is considering creating an improvement district and a cooperative district on County Road 41.
County Manager Alex Dudchock discussed the plans for a Dunnavant Square Improvement District and a Dunnavant Square Cooperative District during the April 11 Shelby County Commission meeting. The purpose of the cooperative district would be to finance the acquisition and construction of public infrastructure.
Dudchock said no plans are finalized at this time, but there has been discussion of pedestrian-friendly components, including a pedestrian culvert to remove the need of crossing a busy roadway.
“We’re not there yet,” Dudchock said. “There’s a lot more engineering analysis that has to be done.”
County Engineer Randy Cole said a lot goes into a project like this one, and there is a group looking at the feasibility of a pedestrian culvert or another solution.
“For pedestrian traffic, this is a lot better than having them cross a high-speed roadway in a rural area,” Cole said.
Dudchock said they have also looked at extending Dunnavant Valley Trail, but there are no easements for that area at this time.
“We do not have the conservation easements for any path currently to extend the trailhead as it dead ends now to the school, but that will be all part of the discussions,” he said.
A resolution regarding these districts could come before the commission at its next meeting or the first meeting of May, Dudchock said.
“If everything goes well and we progress, you may very well have a staff recommendation to act on the creation of the improvement district resolution and then the cooperative district resolution,” he said.
Also at the April 11 meeting:
- The commission awarded bids for a portable sound system and fluorosilicic acid.
- The commission appointed Robyn Speakman to the Harrison Regional Library Board. She will replace Roger Massey.
- The commission approved an alcohol license for Valleydale Coosa Mart, located at 2692 Valleydale Road.
- County engineer Randy Cole told the commission there will be a public involvement meeting regarding an improvement project on County Road 29 and Camp Horner Road. The meeting will be April 26 from 4-7 p.m. at Altadena Valley Church.
- Dudchock provided an update on attendance at Oak Mountain State Park. In 2015, there were 555,459 visitors, and Dudchock said they are predicting a possible record attendance year for 2016.
- Dudchock discussed the status of constructing a HealthSouth rehabilitation facility in the county. He said after an April 1 Alabama Supreme Court decision in the county’s favor, they are on track to have the facility built.