New Shelby County Sheriff's substation on U.S. 280 to open by mid-June

March 13, 2015 10:23 PM

Photo courtesy of the Shelby County Sheriffs Office.

A long-sought new Shelby County Sheriff's substation designed to serve residents of the U.S. 280 area could open by mid-June.

The new location at Suite 117 in Greystone Center on U.S. 280 will provide major relief for residents desiring to avoid the long drive to Columbiana to get pistol permits, accident reports and crime incident reports, said Shelby County Sheriff's Maj. Ken Burchfield said. Those services aren't currently available in the Sheriff's Office substation currently at Heardmont Park on Cahaba Valley Road.

The Shelby County Commission in March approved the new location, which is on U.S. 280 between Doug Baker Boulevard and Eagle Point. Contractors plan to convert the current 1,500-square-foot building into the substation.

"We've been looking for a location on the 280 corridor for some time so we're real pleased," Burchfield said.

He added that the architect should complete drawings for the interior design done by early April. It will take another two months to finish renovating the current building into a police substation. Shelby County Sheriff John Samaniego called the sheriff's substation "a true partnership between the sheriff's office and Shelby County citizens to better serve our citizens."

Burchfield said the Heardmont Park location near Pelham has been sufficient but with so many Shelby County residents moving to the 280 corridor, the county needed a substation in that area. The plan approved by the Shelby County commission allows the sheriff's office to finalize an agreement with landlord Kessler Greystone LLC.

Burchfield said the 280 substation will fill three pivotal needs:

1) Providing a full-time clerk to issue concealed carry permits, incident/offense and accident report.

2) Allow Shelby deputies a place to meet with citizens of the 280 corridor.

3) Provide office space for senior staff members to operate out of as needed and give the sheriff a place to meet with people who don't want to drive all the way to Columbiana.

"The Heardmont Park location served us well," he said. "While we appreciated that space, we look forward to soon better serving Shelby County residents living along U.S. 280.