Shelby County Sheriff substation relocation approved

March 9, 2015 10:24 PM

Photo courtesy of the Shelby County Sheriffs Office.

Shelby County residents of the U.S. 280 area wanting to avoid the long drive to Columbiana to get police reports and pistol permits will soon get their wish.

The Shelby County Commission this morning passed a resolution approving the relocation of the Sheriff's Office substation currently at Heardmont Park on Cahaba Valley Road to a new location on U.S. 280 between Doug Baker Boulevard and Eagle Point.

The new U.S. 280 substation could open by mid-June and will be a major asset for those desiring convenient nearby access to buy pistol permits, accident reports and crime reports, said Shelby Sheriff's Maj. Ken Burchfield. 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. "The architect should have our interior design done within a few weeks. There will be a 60-day build-out so we'll probably be in there by early June."

Shelby County Sheriff John Samaniego talked about the substation before commissioners approved the plans this morning in Columbiana. "This is a true partnership between the sheriff's office and Shelby County citizens to better serve our citizens," he told 280 Living.

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."