County Commission OKs $3.3 Million Water Infrastructure Improvements

The Tuscaloosa County Commission unanimously approved $3.3 million in water infrastructure improvements in northern Tuscaloosa County. The funds will be allocated to three water associations in rural parts of District 1.

"I think this gets some well-funded help for our water authorities and gets clean water out to people. I don't know of a better thing we can use this money for," District 1 Commissioner Stan Acker said.

These funds were given to Tuscaloosa County through the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, which could be used for providing government services or making necessary investments in infrastructure.

The following projects were approved as part of the Commission's regular meeting, considered "round one" for improving access to drinking water in rural Tuscaloosa County:

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• Buhl Elrod Holman Water Authority
  • Boyd Road Booster Station ($174,050)
  • Water Main expansion on Cooper Road & Crawford Road ($707,425)
  • Water meter replacement ($235,551) (joint project with District 4)
• Carrols Creek Water Authority
  • Expansion of service on Mormon Road ($446,300)
  • Highway 69/Wilcutt Road expansion ($169,300)
  • Traweek Road expansion ($31,500)
  • Goodwater Road expansion ($506,700)
  • Reed Mountain tank rehabilitation painting ($150,000)
  • New Lexington tank rehabilitation painting ($600,000)
• Coker Water Authority 
  • Belaire tank rehabilitation painting ($100,000)
• • Lake Lurleen tank rehabilitation painting ($150,000)

"Hopefully there will be a round two. We'll be looking at other [projects] that are still out there" Acker said. "But at least this gets a good start."

Probate Judge Rob Robertson told The Thread that ideally, the County will see more state-level funding at the start of 2022 when state legislature enters its spring session. He was not able to give a timeline for when these District 1 improvements would be complete.

"We're anticipating that they will allocate some of that. They have have $2 billion Rescue Act funds they have not distributed yet," Robertson said.

Also on the agenda, the Commission approved the donation of a piece of land to build a new storm shelter in Duncanville. District 3 Commissioner Mark Nelson said the location just off of Highway 82 on Duncanville Middle School Road was very convenient and easily accessible.

Nelson told the Commission that ideally, this shelter would be used regularly throughout the year for various purposes and will be solely managed by the Duncanville Volunteer Fire Department.

He said the project has a projected cost of between $750,000 and $1 million. At this time there is no timeline to completion.