wbozzelli posted on June 27, 2011 11:30
FULTONDALE — The city of Fultondale is requesting that the county again take up maintenance on all county roads in city limits.
In 2009, the Jefferson County Commission adopted a resolution stating that, due to economic hardship, it would terminate maintenance on all county roads that were within municipalities.
The Fultondale City Council on Monday authorized Mayor Jim Lowery to contact the Jefferson County Commission in order to request that the county begin to maintain the roads.
The resolution states that the city “does not agree that the Jefferson County Commission can unilaterally cease its legal obligation to maintain and upkeep the designated roads and the (c)ity desires to oppose the decision of the Jefferson County Commission in this regard.”
There are eight county roads in Fultondale: Indian Valley Road, North Carson Road, Pine Hill Road, New Castle Road, Black Creek/Republic Avenue, Fulton Road, Walker Chapel Road and Ellard Road. The Fultondale City Council in 1992 adopted a resolution acknowledging that those roads, or the portions of the roads within city limits, would be maintained by Jefferson County.
Jefferson County is suffering from tremendous budget shortfalls following a court’s decision that collecting the county’s occupational tax was illegal, a ruling that cut the county’s revenue by $70 million a year. In addition, Sen. Scott Beason, R-Gardendale, blocked a bill last month that would have allowed the county to raise certain sales taxes.
Jefferson County Commissioner Joe Knight, District 4,said 563 county employees are on unpaid administrative leave due to lack of funds to pay them. In addition, another 160 county positions have been eliminated.
Lowery said the city also does not have the funds to pave and perform maintenance on county roads.
The city receives tax revenue from gasoline sales, which Lowery said provides enough money to pave subdivisions every seven to 10 years. Lowery added that Carson Road is becoming overgrown with trees and other roads are seeing the effects of 18-wheel trucks and other heavy traffic, especially with Interstate 65 passing through the city.
In other business, the council:
• authorized Lowery to meet with Jefferson County Schools officials to discuss overcrowding at Fultondale Elementary school
• voted to accept bids for repairs to the Fultondale Fire Department, which was damaged by the April 27 tornado, and to accept bids to build a new fire station in the city
• authorized Lowery to negotiate the purchase of the property at 4220 Mary Avenue near the children’s park
• announced a public hearing will be held on July 5, 9 a.m., at Fultondale City Hall regarding 15 houses that still need trees and debris cleaned up from the tornado. Lowery said city officials have been unable to contact the owners, but workers need to go onto the properties in order to remove storm debris.
The next Fultondale City Council meeting is July 11 at 6 p.m.