Tuscaloosa · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Tuscaloosa public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Copeland Square Sanitary Sewer Improvements change order
The Copeland Square sewer project wrapped up, but crews hit an unexpected storm pipe conflict that added $36,615 and new junction boxes. Final cost: $796,236.
SPX Aids to Navigation equipment contract
The airport tower, which currently has no radar, will get ADS-B technology letting controllers track aircraft electronically. Costs are split with the airport's FBO, and federal reimbursement is possible.
Digester rehabilitation schedule extension
The Hilliard N. Fletcher plant rehab got 120 more days at no extra cost so the biological treatment process in two digesters can stabilize before the third digester is rehabilitated.
Nucor Sewer Line cleaning and assessment
A $161,725 contract with Suncoast Infrastructure was up for tentative award to clean and assess sewer lines in the Nucor area. It's routine sewer maintenance that helps prevent backups and failures.
Bulk water treatment chemicals bid
The council was to rescind an earlier bid award and give the rest of the contract for bulk water treatment chemicals to the second-lowest bidder.
Water and sewer budget amendment
An amendment to the water and sewer exhibits in section 19-42 of the code was scheduled for introduction — this governs how water and sewer charges are structured.
WRRF check valve installation
A small but critical repair: a new check valve at the raw sewage pump station keeps sewage flowing the right way at the treatment plant.
Water and Sewer Fund budget revision no. 1
An amendment to the fiscal 2027 water and sewer fund budget was up for introduction, possibly same-night adoption — affecting utility ratepayers' fund priorities.
Reservoir and creek monitoring
A $13,575 joint funding agreement with the U.S. Geological Survey would keep a stream aging station operating on Cribbs Mill Creek, supporting water quality data.
Intermediate wastewater treatment trial at Lift Stations 2 and 33
The city is spending big to keep sewer lift stations running — a $384,000 valve replacement closeout and a new three-year, $415,000-a-year chemical treatment contract. These stations move wastewater across town, so failures mean backups.
Lift Station 22 Force Main Replacement
The council was scheduled to tentatively award a roughly $1.6 million contract to REV Constructions, Inc. to replace the Lift Station 22 force main — key sewer infrastructure. No record shows whether the award was made.
Lift Station 3 parking lot lighting repair
The parking lot near the Lampigator train trestle lost power service early last month. The city is paying Premier Service Company $12,405.35 to fix it, funded through facility renewal.
Water Distribution System Engineering Standards Manual
New 2026 engineering standards now govern how the city builds and maintains its water pipes — better consistency for developers and utilities staff.
Mercedes sewer force main expansion
Phase 3 of the Mercedes Force Main is a $1.75 million sewer capacity project awaiting final state sign-off before construction starts late this year.
Water and sewer maintenance contracts
Contracts with Thornton, Musso and Bellemin for work at the Ed Love Water Treatment Plant ($17,127.20) and Lift Stations 2 and 33 ($12,705), plus public works contracts with Daikin, Edko and Cummins, were scheduled for approval.
Northern Sewer Expansion Project Phase II
The city took over sewer lines for two new subdivisions and is securing appraisals on 29 tracts for the Northern Sewer Expansion Phase II — keeping capacity ahead of growth.
Subdivision infrastructure acceptance — Cloverdale at Hackberry and Bryant at 15th
The city was set to take over maintenance of completed streets and infrastructure in Highgrove Phase 4 and the sanitary sewer lines in Tartan Cove Phases 1, 2, and 6 — a routine but lasting commitment of public maintenance.
Academy Drive drainage improvements
The city plans to install benches on lots it bought on Academy Drive, spending $10,000 from the District 3 Improvements Fund. This is a neighborhood improvement for that district.
Drainage improvement easements — Eastover and Cypress Point
Several drainage-related items were scheduled: a change order on the waterfall roadway drainage project, an engineering contract for 10th Avenue at 19th Street, and Lincoln Park drainage improvements. Flooding and stormwater concerns in these areas would be addressed if approved.
Water Distribution & Meter Shop Improvements
The city is spending $62,775 on design for a new 3,600-square-foot water distribution warehouse and meter shop upgrades, drawing on the $8.1 million Hopkins fund from the sale of the old Hopkins building.
Coaling Water Authority sewer connection
An agreement spelling out the Coaling Water Authority's use of Tuscaloosa's sewer system. It affects how regional sewer service is shared and paid for.
Hilliard N. Fletcher WRRF upgrades contract
The council was set to tentatively award a $5.6 million contract to Mark Johnson Construction for switchgear and generator upgrades at the city's wastewater treatment facility. This infrastructure keeps sewer service reliable as Tuscaloosa grows.
Tartan Cove sanitary sewer acceptance
The city accepted the finished sewer lines in the final phase of the Havenridge subdivision off Highway 69 South, completing the neighborhood's public infrastructure.
WRRF switchgear and generator upgrades
The Hilliard N. Fletcher wastewater treatment plant's switchgear and generators date to the 1970s. Replacing them keeps sewage treatment running during power outages.
2026 Sanitary Sewer Design Manual adoption
The council was scheduled to consider adopting the 2026 edition of the city's sanitary sewer design manual with related code changes. New sewer standards affect how future development and city sewer projects are built.
Water and sewer project fund transfers
Two budget amendments move leftover money from closed water/sewer projects into active ones, including the Taylorville/McFarland booster pump station upgrade.
Fiber network documentation software renewal
The city will spend up to $26,500 to keep Vetro software, which maps every fiber strand and splice in the city's network — critical records for maintaining broadband infrastructure.
Lake patrol shoreline erosion improvements
The city's water and sewer reserve would shift $30,000 to fix shoreline erosion, funded through the lake patrol budget. It's a maintenance issue tied to protecting the lake shoreline.
Lake Tuscaloosa shoreline erosion at TPD facility
The shoreline at the police department's lake patrol facility has been slowly eroding, tilting the building's asphalt approach toward the water. The city will armor it with riprap before a new storage building goes in, at about $30,000 for materials.
Online water billing portal and customer notifications
The city is upgrading its Tyler Technologies system so water customers can view past bills, pay multiple accounts in one cart, set auto-pay and opt into texts and emails about bills and trash pickup. Once AMI meters are fully deployed, customers will also see hourly usage trends to spot leaks.
Private Lateral Assistance Program contractor change
The city dropped One Call Service of Alabama as its lateral assistance contractor after it failed to respond to the last request. The program continues this year in piecemeal fashion with about $45,000 left, and a new on-call contract is planned next fiscal year.
Booster pump station upgrades
The city is modernizing two booster pump stations so the Hillcrest tank can be taken offline for a full rehab without hurting water pressure. It's an electrical and monitoring overhaul with new generators.
Restricting out-of-region septic and grease hauling
Tanker trucks have been hauling septic waste and restaurant grease from as far as Mobile to dump at Tuscaloosa's plant. New rules limit acceptance to haulers from counties touching Tuscaloosa plus Shelby County.
MLK sewer and WRRF improvements
Engineering contracts for MLK Boulevard sewer improvements and wastewater treatment lagoon upgrades were on the agenda — the unglamorous work that keeps sewers functioning.
Timberlane drainage project
A tentative $98,680.50 contract with Cornerstone Civil Contractors was scheduled to address drainage problems in the Timberlane area.
Lake Nicol spillway modifications
An evaluation of the Lake Nicol dam is complete, and the city is moving ahead with spillway modifications to control water levels, with a full dam rehab expected in the next bond cycle around 2027-28.
Drainage improvement projects
Several drainage-related items were scheduled: a change order on the waterfall roadway drainage project, an engineering contract for 10th Avenue at 19th Street, and Lincoln Park drainage improvements. Flooding and stormwater concerns in these areas would be addressed if approved.
Cypress Creek Phase III Drainage improvements
The council was set to fund major drainage engineering: $863,250 for Cypress Creek Drainage Phase II and $199,442 for the Riggs Road and 31st Street project. These address flooding and drainage problems in those areas.
Wastewater system performance improvements
The city's annual pollution prevention report card hit 140 of 783 points — roughly 100 points better than last year — because capital upgrades reset the plant's effective age and permanently fixed overflows.
69 South Utility Relocation
The city was set to enter a reimbursable ALDOT agreement and hire Hazen and Sawyer for engineering on a $270,308 utility relocation along Highway 69 South.
Southern Gardens storm drain clean-out
A big storm drain near Southern Gardens clogs with silt and debris every couple of years; this contract clears it, and upstream improvements may eventually end the need.
Stormwater rainfall monitoring
The city is replacing five physical rain gauges with virtual monitoring at 15 locations to better pinpoint flood problems and prioritize drainage projects.
Wastewater pump replacement at Hillard N. Fletcher WRRF
Five pumps from 1991 at the city's water resource recovery facility are failing and being replaced for $1.78 million. They keep the treatment process running, so this is core water-sewer reliability.
WRRF RAS Pump Improvements funding
The council was set to tentatively award a $1.78 million contract to Mark Johnson Construction for RAS pumping improvements at the Hilliard N. Fletcher wastewater treatment facility.