Tuscaloosa · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Tuscaloosa public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.