City Council discusses library reconstruction progress, consulting agreement for drainage issues

By SOLOMON CRENSHAW JR.

O’Neal Library Director Lindsy Gardner gave an update on progress to repairs at the library during the Mountain Brook City Council’s May 22 pre-council meeting, with a plan for a temporary home for the library while recovery continues.

Gardner said water mitigation is nearly complete and thanked all city departments for their assistance after a pipe burst in the building’s fire suppression system on May 5.

“We're currently working on scope of reconstruction and that will be put into document form and bid out,” Gardner said. “Hopefully, we can get the building open again as soon as possible.”

Three days later on May 25, the announcement came in regard to a temporary location for the library. O’Neal at Overton, located at 3100 Overton Road, will be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through July 27. This location will offer a drop box for patrons to return library materials and feature a space for all children’s programming, and most teen and adult programs.

The Overton location will have limited seating, so patrons must register for any programs in advance. While the O’Neal Library waives late fees, this Overton location will be a cashless and cardless venue. Patrons will not be able to pay fines from other libraries at this location.

“We're very focused on making sure that we have the summer reading program and all the children's programs, but we'll also have a browsable collection,” Gardner said. “That collection will come from all the books that people have returned to other libraries that are now waiting for us at Birmingham Public. We're not moving a huge part of our collection from the building over; we'll use those returns as our collection sort of self-contained there.”

The librarian asked patrons to continue to hold onto library materials they checked out rather than returning them to other libraries in the area.

“It won't be too much longer before we can accept returns at this alternate location,” she said.

During the regular council meeting, an agreement was authorized for consulting services with Schoel Engineering regarding the Mountain Lane and Montevallo Lane drainage improvement project, an action that was on the council’s consent agenda.

Billy Pritchard, who chaired the meeting in the absence of Council President Virginia Smith, explained that items on the consent agenda have been previously discussed.

Resident Frank Long addressed the council during the public comment portion of the meeting and said he and others were confused that the matter passed without discussion, as they wanted to comment.

Lindsy Gardner, director of the O’Neal Library, discusses the temporary plans for the library during the May 22 City Council premeeting.

“That was not clear at all, to any of us, because we all looked around and said, 'Oh, did they just pass it? Surely, they didn't just pass it,” Long said. “We were unclear on the procedure. When you asked, ‘Does anybody want to take it off?’ we assume you were talking to your fellow city council members.”

The comment portion of the meeting included multiple residents who expressed their disappointment in the city’s treatment of flooding issues. A few said the city wasn’t serving them because of its concern for properties downstream.

Resident Mitch Kessler cited a recent rain event that produced flooding, which Pritchard noted was 3.5 inches.

“I don't mean to argue with you, but we continue to look at all of the situations in our city in all areas that have issues with water,” Pritchard said. “We will continue to do that.”

In other actions:

► The council announced a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program agreement with Jefferson County. The agreement renews every three years and presents no cost to the city. City Manager Sam Gaston said the city is part of a consortium of CDBG programs. “By adding our population to the consortium, they are able to get a little more money,” he said.

City attorney Whit Colvin gave an initial report on a proposal for a building permit revision for large residential projects. “We thought that a threshold of $3 million was about right,” Colvin said. “If the anticipated construction cost as permitted was $3 million, they will be required to put this bond in place.” The revision to the building permit will likely come back to the council at its next meeting.

► A proposal from Stone and Sons Electrical Contractors was accepted for the flashing beacon and sign that will be installed on Overton Road near North Woodbridge Road. The cost will be about $36,000.

► A contract was awarded to CS Beatty Construction to do work at Jemison Park Trail. The agreement is contingent on a cost-sharing agreement between the city and the Friends of Jemison Park.

► A contract was approved to Net Connection LLC to install batting cages and frames at Cherokee Bend Elementary. While some residents sought a different location, Parks and Recreation Superintendent Shanda Williams said the originally planned location was deemed to be best.