By NICOLE LOGGINS / Staff Writer

HOOVER – Voters in precinct 44 will be voting at Riverchase Baptist Church this year instead of at the former site at the Riverside United Methodist Church.

Dr. Jim Savage, senior pastor at Riverchase United Methodist Church, said that the voting center had to be changed as a result of the construction going on at the church and the abundance of day school traffic.

“We’ve got three buildings going up now and it literally blocks our driveways and parking,” he said. “It’s a traffic nightmare, people wouldn’t be able to even get in and vote during certain times of the day.”

On Jan. 23 the county commission approved the location change from 1953 Old Highway 31 to 2020 Crossvine Road in Hoover. The two locations are four-tenths of a mile from one another.

Riverchase United Methodist Church gave notice to the commission on Jan. 11.

The resolution stated the relocation was “due to an extensive construction project which would prevent voters from being able to conveniently and safely access the premises and would prevent election officials from being able to conduct elections” at the site.

According to Savage, the church plans on hosting the voting center next year after traffic problems have been resolved.

“We’ll have a larger entrance and more exits,” Savage said about the additions being made to the facility.

“We’ve enjoyed having (voters), but there’s just too much traffic during the week,” Savage said.

Reverend Jeffrey Greer, senior pastor at Riverchase Baptist Church, said that he believes this is the first time the church has acted as a voting center.

“They approached us and asked us if we would be able to accommodate them because of the construction at RUMC,” Greer said. “Our proximity to the UMC makes it easy for them.”

Greer said Riverchase Baptist has parking available for at least 100 cars.

“We have a good partnership with the Methodist church and we enjoy working with them for the betterment of the community,” he said.
The voting center at Riverchase Baptist will be open to voters on March 13, April 24 and Nov. 6.