COLUMBIANA – County Engineer Randy Cole updated the Shelby County Commission at its meeting on Monday, Aug. 13, about two local road projects.

Cole told commissioners that complaints have been received about the intersection of Shelby County 280 (Old Highway 280) and Shelby County 11 in Chelsea, and that a contract has been awarded for a project to make improvements to the intersection.

Work could begin in the next two to four weeks, Cole said, and be completed in early November.

“The public ought to see some activity out there soon,” he said. “Help is on the way.”

Also, a public involvement meeting about the proposed Cahaba Beach Road extension was held Tuesday, Aug. 7, at Liberty Park Elementary School in Vestavia Hills.

The project would connect U.S. 280 in Shelby County to Sicard Hollow Road near the Liberty Park development, but route alternates are still being narrowed down and entering the environmental assessment phase, Cole said.

“The process is very slow, very tedious, and it’s not close to a conclusion, but it’s just moving through the channels,” Cole said.

In other business, the Commission:

• Reviewed projections for Environmental Services, Water Services and the Talladega Shelby Water Treatment Plant as part of preparations for a budget for the coming fiscal year. The projections included rate increases for water customers. For the average residential customer, using 6,900 gallons of water per month, the rate would increase slightly each year from $51.26 currently to $58.61 in 2023.
• Appointed Alabaster Police Chief Curtis Rigney to the Shelby County 911 Board. Rigney had been previously nominated by the Shelby County Chiefs of Police Association to be the association’s representative on the board.
• Approved bid awards for liquid soap for the jail/juvenile detention facilities, and flail cutter parts for the Highway Department.
• Approved a bid award for an addition and renovation to the Shelby County Courthouse. The courthouse bid was for $4.43 million and submitted by Douglas Built LLC. One other bid was received.
• Approved a bid award for the Cahaba River Park Trail and Trailhead Project Shelter, submitted by C&C Construction for $48,450 for the base bid and all alternates.
• Approved an alcohol license request from Rockett’s Bug Juice Gardens for retail beer on and off premises and retail table wine on and off premises, and a request from PHO280 LLC for restaurant retail liquor.
• Accepted $300,000 from Shelby County Sheriff John Samaniego from his discretionary funds to assist with the ordering of vehicles and related equipment. The Commission plans to provide $600,000 in Fiscal Year 2019 toward vehicles for the Sheriff’s Office, according to the resolution.