By EMILY BECKETT / Staff Writer

HOOVER – The Hoover City Council voted in its June 6 meeting to sell Jefferson State Community College a 15-acre parcel of land for $1 million for future expansion of the Shelby-Hoover campus.

Some residents are concerned the college’s future construction on the land, which is located off Jaguar Drive, will interfere with the adjacent Veterans Park, but Jeff State President Judy Merritt said the park will remain untouched.

“It will not affect the park,” Merritt said. “We have none of that property.”

Merritt said Jeff State has no plans for immediate expansion, but student enrollment has almost reached full capacity.

According to Merritt, the Shelby-Hoover campus has about half as many square feet as the Jefferson campus.

“We’re making adjustments to accommodate our very big student population,” Merritt said. “It’s growing at a very strong rate. The property that we purchased has always been in our plan.”

Merritt said additional funding from the Public School and College Authority allowed Jeff State to purchase the land this year.

Marketing Coordinator Lori Salter said Hoover Mayor Tony Petelos intends to use the $1 million from Jeff State for a green project with the approval of the Hoover City Council.