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By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor

ALABASTER – The Alabaster City Council approved an ordinance for the issuing of General Obligation Warrants in the amount of $19,830,000 for capital improvements in the city during a regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, Dec. 9.

During the meeting, the Alabaster City Council approved a suspension of the rules for immediate consideration of the ordinance and to hold a public hearing. After receiving no feedback for or against the resolution, it was unanimously approved by the councilmembers present.

The approved ordinance allows the city to take out $19,830,000 in bonds to utilize toward a variety of special projects, including the upcoming recreation center and new library.

“A majority of it is for the infrastructure that’s going to be around the rec center and library project,” City Administrator Brian Binzer said.

The bond allows the city to pay itself for the utility work that is currently underway in addition to the planned demolition, road work and traffic signals.

“We pre-sold them about two weeks ago, everything got set as far as what the terms are, the interest rates, all that kinds of stuff,” Binzer said. “And then in a couple of days, now that the Council approved this, we’ll go to a virtual closing table where they’re going to close the bonds and then that’ll set everything up for funding.”

The new recreation center and library will be located on Highway 119 on the grounds of the old Thompson High School which is set to be demolished in two phases. Demolition on the facility is set to begin in January with a second phase set for the spring after the Alabaster City Schools Central Office moves to its new facility which is under construction.

Additionally, the bond helps pay for planned improvements to the intersection of Thompson Road and Hwy 119 which will feature a widening, new traffic signal and turn lanes.

The city plans to undertake the issuance of a second set of bonds to handle the major construction costs for the new recreation center and library at a yet-to-be-determined date in 2025.

In others news, the Alabaster City Council approved the following items on the agenda during the meeting:

• Set two public hearings for Monday, Jan. 13, 2025 at the request of John Stephen and Melissa Hunt Wiley for property at 138 Canter Way
• Set two public hearings for Jan. 13, 2025 at the request of Katelyn and Tyler Wins Fredrick for property at 2474 Smokey Road
• Set a public hearing for Jan. 13, 2025 for an ordinance to rezone property located at County Road 17 from Municipal Reserve to Single-Family Residential at the request of Billy and Mary Grubbs
• Awarded a bid for janitorial services to Vanguard Cleaning Systems in the amount of $7,819.20 per month for the cleaning of seven public facilities in the city
• The authorization of funding in the amount of $6,700 from the Alabaster Festival of Trees to be allocated for the purchase of gifts for the city holiday charity program
• The allocation of $12,000 of donated money by various businesses to the employee appreciation budget to be used in fiscal year 2025
• A request from Mizuwa Inc dba for a 020 restaurant retail liquor alcohol license at 750 Colonial Promenade Parkway St 5200
• A professional services agreement with Volkert for administration of the city’s annual MS4 program in an amount not to exceed $87,000
• Authorization for the mayor to grant Alabama Power an easement to place a new pole to relocate existing lines for the new traffic signal at Veterans Park
• Authorization for the mayor to sign an amendment to the economic development agreement with Newcastle Development, LLC
• The appointment of Brian Wheeler to Place 3 on the board of directors of the Medical Clinic Board of the city of Alabaster—filling the unexpired term of Cheryl Naugher with term expiring Dec. 2027
• A petition by Walker Springs Improvement District to assess land and approve methodology for the assessment of land within the district for improvements
• Rescheduling of the second regular city council meeting in December
• Authorization for the mayor to sign a lighting agreement. with Alabama Power for one streetlight at the intersection of Forest Parkway and State Route 119 to be added to the city’s monthly lighting agreement

The next Alabaster City Council meeting will take place on Thursday, Dec. 23 at 6:30 p.m. with a work session set to take place at 5:30 p.m.