County Approves Matching Funds For New Samantha Multi-Purpose Building

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The Tuscaloosa County Commission on Wednesday approved matching funds for a new multi-use building in the Samantha area that will be mostly paid for by a federal grant.

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As Patch previously reported, the $450,000 in federal funding was announced in March by Republican Congressman Robert Aderholt, along with funding for several projects in the 4th Congressional District, including one in northern Tuscaloosa County.

For the county's share, it approved a 20% match totaling $90,000, with District 1 Commissioner Stan Acker saying around $70,000 will be for site prep, along with additional in-kind services for the building, such as electrical and plumbing work.

Acker then said the difference would be made up in a cash match if needed.

The County Commission also approved the preliminary engineering impact review required for federal projects.

"The benefit is a community facility that can be used for meetings, a polling place, a sheriff's substation and a refueling location for county vehicles," Acker told Patch. "Just an example of what it means to be able to refuel there, versus in downtown Tuscaloosa for a sheriff deputy paramedic. If they had to drive from north Tuscaloosa, Samantha or New Lexington area to downtown Tuscaloosa is probably at least 30 minutes, if not more. Then 10 minutes to fuel and at least 30 minutes back.

Acker explained that the new fueling station means those deputies will never have to leave the service area and are only off the road for the few minutes it takes to fuel up.

He also said the new fueling station will benefit the county Road and Bridge Department's vehicles, along with the bus fleet for the Tuscaloosa County School System.

The location, which is just off Highway 43 at the intersection of North Hagler Road and Finnell Road, is the current side of Station No. 2 for the Samantha Volunteer Fire Department.

Acker said the station will remain under a new long-term lease agreement which he explained is "mutually beneficial" to both the VFD and the county.

"The fueling station is already in place and operating," he said. "The new building is on an approximate timetable of 12 months from now but could be sooner if we can get all the federal guidelines satisfied."

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