Hoover to resurface Hugh Daniel Drive, raise fire dues

The Hoover City Council agreed to enter a maintenance contract with the Alabama Department of Transportation to resurface Hugh Daniel Drive on May 19.

The repaving will cover about 4,000 feet of road from U.S. 280 east to Dunavant Road.

The project will cost about $1.3 million to complete with the City of Hoover paying 20 percent or $260,000.

Mayor Gary Ivey said the project should begin in late summer or early fall.

The city also increased fire dues for residents and businesses outside Hoover who are covered by the city’s fire department. The council agreed to amend its municipal code to increase the fee for residents from $200 to $350 a year and for businesses from no fee to $700 a year. Rusty Lowe, spokesman for the fire department, said the amended code also allows the city to invoice payment of fire dues to residents and businesses.

“Before, the ordinance was going to make each homeowner sign a contract and send it back. They’ve taken that out,” Lowe said. “Now, the homeowner can just petition the city or be invoiced and pay the fire dues.”  

The council also appointed former Alabama football great Bobby Humphrey to serve on the city’s parks and recreation board. Humphrey will fill the unexpired five-year term of Craig Kelley, who resigned last month for an appointment to the city school board.  

“We’ve been asking him to serve for a while, and he’s finally found time in his schedule,”  Council President Jack Wright said. “We’re flattered to have Bobby Humphrey. He’s all about athletics and has a constant eye on parks and recreation.”