Pelham · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Pelham public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Commerce Boulevard water main replacement
A bid from Gillespie Construction, LLC to replace aging PVC water main pipes along Commerce Boulevard and Commerce Circle was headed to the council for action. It would affect water service reliability for homes and businesses in that area.
Fire Department Equipment Purchases (SCBA Compressor & Thermal Imaging)
The Pelham Fire Department is planning to purchase a new breathing air compressor and thermal imaging cameras using funds already budgeted for FY2027. These tools are vital for firefighter safety and emergency response readiness.
High Ridge Water Tank Painting Project Change Order
The city will review a summary change order for the High Ridge Water Tank Painting Project. The project was successfully completed under budget, reflecting efficient fiscal management.
Reconsideration request for 'It's Perfectly Normal'
A resident has formally challenged whether the book 'It's Perfectly Normal' should remain in the Pelham library's collection. The board's decision could affect what materials are available to patrons, particularly families and young readers.
APLS-recommended changes to library policies
State library staff have recommended changes to how Pelham's library builds its collection and decides where materials are shelved. These policies shape what books the library buys and how they're organized and accessed.
Business licensing and tax code amendments
A fast-moving Alabama bill would bar cities from counting work done outside their borders when calculating business license fees for trade industries. For Pelham, that could mean losing $500,000 to $750,000 a year — money that pays for police, fire, and road paving. The council unanimously opposed the bill and is lobbying lawmakers before it hits the House floor this week.
Annexation of 1056 Highway 72
A property owner has requested to annex land at 1056 Highway 72 into the city. The council discussed setting a public hearing date — the first step before any annexation vote.
Library Board appointment
Dr. Judy Mannings was reappointed to the Pelham Public Library Board after some residents asked to delay the vote; the council moved ahead because she was the only timely, qualified applicant.
King Valley Drive rezoning to townhouse (R-4)
Heads-up: a July 23 public hearing will consider rezoning King Valley Drive property from single-family (R-1) to townhouse (R-4).
Retiree healthcare benefits
A proposed ordinance would have the city pay 65% of the normal group rate premium for eligible retirees and drop the old monthly cap. It's only had a first reading so far.
Fiscal Year 2027 budget adoption
The city's proposed budget brings in $65.6 million and spends $54.9 million on operations, with a projected $1.4 million increase in unencumbered reserves. It adds money for paving, employee benefits like long-term disability coverage, and community events.
Acceptance of Ballantrae neighborhood streets
The city would release the developer's bond money and take over the public streets in Ballantrae — meaning Pelham taxpayers become responsible for maintaining them.
Liquor store zoning location and separation requirements
Pelham wants new liquor stores at least 2,500 feet from each other and 1,000 feet from homes, schools, and churches. One resident warned the spacing rule could pick winners and losers among competing businesses. A final council vote is coming after the ordinance's first reading.
Mutual aid agreements with Hoover and Cahaba Valley Fire
Proposed automatic/mutual aid agreements with Hoover and Cahaba Valley Fire & EMS would formalize backup fire and emergency coverage across jurisdiction lines.
Ordinance Repeals and Updates (SB304 Compliance)
The council reviewed a package of five ordinance changes — including repeals of charitable solicitation registration and transient lodging tax discount rules and updates to sales tax and special events ordinances — several driven by new state law.
New city employees introduced
Pelham welcomed a big class of new hires: four firefighters (after 130+ applicants), three police officers, a dispatcher, building and zoning inspectors, water department staff, and golf club personnel.
Employee vacation accrual updates
Two personnel-related items headed for October 5: an amendment to the retiree insurance benefit plan and updated vacation accrual rates in the Employee Handbook.
City Manager Administrative Leave
Pelham’s city manager is on administrative leave while officials investigate allegations raised by the suspended police chief. That means two top city leaders are off the job at once, leaving residents with a leadership vacuum and plenty of unanswered questions.
Police Chief Administrative Leave
Pelham’s police chief says he was put on paid leave right after flagging concerns about the city manager—and the city isn’t explaining why. If that’s true, it looks like a City Hall accountability problem, not just a routine personnel move.
Police Chief Investigation
Pelham’s suspended police chief is publicly accusing the city manager, and the city has opened an investigation. Expect tense council meetings as residents push for answers about what happened and who’s accountable.
Police Chief Suspension Dispute
Pelham’s police chief says he was suspended for blowing the whistle on the city manager, turning a personnel fight into a public leadership mess at City Hall. Residents should watch because it raises questions about retaliation, transparency, and who is actually running the city.
Trash service and recycling performance
A proposed adjustment to the monthly residential garbage and recycling rate would take effect January 1, 2027 — this shows up directly on every household's bill.
Highway 31 signal activation
City staff met with ALDOT to map out the process and timing for light activation on Highway 31, with a shut-off, turn-on, and decommission process starting the first week of October.
Driveway parking citations on Walker Road
Residents in the Stonehaven area got $100 citations for parking in driveways that block sidewalks, but their short driveways can't fit modern vehicles. They want warnings instead of tickets and possibly a fix or grandfather clause for pre-2002 homes.
Holland Lakes Sewer Lift Station Takeover
The city was set to review accepting the low bid from Mark Johnson Construction, LLC to rehabilitate the KOA sewer lift station wet well — critical sewer infrastructure upkeep.
ABC liquor and tobacco license for Pelham Package Store
Two local businesses sought state alcohol and tobacco licenses that the council votes on: a BBQ restaurant near Oak Mountain State Park and a gas station on Cahaba Valley Road.
Domestic violence awareness and Safe House partnership
October was proclaimed Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and Safe House of Shelby County reported over 4,000 crisis line calls, 180 people sheltered, and nearly 700 victims assisted through community services and its forensic medical facility — which operates here in Pelham.
Property transaction at 1908 and 1910 Montgomery Highway
The council was set to review accepting the sale of two parcels at 1908 and 1910 Montgomery Highway from the Commercial Development Authority — putting city-area land back into private development.
Racquet Club elevator modernization
A Pelham High School student says the Tennis Center locker room needs work and may not be up to Pelham standards. City staff will check with the Tennis Center about the building's interior.
Advisory board leadership transition and term limits
The board's president resigned over a possible conflict of interest with the Park and Recreation Foundation, and new officers were elected. Members also revisited the two-term limit and staggered appointments.
Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Phase IV-B
The city accepted the lowest bid from Suncoast Infrastructure for the next phase of sewer rehabilitation, a project budgeted for FY2026.
Camelia Ridge Sidewalk Repairs
The city is partnering with Newcastle Development to fix sidewalks in Camelia Ridge Phases 1-3 and make them ADA compliant, with work expected in four to six weeks.
Hemp Retail Licensing
Gallery Smoke Shop at 2706C Pelham Parkway received the city's approval for a state consumable hemp products retail license.
Ice Arena Protective Flooring
The Civic Complex & Ice Arena would get a new protective flooring system paid for with reallocated funds — better facilities for skaters and event-goers.
Nuisance Property on Meadow View Circle
A resident asked the city to use its nuisance codes to clean up an abandoned, overgrown house at 106 Meadow View Circle that's drawn complaints for over 16 months, citing rodents, snakes, and falling property values.
2026 Street Resurfacing Project
The paving bid came in under budget, so the council added streets planned for next year into this year's project, shrinking the eight-year paving plan to six years.
Blueberry Hill Trailhead and Trails
The FY2027 budget funds a trailhead, restrooms, pavilion, and mountain-bike trails on the city-owned Blueberry Hill property, aimed at boosting the Huntley Parkway area and tying into the Oak Mountain mountain biking scene.
Highway 261 widening utility relocation
Pelham separated the Highway 261 widening project from Hoover's schedule so construction can start independently, and continues optimizing signals on Highway 31, 119, and County Road 52.
Pelham Senior Center Bus
The senior center's van died, so the mayor made an emergency purchase of a replacement bus, which the council affirmed and moved into the FY2026 budget.
Cahaba Solid Waste Disposal Authority legal fee payment
The city agreed to pay the legal fees it owes the Cahaba Solid Waste Disposal Authority from litigation stretching 2021 to 2025.
State grants for library and Parks & Recreation
Senator April Weaver secured $10,000 for Pelham Public Library reading programs, and Representative Kenneth Paschal brought a community service grant for Parks & Rec events like Music in the Park.
New street lighting in Weatherly neighborhood
An agreement with Alabama Power will add updated lighting in the Weatherly neighborhood — better visibility at night for folks who live there.
Pelham Sports Park Renovations Phase II
The baseball and softball complex is getting field one renovated and new dugouts and fences on fields two through four — $2.6 million, $400,000 under budget, paid in cash with no borrowing.
School Resource Officer funding with Shelby County
The city signed on for Shelby County FY2026 funding to help pay for the School Resource Officer program — keeping officers in Pelham schools.
Valleydale Terrace water main replacement
The city accepted the low bid from Cox Contracting Company to replace the aging water main on Valleydale Terrace, a project already budgeted this fiscal year.
Parks & Recreation Advisory Board openings
Residents can apply through August 7 for four seats on the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board, including a student representative seat.
Police Department vault and property storage rules
A new ordinance would spell out how police receive, store, safeguard, return or throw away property in their custody — from evidence and firearms to unclaimed cash. First reading only; a vote comes later.
ReAMP Project (Former Oak Mountain Amphitheater)
The city has agreed with Kitzel Entertainment to host a spring fair April 9-19 on the city-owned property where the amphitheater once stood. After the city bought the site from Live Nation, multiple fair operators inquired; two RFP responses came in and one withdrew.
Highway 52 commercial rezone
The council finalized rezoning the corner of Highway 52 and Racquet Club Parkway to general commercial. Leaders stressed this isn't approval of any specific project — a gas station or anything else still needs separate votes, especially on how traffic gets in and out.
18-acre annexation on County Road 11
Brian Ellison and Cindy Grier petitioned to bring about 18 acres into Pelham so they get city police, fire, and trash service. It already has city water, and no one spoke for or against at the hearing.