County land could change hands if bill passes

A bill that gives Homewood the ability to annex pockets of land under the county’s jurisdiction passed the State Senate on Thursday, Aug. 6. It passed the House committee on Friday, Aug. 7 and will be put to vote on the floor Monday, Aug. 10.

The idea to annex small islands of land under Jefferson County jurisdiction came before the legislature years ago, said Ward 2 Representative Fred Hawkins. At that time it failed, but the conversation started up again following the installation of an electronic billboard near the Lakeshore Drive-Green Springs Highway intersection.

The billboard was placed on Jefferson County land, which meant it did not have to follow the standards and regulations set by the city of Homewood.

“Right now these pockets of land that are still in the county and not considered part of Homewood have different rules which allow things... that Homewood does not allow,” Hawkins said.

Such things include electronic billboards, but also pawnshops and pay day loan shops. Annexing the land to Homewood would allow the city to prevent these structures and help with current issues involving fire, police and other emergency services.

“With fire and police service and other services,” Hawkins said, “these people technically are in the county and don’t receive that service, however, if there was an emergency, Homewood would respond and we have no way of being reimbursed for that.”

The bill came out of committee on Wednesday, Aug. 5 and will continue to the House. Hawkins said the bill has received support from bill sponsor Sen. Jabo Waggoner and Rep. David Faulkner. The bill faces a hurdle, however, due to the time crunch of the legislature’s special session. Now that it passed the House committee, it must have a first and second reading before Aug. 11.

The special session could be lengthened, however, depending on the legislature’s ability to pass a budget.

“If the budget is not passed by Tuesday and that session is lengthened, I think we have a much better chance,” Hawkins said. “I think everybody is committed to this, but it’s such a rushed session that its going to be hard to get this through.”