The Huntsville City Council voted this week to raise sewer rates in the city for the first time in 20 years. The increase will fund upgrades to a system that would replace aging infrastructure that dates back to the 1950s in some parts of the city. AL.com reports the increase will also help the city remain in compliance with Environmental Protection Agency and Alabama Department of Environmental Management regulations. Monthly sewer bills to increase from $24.15 to $29.15 for an average residential customer starting Sept. 1. Rates would increase by $1 per month each year beginning in 2026 until 2034.
Huntsville city leaders plan for the final phase of construction on the Sandra Moon Community Complex to finish roughly a year from now. Huntsville Parks and Recreation Director James Gossett tells WAFF TV the project’s final phase is rebuilding the former Grissom High School’s auditorium and adding an event center. Gossett said the revitalization of the community complex is part of a larger effort across Huntsville to include more gathering spaces for everyone.
The City of Huntsville is getting ready to update one of the area’s historical landmarks, the Historic Depot. The 7-acre site includes the historic railroad depot building, its baggage platform and related outbuildings, a 1980s reproduction roundhouse and turnstile, a reproduction Victorian-style house, outdoor pavilion, green space, parking lots, and a greenway segment connecting Gateway Park at Meridian Street to downtown Huntsville. The City’s Urban Planning team is requesting public input on new civic uses for the historic site and its buildings. You can find a link to the survey at huntsvilleal.gov by clicking on “Depot Master Plan.”
Alabama Department of Transportation crews will begin work Saturday on I-65 southbound at Upper River Road in Priceville to repair a damaged bridge. Contractors will reduce I-65 southbound to one lane from 7 p.m. Saturday, June 28, to 6 a.m. Wednesday, July 2, for repair of the bridge on Upper River Road over I-65.
Starting on June 30, Redstone Arsenal’s Gate 8 on Goss Road will close on weekdays. The gate is near the intersection of Drake and Patton Road in Huntsville. Redstone Arsenal Garrison representatives tell AL.com the closure reflects evolving workplace conditions. They have adjusted over the past few years to COVID-19 protocols, ongoing construction, and now the federal return-to-office mandate for government employees. Arsenal officials do not expect closing Gate 8 to significantly affect traffic. Gate 8 is among the least-used entrances and primarily serves residents on base.
Residents of Huntsville and Athens have recently reported seeing bears in the area. Athens Police Chief Anthony Pressnell tells WHNT TV wildlife officials have notified his department that a bear has been spotted in different areas of the city limits. Chief Pressnell asks that you please do not agitate the bear, try to feed it, or try to take a selfie with it. Residents spotting the bear are urged to call Athens police at 256-233-8700.
In addition to an increase in bear sightings, more people in Huntsville are spotting alligators. According to the city, wetlands, which are the homes of alligators, are located in areas on both the east and west sides of Redstone Arsenal. Officials say that there have also been sightings recently in the Aldridge Creek area in south Huntsville. WHNT TV notes that there have been no instances of alligators attacking or harming people in Huntsville, but sightings have been on the rise in recent years as developments have expanded near their natural habitats. If you encounter an alligator, don’t feed them; this is illegal. You are also advised to be aware of your surroundings when swimming and don’t allow pets near areas where alligators are known to hang out.