Council appoints Harwell to transit board

The Vestavia Hills City Council voted Monday to appoint Vestavia resident Donald Harwell to the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority board.

Harwell will fill the unexpired term of Andrew Edwards and will serve until May 2018 when the next regular appointment takes place. Edwards, Mayor Butch Zaragoza said, is unable to complete his term on the board due to business obligations.

Harwell originally applied for the board seat when Vestavia was granted a place after the 2010 census, and has attended meetings in the past as a proxy for Edwards.

“I really feel like he would do a good job,” Zaragoza told the council, citing Harwell’s background in transportation and outspoken nature at city council meetings as merit for his appointment.

Vestavia has one place on the nine-member board, with Hoover, Jefferson County and Birmingham making up the remaining eight seats.

“It’s a tough board,” Harwell told the council and audience, and said he would work hard to serve Vestavia’s interest in the transit system.

Other council business included:

• The council approved a resolution authorizing City Manager Jeff Downes to execute design and construction specification agreements, with amendments by City Attorney Patrick Boone, for the proposed western entrance to the former Altadena Valley Country Club.
• The council voted to approve an alcohol license for Ironstone Pizzaworks, which will be located in the City Center retail area and is scheduled to open in early August.
• The council voted to approve a remediation agreement between the city and the owner and mortgage broker of 2216 Brookdale Lane. Owners have until Oct. 15 to complete the incomplete construction on the property.
• A public hearing for the adoption of national and international building codes was set for Monday, July 11 at 5 p.m.