By Terry Schrimscher, For the Tribune
CLAY – The City of Clay is nearing an agreement with the State of Alabama to rehab the former Chalkville Campus of the Department of Youth Services into a recreational facility. City Manager Ronnie Dixon updated the City Council on the plans in his report during the October 24 Council meeting.
“Today has been an exciting day. I spent an hour with the state attorney, the DYS attorney, and we have a final contract for the lease of the entire property,” Dixon said. “They are going to eliminate the license to use. So, we will have a lease on all 540 acres.”
Dixon introduced the proposal at a Council meeting in June. At the time, he said DYS could choose to offer Clay a license to use the property or a long-term lease.
“They’re trying to decide right now if it is going to be 75 or 99 years,” he said. “The committee has already voted, so now it just goes to the entire body in their December meeting. So, they’re going to, hopefully, make the lease effective January 1 for the next 99 or 75 years.”
The site closed in 2012 after a tornado damaged or destroyed many of the buildings on campus. The property has since endured more than a decade of neglect and vandalism. DYS has stipulated the city must refurbish some of the existing buildings as part of the agreement.
“The city’s commitment to them was, over the next five years, we would spend a half million dollars a year to rehab the chapel and the bell tower building,” Dixon said. He said the state has recovered the historic bell that was stolen from the tower when someone tried to scrap the metal.
The clock in the tower was originally located in the Jefferson County courthouse in downtown Birmingham and was relocated to the campus when the courthouse was demolished.
Dixon told the Council the city should begin by cleaning and restoring the historic cemetery near the property entrance and two log pagoda houses on the property that can be preserved. He also said Mayor Webster wants to build a veterans memorial on the property.
“Eventually we’ll do something with those tennis courts,” Dixon said. He added the courts could be refurbished and also converted for pickleball. “I would like to see us put in an 18-hole disc golf course that’s short and flat. To open it up for more players.”
Dixon said the land could be developed for future municipal use including a fire station, a police station, a new city hall and other uses as needs arise. The property also includes a lake, which could be maintained as another local fishing spot for the community.
In other business, the Council held a public hearing on eight properties considered to be public nuisances. No one was present to speak on any of the properties and the Council approved a resolution to abate 5555 Spanish Trace, 2520 Beechwood Trail, 5192 Yorkshire Drive, 5198 Yorkshire Drive, 5248 Old Springville Road, 5594 Old Springville Road, 5651 Goodwin Court and 5739 DeSoto Drive.
The next meeting of the Clay City Council is scheduled for 6 p.m. on November 14 at City Hall.