Hoover Mayor Nick Derzis is moving quickly to implement the Hoover infrastructure plan he outlined after taking office — focusing on infrastructure investment, aggressive grant funding, and renewed engagement with state leaders and major commercial partners.
During the latest episode of “Nick @ Nite” — Derzis outlines the Hoover infrastructure plan and discusses steps the city is taking to address long-standing needs. The City of Hoover shares the monthly video on the first Monday of each month.
Derzis, who was elected in August with 55.6% of the vote after campaigning on faster execution and accountability, said the mindset of urgency continues to guide his administration.
A major part of the Hoover infrastructure plan is addressing the city’s backlog of capital needs. A key focus of the discussion was the Hoover City Council’s recent approval of a $15 million capital budget for the fiscal year.
“It’s a big deal,” Derzis said. “For years, the city of Hoover has not been making the kind of investments that it needs to make in infrastructure. Roads, fire trucks, stormwater, equipment, roofs — the things that keep our city running.”
After conducting a citywide assessment with department heads, officials identified approximately $150 million in deferred capital needs.
“We discovered the city lacks about $150 million of deferred capital needs, and that’s a gap,” Derzis said. “It’s not a wish list. It’s something that we’re going to have to address.”
“It didn’t happen overnight, and we’re not going to fix it overnight,” Derzis said. “One budget cycle doesn’t fix years of neglect.”
The $150 million figure is roughly twice the city’s current reserve funds.
The City Council recently voted to accept a $1.1 million ADECA grant, funds that would have expired at the end of the year if not secured. The money will support the Hoover East project and address electrical infrastructure needs.
“Those funds would have been lost at the end of this year had we not acted,” Derzis said. “Gone.”
The city has also applied for approximately $350,000 in ALDOT paving assistance, and work continues on the Highway 31 drainage project.
“We’re not looking at our own budget and saying, ‘This is what all we’ve got,’” Derzis said. “We’re going after every dollar, every grant, every partnership that can help us tackle the backlog faster.”
Derzis recently traveled to Montgomery to meet face-to-face with members of Hoover’s legislative delegation and key state officials.
“Face-to-face to me is the best way,” Derzis said. “Telephone calls are one thing, but let’s do it face-to-face.”
“It’s all about showing our state government that our city government is working and we’re coming to meet with you,” he added.
Derzis confirmed city officials recently held a face-to-face meeting with the mall’s ownership group — something he said had not occurred in several years.
“You don’t sit back. You don’t wait for things to happen. You’ve got to go after them,” Derzis said.
“The energy was right,” he said. “We’re engaged, we’re serious, we’re ready to partner.”
“When you talk about Hoover, people think about the Galleria,” Derzis added. “We’re going to make it happen.”
Derzis said continuing “Nick @ Nite” reflects his commitment to transparency and accountability.
“We want them to hold all of us accountable, ask questions, how we spend your money,” he said.
“None of that happens if you sit behind a desk,” Derzis said. “We said we’re going to make things happen.”
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
