Birmingham, Ala. - The Jefferson County Commission cutting road maintenance is more than just a roadblock for several local cities.

Most municipalities say they cannot handle the extra cost of maintaining roads that lie within their city limits but belong to the county.

"All of us are under revenue constraints right now given the times that we're living in," Midfield Mayor Gary Richardson said.  "And so to add this extra burden to the cities is certainly unfair."

Richardson and other mayors spoke against the county's decision during a meeting of the Jefferson County Mayors Association Thursday.  They said cutting road maintenance would only create greater problems in the future.

"In one simple sentence, you pay now or pay later," Richardson added.

County roads in Midfield include Rutledge Road and Woodland Road.

Trussville Mayor Gene Melton said he had some faith in the county's transportation director.  However, he has less faith in the Jefferson County Commission, saying the commission waited too long to start saving money.

"You talk to any Jefferson County citizen.  They probably feel like a lot of things being done now should have been done a year ago or sooner," Melton said.

County roads in Trussville include Chalkville Road and Deerfoot Parkway.

The county's budget cuts came after a judge ruled the county could not spend occupational tax money while it appeals a ruling on the legality of the tax.  Jefferson County also faces a crushing four billion-dollar sewer debt.

The mayors association decided Wednesday it would not take an official stand on the occupational tax issue.  The focus of the mayors, for now, is simply finding a way to deal with the lack of road maintenance.

Melton said he had instructed police officers in Trussville to make a note of whenever the conditions of a poorly-maintained county road may have contributed to any accidents.  Such a move, Melton said, could protect the city from lawsuits regarding the upkeep of roads that belong to the county.

"I think all the cities have to protect themselves," Melton explained.

Some of the mayors who gathered talked about possible legal action against the county in order to jump-start road maintenance.  But an attorney for the mayors association said the cities may not have any legal recourse.

"The county is carving back and only going to perform essential governmental functions, and in their position, the roadwork in a municipality is not essential, period," said attorney Ken Thompson.

Mayors were relieved to know the maintenance of traffic lights along county roads in their cities would continue without the cities having to intervene.

Some mayors said their cities would perform the most essential maintenance needed on county roads.

"If a tree falls across the road, I can assure you the City of Hoover's Public Works guys are going to be out there cutting the tree, moving it, to keep traffic flowing," Hoover Mayor Tony Petelos said.  "If we have a pothole, we'll jump in and take care of it."

County roads in Hoover include Lorna Road, Patton Chapel Road, Shades Crest Road, and several others.

Petelos said he was more concerned about the long-term impact of the county's sewer debt than the occupational tax issue.  He pointed out the mayors association supported a resolution last year for the county to declare bankruptcy.

"We're still seeing millions of dollars piled onto that debt, and we've seen very little movement since August of last year until today," Petelos said.

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