Employees of The Year

Fire Engineer Karry Jones, Firefighter of the Year


Engineer Karry Jones is the Homewood Fire Department Firefighter of the Year! He is the person people count on for the behind the scenes work that keeps a modern fire department running, from equipment readiness to technical details that the public never sees but benefits from every day.


Even while recovering from an injury, Fire Chief Brandon Broadhead said he kept finding ways to help. He also served on the team that helped design Homewood’s newest fire trucks around how firefighters actually work in the field.


Karry’s mindset is simple and rare. Make Homewood better tomorrow than it is today.

Corporal Jordan Suggs, Officer of the Year


Corporal Jordan Suggs is the Homewood Police Department Officer of the Year! He is a steady leader, a trusted supervisor, and a big part of the work that keeps Homewood safe, including his role with K9 Vulcan and community engagement efforts throughout the year.


He also faced a moment no officer ever wants to face. In September 2025, while working a call on Green Springs Highway, Corporal Suggs encountered an armed suspect and acted to protect his fellow officer and nearby residents. We are grateful for his service, his courage, and the professionalism he brings every day.

Laura Tucker, Employee of the Year



Laura Tucker is the City of Homewood Employee of the Year, and her impact reaches far beyond the library walls. For 11 years, she has helped make the library a place where families feel welcome, where programs grow, and where service keeps getting better.


Her work has helped expand outreach, strengthen partnerships, and bring in major support, including a $65,000 grant to grow digital literacy, workforce development, and language learning. Laura leads with a quiet steadiness that makes everyone around her better. Homewood is better because she shows up the way she does.

Janie Mayer, Mike Kendrick Award


Jamie Mears is the first recipient of the 'Mike Kendrick Award' for service to the City of Homewood. She took an idea rooted in honoring her mother, Paula Stringfellow Ford, and helped turn it into something that shaped a tradition in Homewood and inspired similar events across the region. It is a celebration of the beautiful spirit of the survivors, fighters and angels that have battled cancer.


Homewood Witches Ride has grown from a small gathering into an event with hundreds of riders and more than a half million dollars raised to support cancer care and research. It has brought joy to our streets and real support to a serious fight. We are grateful for Jamie’s vision, her follow through, and the lasting good this has created.

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State of the City

January 20, 2026
At the State of the City Address, January 20, 2026, Mayor Jennifer Andress shared a clear and detailed look at where Homewood stands and where it is going. The city closed 2025 with a $2.1 million surplus after employee bonuses and a 4.5 percent cost of living adjustment. Sales tax, property tax, lodging tax, business licenses, and Parks and Rec revenue all increased, with a 2026 budget of $75.6 million. Major projects are underway, including the Shades Creek Pavilion and trailhead opening this spring, the Central Avenue TAP project, completion of the Green Springs sidewalk, the Highway 31 corridor project moving toward bid in 2026, and construction beginning next month on the long awaited I-65 diverging diamond interchange near Walmart. The city is also launching its Comprehensive Plan, inviting residents to help shape the next 100 years, while continuing strong support for schools with $12 million dedicated to education in 2025.

Pre-Council & Council Meetings Jan. 12, 2026

January 13, 2026
Council Sets The Interview Process For Hiring City Manager Pre-Council Meeting January 12, 2026 The January 12, 2026 pre-council meeting discussed the city manager search, with council reviewing interview procedures. HR Director Kim Kinder shared the job was posted December 19 with applications due January 16, listed the minimum qualifications, and said about 40 applications had been received so far. A resident asked why an ICMA credential was not required for candidates. Staff said keeping minimum requirements preserves flexibility given legal timelines and the residency requirement, while still aiming for a highly qualified hire. Council also teed up three January 26, 6:00pm public hearings, the condemnation and planned demolition of an unsafe house at 1625 26th Avenue South, an amended plan for Homewood Community Church to build a new two story 30,797 square foot facility behind The Edge with added buffers plus stormwater and traffic controls, and Brookdale University Park’s plan to replace unused parking with a fenced pickleball court with no lights. Agenda: https://bit.ly/3NgmgqM

Reese Street Courtyard Project Variance Request Denied

January 9, 2026
At the January 8, 2026 meeting, the Board of Zoning Adjustments denied a request to reduce the required landscape buffer from 15 feet to 5 feet for the planned mixed use retail, office, and medical project on the vacant lot at 1707 Reese Street, called 'Reese Street Courtyard.' Located right behind Nall Daniels Animal Hospital, the concept has been in the works for several years and is meant to add new businesses and much needed parking. The board focused on the fact that the plan chose to build more parking than required. That decision created the conflict with the landscaping rules, rather than a hardship tied to the property itself. The BZA also approved a front setback variance to allow a master bedroom to be added to the front of the house at 3410 Avalon Road, and approved a fence repair variance at 300 Woodland Drive. Agenda: https://bit.ly/4qcchBd

State of the City - Tuesday, Jan. 20

January 7, 2026
Join the City of Homewood and the Homewood Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, January 20, at 11:30am at the Valley Hotel . As part of the monthly luncheon, Mayor Jennifer Andress will share updates, city highlights, and the vision for 2026. Registration is required and closes Jan. 14: https://bit.ly/49m1VHP

Planning Commission Moves to Reshape the Green Springs Corridor

January 7, 2026
The only item for the Planning Commission meeting, January 6, 2026, was a request to amend the zoning ordinance for the Green Springs Urban Development District (GURD) by removing “minor vehicle repair” as a permitted use. The discussion stemmed from concerns raised after approval of the Valvoline oil change project, (see link to video here: https://bit.ly/4qaJZqY ) with both the Planning Commission and City Council expressing that similar vehicle-focused uses do not match the long-term vision for the Green Springs corridor as a more pedestrian-friendly, connected boulevard. Staff explained that removing this use would prevent future oil change or similar facilities from locating in the district, while existing businesses could continue operating as nonconforming uses without expanding. Commissioners also discussed the lack of a clear definition for “minor vehicle repair” in the zoning code and agreed it would be helpful for the city to formally define the term. Several residents spoke in support, citing past zoning decisions on Green Springs and urging a more holistic approach tied to the upcoming comprehensive plan. After public input and discussion around the upcoming citywide comprehensive plan, the Planning Commission voted to recommend deleting minor vehicle repair from the GURD, 6-0 with one abstention, and asked City Council to consider adding a clear definition for the minor vehicle repair. This item will no go before the full Council for a vote. Agenda: https://bit.ly/4jtpgfu

Piggly Wiggly Closes Dec. 31 For Renovations

December 31, 2025
The Homewood Piggly Wiggly closes today, Dec. 31, at 6:00pm, prices are being reduced today as shelves are cleared. This is a temporary pause as the store begins a major redevelopment. Plans include a larger and updated store, more parking, improved traffic flow, safer access for children using the nearby tunnel, and new green space. The store is expected to reopen by the end of 2026.

Apply to Serve as City Manager

December 30, 2025
Applications are now open for Homewood's City Manager. This role will help guide the city through its new council manager form of government. It is a chance to work with a dedicated team, lead daily operations, and help shape what comes next for Homewood. Applications are open through January 16, 2026. View the job description HERE APPLY HERE

Christmas Tree Disposal

December 29, 2025
What to do with those Christmas trees? Christmas may be over, but your tree can still do some good. Real trees can be reused in simple ways: Cut branches for yard mulch Add pieces to garden beds to protect plants Use smaller limbs for outdoor habitat or compost.  You can also dispose of your tree easily in Homewood. We have bins at the Homewood Library or the West Oxmoor pool parking lot. Drop off your trees and/or cardboard boxes at those locations. Or you can place your tree at the curb for pickup on your trash day, and the claw truck will get them.

Pre-Council & Council Meeting Dec. 22, 2025

December 23, 2025
Pre-Council Meeting December 22, 2025 This pre-council meeting was brief, with three public hearings carried to January 12, including 1625 26th Ave S, Homewood Community Church’s amended plan for a new 30,797 square foot two story building, and Brookdale University Park. The main discussion was an FY 2026 budget amendment cleanup to fix fund deficits, using carryover fund balance and corrections without changing current operations, plus a quick look ahead at an on street parking ordinance on Linden Avenue. Agenda: https://bit.ly/44KjgsG

We Are Listening!

December 18, 2025
We are listening! We recently spent time hearing directly from residents about how the City communicates. The message was clear: people want information they can trust, delivered in ways that fit their daily lives. This conversation was an important first step in a larger effort to better understand what matters most to our community and how we can continue to improve. Based on this feedback, the City of Homewood is looking at steps to improve how we communicate using these as a beginning guide: Be a trusted source of information Using clear, short messages Pushing information through the channels residents use most, directly to them Promoting our website as a place to find important information Highlighting how residents can report issues and share feedback  This is a starting point. The City plans to continue gathering public input and refining how we communicate over time. We appreciate everyone who shared their perspective and look forward to additional opportunities to listen, learn, and improve how we serve our community.
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