Council removes requests from agenda

The Daleville City Council removed two requests from the Parks and Recreation Department, which have both been tabled several times, during its meeting on Feb. 5.

The council removed a budget amendment request from the city’s Parks and Recreation Department to purchase bleachers for the gym at the Billy Adkins Community Center.

The budget amendment request was first introduced at the Dec. 17, 2018, meeting. Parks and Recreation Director Brook Beasley told the council the three-row, aluminum bleachers that were previously in the gym were placed at Culpepper Park after fields and other projects were completed, but some had to be brought back for gym seating.

She said she needs higher elevation bleachers to allow for more seating in the gym because of the space available for the bleachers. She said she would like to have at least five or six rows on the bleachers.

She said the bleachers also need to be able to move for cleaning. She said she is in contact with other companies to see what quotes she can get without the bleachers being custom made.

At the council’s Jan. 14 work session, Beasley said she was still having trouble finding the bleachers and prices.

Beasley said she has mostly focused on local vendors to supply the bleachers. Council member Scott Moore suggested online searches for prices as well.

This item of business has been tabled three times during the council’s Dec. 18, 2018 and January meetings.

The council removed the item from the agenda until more information was provided.

The council also removed a request to add internet at the city’s Boy Scout Hut for the Parks and Recreation Department’s after school program.

Beasley also asked the council on Dec. 17 to consider adding an internet line at the Boy Scout Hut for after school program students to use for homework.

Beasley first presented a price of $78.95 per month for internet services with Troy Cable. The council did not approve this request, citing issues with the price of the service.

During the Jan. 14 work session, Beasley presented the council with the idea to use a hotspot, available through a city-owned cellphone used at the Boy Scout Hut, to provide internet for students.

She said she was informed that the hotspot must be turned on and there would be an additional $40 charge to use the hotspot monthly.

The council tabled this item of business on Jan. 15 until a proposal from Verizon, who provides the city’s cellphone service, could be presented.

Administrative Assistant Kecia Ham told the council during its Feb. 4 work session that she was told by Verizon that a hotspot added to a cellphone plan was $10 monthly. An activated jetpack, she said, was $39.99 monthly, but the equipment was free.

She quoted a Verizon representative, saying the cellphone hotspot is only intended “for a short period of time” because of the battery of smartphones, and the jetpacks are better for longer periods of time, but have to be charged daily.

She also said that “unlimited data” is provided, but after 25 gigabytes of data is reached “for three consecutive months,” the data speeds are slowed.

She said one jetpack is recommended for one computer, making the price around $80 per month for two jetpacks.

The council voted to remove the item of business for more information and discussion.

The next council meeting will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 19, at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. All meetings are open to the public.