Lauren Estes

Hartselle Enquirer

The town council met at Priceville Elementary School for their most recent bi-monthly meeting Mon., Feb. 27.

Mayor Melvin Duran shared with listeners his heart for the community and hope for continued growth within their town. Along with the meeting, K-4 students were recognized who had Science Fair honors. The awards were given that night and the posters were judged by several of the council members.

“I appreciate more than you know being in office and being able to serve this community for the length of time that I have,” Duran said. “We can’t speak on everything, but we have a lot of goals ahead for the future, with things we want to accomplish within the city limits to make travel easier on its citizens. We also have several projects that we are working on, all to better this community and increase our growth.”

During the meeting, Duran shared about the retirement of Assistant Police Chief Ron DeWeese and the upcoming party they are honoring him with, as well as, the long time coming for a once vision of bringing a Sportsplex to Priceville.

“It started out as an idea a couple years ago, we wanted a community rec center because we knew we had kids going to other locations to play,” Duran said. “It started out that we were going to build one or two basketball courts, but then we saw the use of travel ball and came up with a Sportsplex instead of just a gymnasium.”

Duran said they created long-range plans for the facility, construction and traded ideas with Jeff Clark and the County Commission.

“On March 13, we are meeting with the bond people and we’re having a public hearing in case anyone wants to ask us about any of the plans,” Duran said. “Once we get the approval for the bond, the groundbreaking begins. Our goal is to start by August and be finished in 2018.”

The Sportsplex will cost between $7-8 million dollars. It will contain four basketball courts, which can be converted into eight volleyball courts, meeting rooms, bating cages, a concession stand and a fitness center in it. They also plan to contract with Encore Rehabilitation within the Sportsplex.

In other business the council:

• Approved a public hearing set for March 13, 2017, at 6 p.m. regarding the Sportsplex.

• Approved registration, lodging and other travel expenses for Mayor Pro-Term Tommy Perry to attend the Southern Municipal Conference on April 25-29, 2017.

• Approved $500 sponsorship for Morgan County School Foundation.

• Approved $5,800 to extend Downing Street off Cambridge Drive from Hood contracting. This will include curb, gutter and paving.

• Approve registration, lodging and other travel expense for Cindy Livingston to attend the Alabama Municipal Revenue