Parking changed at ballfields

By Staff
Leada Gore, Hartselle Enquirer
People who are accustomed to parking in certain fenced areas near Sparkman Park will soon be looking for another location.
Frank Miller, Hartselle Park and Recreation Director, said the fenced area near Sparkman Park and Sparkman Civic Center where the high school baseball facilities are located will soon be off limits to people without special permits. Those permitted people will include concession stand workers and coaches.
The change is due to concerns with access in the area.
The City Council passed the ordinance restricting the parking Tuesday night. Violators could receive a ticket or be towed.
In other city council business:
The City Council approved a bid of $37,686 from North American Fire Equipment Company for the new gear. The low bidder, Heritage Fire Equipment, did not meet bid specifications.
The money will be used to purchase 22 sets of turnout gear, including new helmets, coats, pants, suspenders, hood, gloves and boots. The money for the gear comes from a federal fire grant through the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The grant pays 95 percent of the cost, with the city covering 5 percent.
The sales tax holiday will begin at 12:01 a.m. on the first Friday in August and ending at midnight the following Sunday.
Last year, the city voted to participate in the state holiday, allowing shoppers to avoid sales taxes on items such as clothing, school supplies and computers. According to the city, sales tax revenues from August 2006 showed a 2.8 percent increase despite the sales tax holiday. City officials said because those figures remained strong, they opted to make the tax holiday an annual event.
A council could decide in the future to end the holiday.