Falkville Council delays listing ballpark as surplus
A resolution to give surplus status to a portion of Bobby Brewer Park for the purpose of donating the property to the Morgan County Commission – in return for short- and long-term improvements – was tabled at a regular monthly meeting of Falkville Town Council March 1.
In a work session preceding the meeting, council members expressed concern about finalizing the agreement without firm target dates and other specifics about immediate and future plans to address the park’s issues and get it back into shape.
Morgan County Parks and Recreation has the following focus, as stated in a letter to the Falkville Town Council in 2020:
“After satisfying our obligation/top priority of providing our communities safe facilities and support for county recreation leagues, we look to maximize the economic impact our facilities can have for Morgan County and its host communities.
“This is accomplished by hosting travel events.
“Over the past five years, demand for these types of events and use of our parks has increased exponentially. In 2021, South Park is already scheduled to host over 30 tournaments, with several being part of multi-day/multi-park events. These events, due to time and field constraints, often limit or cut off the number of teams that can participate.
“Additional fields would allow for expanded tournaments, which in turn would have greater local impact.”
In return for title to the park, the commission has agreed to replace all fencing, construct permanent restrooms, add a concession building and asphalt the parking area, as long-term plans. Daily maintenance and repairs would be performed by the South Park groundskeepers or additional MCPR staff when needed.
The council indicated it will put the Bobby Brewer Park resolution on the agenda for reconsideration in April.
The council acted on other matter as follows:
–approved a resolution to surplus iPhones in the police and utility departments.
–renewed appointments of Councilman Charlie Gover and Ryan Summerford to the Planning Commission and Jill Walling and Kim Dillard to the Board of Zoning Adjustments.
–approved the purchase of two laptop computers for the police department with Defensive Driving School funding in the amount of $1,85758.
–approved a resolution supporting and urging the adoption of House Bill 391. State Rep. Scott Stadhagen’s bill prohibits public kindergarten through 12th-grade schools from participating in, or providing coaching staff for, athletic events where athletes are allowed to participate in competition against athletes who are of a different biological gender, unless it includes both biological genders.
Retired fire chief Steve Shelton, a member of the Falkville Volunteer Fire Department, addressed the council seeking permission to establish a state fire marshal’s office in Falkville, with himself serving as a volunteer state fire marshal working under the state fire marshal stationed in Cullman. He said the move would allow him to perform the duties of a state fire marshal in Falkville without cost to the town.
