Grant opportunity possible for benches at Culpepper Park

The Daleville City Council voted to apply for a Wiregrass RC&D grant during its April 2 meeting to possibly bring memorial benches, more fencing and bleachers to Culpepper Park.

Council member Bobby Hardrick recently spoke with state Rep. Steve Clouse, who provided the City of Daleville with the opportunity to apply for the RC&D grant.

Memorial park benches were discussed by the council previously when Hardrick presented the idea during a June 2018 work session to allow organizations or individuals to purchase memorial and honorarium benches to be placed around the park.

At the time of the discussions, Hardrick presented bench choices found through Lowe’s, and council member Scott Moore suggested brands from a parks and recreation catalogue should be considered.

In 2018, the council also discussed how to secure the benches in the park, such as with cement, and prices for benches.

The matter was tabled for research into funding options in June 2018.

During the April 1 work session, the council discussed adding more needed items for Culpepper Park on the grant application, including fencing and bleachers.

“It’s a match where we pay, and they reimburse, but it’s usually 100 percent,” City Clerk Angelia Filmore said, stating $2,000 is the minimum amount that can be applied for and $20,000 is the maximum.

The fencing would be used to protect surrounding property or the park. The bleachers currently at the park were originally used in the Billy Adkins Recreation Center, and the council has received requests to consider purchasing new bleachers for the center.

The council also received several suggested brands of benches from Parks and Recreation Director Brook Beasley to consider purchasing if the grant is approved.

The council approved applying for a grant through Wiregrass RC&D to cover five or six benches, about 160 feet of fencing and bleachers for the park.

In other business, the council removed an item of business related to parking spaces and paving projects for townhouses near Lakeview Drive and Edith Way.

The additional paving project was introduced by Moore during the council’s Feb. 4 work session.

He suggested the council research receiving a quote from contractors to pave the townhouse parking areas while completing paving projects near Lakeview Drive and Edith Way, which would then be presented to property owners to consider paying for the work.

“We’re just waiting on the actual engineer,” Mayor Jayme Stayton said during the council’s work session on March 18, stating price quotes still need to be provided on the possible project.

The council tabled the item of business first on Feb. 4, then on Feb. 19, March 5 and March 19 before the council’s April 2 meeting.

Information is expected to be provided at the council’s April 15 work session or April 16 meeting.

The council adopted a resolution allowing for city employees to have time off on Good Friday, unless they are absolutely needed. The resolution declared Friday, April 19, as a day of diminished activity for city business.

The council also approved spending $1,925 for pay for officials during the spring ball season for the Parks and Recreation Department.

Stayton announced an opening on the Daleville Water and Sewer Board. Any person interested is asked to send a letter of consideration to the city clerk. The position is expected to be filled in May and complete the term, ending in 2022, of former board member Bob Slagle.

The next council meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 16, at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.