Daleville City Council proposes new hunting ordinance, signs April proclamations

The Daleville City Council announced a new city ordinance that would allow the discharge of firearms in areas zoned as agricultural during a meeting April 1. This new law comes after several residents expressed frustration with the process of obtaining hunting permits.

In order to work toward a solution to this problem, which stemmed from a lack of written procedures concerning the regulation of the discharge of firearms within city limits, the council requested the planning commission to reconsider the zoning of several rural properties.

The new ordinance would allow landowners to conduct hunting activities on properties zoned as agricultural without prior approval from the city council. The resolution would also dissolve the need for future hunting permit requests, as hunting would be allowed in those areas without any further governance or requirements from the city.

City council members approved the recommendation and will officially act upon on it at the next meeting.

In other business, the council approved the appointment of Anthony Livingston as a public defender for the city of Daleville Municipal Court. Livingston served in the position for a trial period during the last six months. Wigglesworth said Livingston will be paid through the fair-trial tax collection funds.

Wigglesworth also announced the upcoming availability of a position on the Daleville City Board of Education for a five-year term ending in 2019. Wigglesworth reminded residents of three other available board appointments on the Industrial Development Board and the Daleville Redevelopment Authority for terms ending in 2019 and the Tree City Board for a term expiring in 2016.

The council also reviewed and approved $25,320 in budget adjustments for unfunded expenditures to include a new TADS system for the Daleville Department of Public Safety dispatchers, the Coffee with Cops program, the relocation of outdoor field lights at the Billy Adkins Community Center, and maintenance at the Daleville Senior Citizen Center.

At the end of the meeting, the council read three proclamations declaring the month of April as Child Abuse Prevention Month, Clean-Up Daleville Month, and the week of April 13-19 as National Public Safety Telecommunication Week. 

Filmore read the first proclamation, which declared April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.

“The City of Daleville, in conjunction with concerned citizens throughout the community, designates the month of April as Child Abuse Prevention month to protect future generations by providing help and hope to our children and parents,” Filmore said. “I urge all citizens, community agencies, faith groups, medical facilities, and businesses to increase their participation in supporting families, thereby preventing child maltreatment and neglect and strengthening the community in which we live.”

Wigglesworth read the second proclamation, which declared April also as Clean-Up Daleville Month. Throughout the month, the City will support a campaign “to educate and foster awareness of litter prevention, waste reduction, and recycling,” Wigglesworth said. She also encouraged residents to join city employees as they pick up litter along the roads during the Citywide Clean-Up Day April 4.

Daleville residents will have the opportunity to dispose of large waste items free of charge during Free Landfill Day on Saturday, April 26 at the Daleville landfill, which will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Also on April 26, residents can safely dispose of unused or expired medication during the Drug Take Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Grocery Outlet parking lot.

The third proclamation, read by Filmore, declared the week of April 13-19 as National Public Safety Telecommunication Week. The week honors “the men and women whose diligence and professionalism keep our city and citizens safe,” Wigglesworth said.

The week shows appreciation to the members of public safety departments, particularly dispatchers.

“We appreciate what they do,” Wigglesworth said. “Many times they are the voice of Daleville as people in times of crisis are dialing 911.”

The Daleville City Council meets the first and third Tuesday of every month at 5:30 p.m. at Daleville City Hall. For more information, contact Daleville City Hall at 598-2345.

The council will meet again April 15.