May reappointed to school board for second term

WINFIELD — The Winfield City Council voted to reinstate Chad May for a second term on the Winfield Board of Education during its regular meeting on Tuesday, April 1.
Jeana Estes once again abstained from voting on the reappointment of a board member, citing her campaign promise to get someone with experience as an educator appointed to the board.
The council also approved hiring Dale Weeks for a position at the park. Weeks had been filling in for another employee who had deployed for military service.
Now that he’s back, the park wanted to keep Weeks, saying he had done a good job.
Mayor Randy Price gave an update on the construction of pickleball courts at the park. He said the company that laid the pavement would be returning to fix a crack that had formed.
Park Director Gina Bryant said the rest of that project would likely need to be split up into separate, individual projects. She also said concession stand and restroom renovations made possible by the Bobcat grant were still underway.
The council also recognized Susan O’Mary for her good work and accomplishments after she was appointed as the state chair for senior centers for the Alabama Recreation and Park Association, of which Bryant is the current president.
In the previous meeting on Tuesday, March 18, the council authorized the use of a new electronic counting machine to be used in upcoming elections.
The council also approved the appointment of the city clerk for the role of election manager and allowed for additional compensation for the manager during the election.
The council discussed financing for the new multipurpose building coming to the park, but did not make any decisions during the meeting.
The council elected to send Jeana Estes to the Alabama Municipal Insurance Company and League of Municipalities meeting on May 13-16.
The council discussed what to about the need for action regarding the lack of management in community storm shelters and concerns over vandalism, pets being brought in and missing property.
The council approved the idea of putting cameras up inside the community storm shelter next to city hall.
The council also discussed cybersecurity insurance policies for protection against ransomware attacks, and the need for the city to purchase a new garbage truck in the near future before voting to pay the bills and adjourn.
In the following meeting on Tuesday, April 15, the council voted to approve a cemetery lawn care bid in the amount of around $9,000.
The council also voted to allow the street department to purchase a new lawnmower so the department could give one of its older mowers to the fire department.
The council discussed the ongoing pickleball court project at the park and the ongoing development around the new Pilot Travel Center, then went into executive session to discuss a business proposition before adjourning.