Council talks festival, chamber events

A festival, lights and paving projects were on the agenda during the Daleville City Council’s Feb. 5 meeting.

The council approved entering into an agreement with the carnival group, Family Fun Fest, for the second time to bring the Daleville Family Fun Fest back to the city. The Daleville Family Fun Fest arrived in Daleville for the first time in March 2018.

The council approved the dates for the Daleville Family Fun Fest during its Jan. 15 meeting, which are March 12-16.

During that meeting, Mayor Jayme Stayton also presented a three-year contract to the council, which he said is the same as last year’s contract. He said the only change is the three-year time frame of the contract.

During the Feb. 5 work session, Stayton said City Attorney Henry Steagall reviewed the contract.

He also told the council on Jan. 15 that the fair will feature new rides and concerts this year.

“It was well received,” Council member Jo Reese said during the Jan. 15 meeting. “They were nice people. I remember meeting a lot of the people. It was pretty well run.”

The council also approved installing a 100 HPS light, to be installed by Alabama Power, on Old Newton Road for $103 annually.

It tabled the initial request from Stayton to place additional lighting on Old Newton Road during its Jan. 15 meeting until a price could be presented.

Stayton told the council during its Feb. 4 work session that Alabama Power offered two prices.

For a 100 HPS light, the annual cost would be $103. It would cost $62.85 annually for a 70 HPS light.

Stayton told the council the light would only have to be installed on the pole already placed at the location.

The council approved the 100 HPS light for $103 annually.

During the Feb. 5 meeting, Council member Katheryne Horace, who made the motion, said the area would “benefit” from a light.

“I hear discussions that it’s really dark down there, and they would benefit from that,” she said.

In other business, the council approved allowing the Daleville Area Chamber of Commerce to use Culpepper Park to hold two events in the coming months: the Butterfly Princess 5K and Spartan Fest.

During the Feb. 4 work session, Chamber Executive Director Kecia Ham told the council volunteers would clean up the area after the chamber-sponsored event, which was being held in Daleville because of its nearness to Fort Rucker and the city’s support for the military.

She said the route would be located around Culpepper Park, away from major roads, though a specific route had not been mapped out at the time of the Feb. 4 work session.

“All the proceeds of the race go to the foundation,” Ham said. “The vendors (fees)… will go to the chamber.”

She said vendor spots are $50 for non-chamber members and $25 for chamber members.

When asked, Ham said the focus of the run is to bring awareness to Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood, though the race is named after the child of the creator of the race.

Ham said she contacted the SUDC Foundation, who confirmed this race would be associated with the foundation and stated a table would be onsite on the day of the run to provide information on SUDC to visitors.

The Butterfly Princess 5K will be held on April 27 from 7 a.m. to noon.

Spartan Fest, an annual softball game between the City of Daleville and the 1st of the 223rd, will be held on Saturday, May 18, at Culpepper Park.

According to the request letter from the chamber, the event will also feature free bouncy houses for children, live music and vendors.

The letter stated the event will also serve as a military appreciation event, as May 18 is also Armed Forces Day.

For more information for either event, contact the chamber at (334) 598-6331 or visit the chamber’s website at www.dalevilleareachamber.com.

The council also tabled an item of business related to parking spaces and paving projects for the city.

During the Feb. 4 work session, Council member Scott Moore suggested to 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 need a price from whoever ends up paving (the streets), for what, like, a price per townhouse would be and approach each owner (with the price),” he said. “I think we really ought to look into that.”

During council comments, Reese thanked the council for appointing her a year ago to serve the city.

“I’ve gotten to know the other council members and (the mayor) better, as well as department heads, city employees, citizens and residents of Daleville,” she said. “I’ve been made aware of the needs of our city, some of the resources to meet those needs, and I’ve seen the city grow.

“As a city council, we have had some challenges; we have learned to deal with those, and we’ve had the distinct pleasure of working together to resolve any issues that have come before us, externally or internally, to bring about positive changes in Daleville.”

She said the council is working daily to bring about positive changes in the city.

“I do appreciate the opportunity to have served this year and look forward to our next year,” she said.

Ham also announced that the chamber ended January “with 38 members, 14 of which were new.”

She also announced that there has been a lot of interest in taking part in the 2019 Miss Daleville Pageants. She said there is a potential for the Miss and Little Miss Daleville winners to take part in the Miss National Peanut pageant if the number of girls interested turn in registration packets on time.

For more information about the Daleville pageant, contact the chamber at (334) 598-6331 or visit the chamber’s website at www.dalevilleareachamber.com.

The next council meeting will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 19, at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. The meeting is open to the public.