By Chase Holmes, News Reporter
TRUSSVILLE — The Trussville City Council approved a resolution to allow Mayor Buddy Choat to enter negotiations for the turfing of the Trussville Sports Complex fields on Tuesday, August 8.
The Trussville City council met Tuesday night to approve a number of resolutions. Resolution 2023-54 begins the process of turning the various ball fields at the Trussville Sports Complex into turf by entering into negotiations with Lathan Associates.
Mayor Buddy Choat said the passing of this resolution begins the first of what he hopes is three phases turn the fields into turf. The current plan is to start with the baseball and softball fields and to turn one of the fields into a Miracle League field to accommodate mentally and physically disabled players.
“Today after it rained, we could not have played baseball or softball tonight. We could have had those fields been turf,” Mayor Choat said.
Councilman Ben Short said that the growth in baseball and softball necessitates the improved facilities.
Mayor Choat provided some statistics as to just how large the demand for baseball has increased year over year. “Our baseball numbers were up from 100 the previous year to about 650 kids,” he said. “The demand is back and we want to provide them a place where we don’t have to force so many rain outs.”
Lathan will now work to come up with a design that will eventually be brought to Council as a resolution.
While at the meeting, Mayor Choat spoke more about two upcoming downtown developments. A new retail space was announced for the vacant lot behind the downtown plaza. More information including the business itself will be announced next week.
The second development is the remodeling of the former Elite Jewelry building across from Marco’s Pizza that is being turned into a short-term rental development called Main Street Flats that will accommodate eight rooms.
All resolutions proposed at the meeting where passed and are as follows:
- Resolution to amend FY2023 Budget
- Resolution to declare Police FEMA trailer surplus
- Resolution to declare Civic Center Televisions Surplus
- Resolution to declare City Hall Annex Refrigerator Surplus
- Resolution to designate SmartBank as a Depository of City Funds
- Resolution to adopt a City Transportation Plan
- Resolution to endorse ALDOT Curb Replacement Project