Terry Schrimscher
Springville — The City Council of Springville met for the first regular meeting of the month on Monday, May 6. Members of the Council delayed a vote on creating a new education position for the Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve.
The Council heard two proposals for the nature preserve. One proposal was the creation of a separate city department for the preserve. Members of the council clarified that the nature preserve was placed under Parks and Recreation previously but could be regarded as a separate division under that department instead of becoming a free-standing department.
“I just don’t think we’re ready to do that. I think we need to keep it under Parks and Rec and I don’t think we need to make it its own separate entity,” said Council Member Sherry Reaves.
“I think we’ve put so much into the preserve,” Reaves said. “I think we need to see where the preserve goes from here. Give it some time.”
On the agenda during the regular meeting was the creation of a new Education Coordinator position for the department.
The ordinance that would designate the nature preserve as a separate department did not get a second and will be placed on the agenda at the next meeting. The education position was tabled until that meeting in order to see if the position would fall under Parks and Recreation or a separate department.
Speaking to the Trussville Tribune, Mayor Dave Thomas said he hoped the council would work with him to establish the preserve as a separate department and create an Education Coordinator position within the new department.
“The majority of the people in the city want to see the nature preserve continue to grow,” Thomas said. “The goal of the preserve has always included a large educational role. We can create the position anticipating future growth and needs and fill the position when the budget committee and Council fund the position,” he added.
The council also tabled a vote on the creation of a new IT Director position for the city.
In the work session prior to the meeting, City Attorney James Hill discussed ongoing problems with debris pickup and the current trash service vendor. Like many cities in the area, Springville has been struggling with complaints over debris services. Hill plans to review options and present them to the council at a future date.
The next meeting of the Springville City Council will be held at 6 p.m. on May 20 with a work session at 5:30 p.m. prior to the meeting.