BY HANNAH GOLDFINGER
HGOLDFINGER@OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
SMITHS STATION —
The Smiths Station City Council voted to approve funds for Drury Fields, the girls’ softball field, during Tuesday night’s council meeting.
The funding approval comes one month after parents and residents complained about the state of the field.
“I’m here to ask for equal treatment, funds and management for Drury Fields in Girl’s Softball,” said Lauren Davis, one resident of Smiths Station at that meeting.
To read more about the parents complaints’, which included the roof caving in one of the structures, problems in the bathroom, etc., and their requests, see our article here: www.opelikaobserver.com/smiths-hears-complaints-on-girls-softball-field/
Tuesday nights resolution includes the allocation of funds — just under $31,000 — for fencing replacement and repairs.
Mayor F.L. “Bubba” Copeland said he spoke with the superintendent of maintenance for Drury Fields for the Lee County Board of Education.
Copeland said that he expressed hesitation at spending funds on the field as it is not city owned but that the county assured him they do not plan to take it back for county use or school use.
“There was a candid conversation, he said ‘don’t worry about that,’” Copeland said.
The council discussed, however, not making this a regular expenditure.
“I will say this, I do believe that the Drury Fields has been neglected,” Copeland said. “I do believe that. At this point in time in history, I think it’s where it needs to be. I don’t think that, from this point forward, we need to continue to adhere to every demand that the softball league has, or the soccer league or the football league. Mr. Jackson, I agree with you totally, we don’t need to start a tradition of this.
“Did we have a dangerous situation? Yes we did. Have we corrected the dangerous situation? Yes we have. Case closed.
“And if [we have] another dangerous situation that could pertain to potential litigation, we need to address it at that point in time in history. But, I physically went out there and saw the roof falling in, I physically went out there and saw the fences where a kid could get her arm cut … So, those things are corrected now.”
OTHER BUSINESS
- The council approved a resolution to dedicate a portion of Panther Parkway as a memorial for Fallen Deputy James W. Anderson on the area of the road from the Public Works Department to Smiths Station High School. The council reiterated that the road is not being renamed, but a portion being dedicated.
- The council approved a resolution to appoint Cyndi Farmer as city clerk-secretary-treasurer for the city, removing the interim from her title.
- The council approved an event request for The Pavilion on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023, from11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for a birthday party.
- The council declared the city’s official observance of Halloween Trick or Treating for Oct. 31, 2023, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Mayor F.L. “Bubba” Copeland also called for a city audit to be completed by the end of the fiscal year.
