Adel awarded $174,000 grant for park improvements

During the Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, meeting of the Adel Mayor and Council, City Manager Mark Barber advised that the City has received official notification from the U.S. Department of the Interior-National Park Service that the grant for improvements at Jim Battle Park and City Park has been approved. 

The total cost of the project is $348,000, with the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant funding $174,000 of the project.

To fully execute the grant, the Council had to approve the LWCF Agreement.  

Councilman Walter Cowart made a motion to approve the agreement. Councilwoman Celestine Hayes seconded, with all in favor.

Also during the Monday, Oct. 7, meeting of the Adel City Council:

Members present were Mayor Buddy Duke and Council Members Terry McClain, Greg Paige, Cowart, and Hayes. Councilman Jody Greene was in attendance by telephone.

Others present were City Manager Barber, City Clerk Rhonda Rowe, members of staff, and the public.

Councilman McClain gave the invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Approval of minutes 

Councilman Paige made a motion to approve the minutes of Sept. 16, 2024, and Sept. 23, 2024, as presented. Councilman McClain seconded with all in favor.

Utility pole quotes (Electric Department)

Two quotes were received for utility poles needed for inventory replacement and were as follows:

(8) 40’ Wood Poles and (15) 45’ Wood Poles

• Irby, $1,904 and $5,430.

• Beach Timber Company, $2,032 and $5,310, plus freight $370.

The purchase approval was originally planned for the Oct. 7, 2024, agenda; however, given the impending weather conditions with the arrival of Hurricane Helene, staff procured the poles from Irby in the total amount of $7,334. The poles were delivered on Wednesday before the storm hit on Thursday.

Councilman McClain made a motion to ratify the purchase of the poles from Irby. Councilman Paige seconded with all in favor.

Transformer quotes (Electric Department)

Three quotes were received for transformers needed for inventory replacement and were as follows:

(10) 25 KVA, (10) 37.5 KVA, and (10) 50 KVA

• Irby – $12,500, $14,340, and $16,200.

• Gresco – $15,170, $17,010, and $23,510.

• Tri-State – $36,250, $46,600, and $56,550.

This purchase approval was also originally planned for the Oct. 7, 2024 agenda; however, given the impending weather conditions with the arrival of Hurricane Helene, staff procured the transformers from Gresco in the total amount of $55,690. The transformers were delivered on Wednesday before the storm on Thursday. It was noted that although Irby was the low bidder, they did not have the transformers available to ship, so they were ordered from Gresco as an emergency purchase.

Councilman McClain made a motion to ratify the approval of the purchase. Councilman Paige seconded. The decision was unanimous.

Later in the meeting, Mayor Duke recognized Ashley Williams, Jr. Chamber Board Member, who was in attendance for the meeting.