By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

Alabaster Mayor Marty Handlon presented nearly $80,000 in donations to the city’s six schools during a Feb. 18 City Council meeting at the Alabaster Municipal Annex.

For the past several years, the city has donated to Creek View Elementary, Meadow View Elementary, Thompson Intermediate, Thompson Sixth Grade Center, Thompson Middle and Thompson High based on each school’s number of teaching units.

During the council meeting, the principals of the six schools came to the front of the room to accept the donation checks from Handlon.

“As in the past, Alabaster has been active in supporting our schools,” Handlon said before presenting the checks, noting the city donated $200 per classroom unit.

Creek View Elementary Principal Brent Byars accepted a $14,200 donation, Meadow View Elementary Principal Rachea Simms received a $14,800 donation, Thompson Intermediate Principal Dr. Ke Jones received a $12,400 donation and Thompson Sixth Grade Center Principal Dr. Wesley Hester accepted a $4,600 donation.

Thompson Middle School Principal Jeff Atkins received a $12,000 donation and Thompson High School Principal Dr. Daniel Steele received a $21,800 donation. The principals will distribute the donations to the teachers at their schools.

Dr. Phillip Hammonds, the interim superintendent for the upcoming Alabaster city school system, praised Handlon and the City Council, and said the donations marked a public display of support for Alabaster’s students.

“I know I speak for all the principals when I say thank you. The money is important, but in many ways the visible sign of support is just as important,” Hammonds said. “That support, that (school board) infrastructure you put in place is not only appreciated, but it serves as an inspiration to all of us.”

In other business, the council:

-Approved a resolution updating the city’s flood prevention regulations. Ward 7 Councilman Tommy Ryals said the change was necessary to reflect new Federal Emergency Management Agency flood maps, which will go into effect on Feb. 20.

The new flood maps are viewable on the city’s website at Cityofalabaster.com.

-Voted unanimously to appoint Judy Moseley to the Alabaster Library Board.

-Voted to waive the license fees for the Run 4 Mike event scheduled for April 13 at Alabaster’s Veterans Park.