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By NOAH WORTHAM | Staff Writer

ALABASTER – The Alabaster City Council approved a grant application for more pickleball courts at Patriots Park during a regularly scheduled city council meeting on Monday, Oct. 23.

During the meeting, the council approved a resolution authorizing an application to the county for a Shelby County Parks and Recreation Grant, up to $100,000 with a match by the city, for assistance in creating additional pickleball courts at Patriots Park.

“We’re going to add three more pickleball courts,” City Administrator Brian Binzer said. “That sport has really taken off across the nation, and our citizens have really enjoyed the three that we put in at the park now.”

If the application is approved, the new pickleball courts are planned to be placed next to the existing courts.

“If you’ve driven by Patriots Park right off of Industrial Road, you know there is pretty much a line out the door to play pickleball, so we are just trying to really meet that need for the community and grow the number of pickleball courts we have,” Alabaster City Council President Sophie Martin said.

During the meeting, the Alabaster City Council also approved a resolution awarding a bid for the Waste Water Treatment Plant pumps to J & P Construction Co. in the amount of $2,067,000.

“This pump station needed a lot of improvements,” Martin said. “We do keep it at the top of our agenda and it is in the best interest of the city to take care of our waste water treatment pumps because the worst thing you can do is want to take care of those when it’s too late. So, if we can go ahead and do that now, we know that is in the best interest of our city and the health and safety of our residents.”

The Council also approved a resolution agreeing to contribute up to $150,000 to aid the Alabaster Arts Council in hosting the 2023 Alabaster Jubilee and 2024 Alabaster CityFest.

In other news, the Alabaster City Council approved the following items on the agenda:

• A resolution authorizing an agreement with Kimley Horn for the Lift Station No. 38 force main investigation project in the amount $24,300
• A resolution authorizing an agreement with Alabama Power for eight streetlights within the mallard landing subdivision phase four at a cost estimate of $110.80 per month
• A resolution declaring various surplus items within various departments within the city
• Set a public hearing for Monday, Nov. 13 at 6:30 p.m. for an ordinance relating to Fats Oils and Grease, FOG, requirements within the city
• Set a public hearing for Monday, Nov. 13 at 6:30 p.m. to amend the business license ordinance as relates to Community Living Facilities within the city