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By DAVE DOMESCIK | Staff Writer

MONTEVALLO – The Montevallo City Council recognized the Leaders of Tomorrow, an organization within Montevallo Middle School, and the Arbor Day holiday during a regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, Feb. 24.

The meeting began with a work session, with the discussion of new business. The council fielded a request to apply for an appropriations grant from U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville that would fund the purchase and outfitting of three police patrol vehicles.

The total cost for the project amounts to $181,579.45. Match funding was also requested at 10 percent in the amount of $18,157.95. Montevallo Mayor Rusty Nix explained the move.

“It usually helps us get the grant if we put up some kind of match,” Nix said. “We thought 10 percent would be good, and I’ll pay a little over $18,000 any day for three police vehicles.”

The next item on the agenda was the approval of an ABC license for Los Monchies Mezcarrita Grill, located in Montevallo.

“It’s been signed off by our police department and ABC board, and it’s up for council approval tonight,” Nix said.

The final two items of new business were both requests that pertained to the Parnell Memorial Library’s upcoming Backyard Book Fest. A region of road in Montevallo was requested to be closed for the event while the other request asked for the waiver of vendor fees for vendors at the Book Fest. The event will be held on Saturday, March 8.

The work session then moved into committee reports from each council member. Highlights included Councilperson Kenneth Dukes recapping Montevallo’s Arbor Day event.

“Our Arbor Day went very well,” Dukes said. “It was a very large attendance… I want to thank everyone that attended our Arbor Day event.”

Nix also took the time to congratulate the Montevallo High School men’s basketball team for its recent success.

“Congratulations to MHS basketball making it to the Elite Eight in Montgomery,” Nix said. “That’s the first time in a long time, and in their first year of 5A that’s a really big accomplishment.”

Sarah Hogan, the director of Impact Montevallo, then briefed the council on the dangers of the chemical substance nitrous oxide, which caused five deaths in the Shelby County area last year.

“Steve (Gilbert, city clerk and treasurer) and I have both been contacted by citizens who were concerned about the substance. It is currently legal to sell that substance… it’s one of those substances that is being abused and people are dying from it.”

Councilperson Lelia Mitchell gave more updates on the inaugural Montevallo Backyard Book Fest.

“There will be book trivia, storytimes, author talks, vendors selling book-themed items and many authors will be present during that time,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell also announced that Montevallo schools will be closed on Friday, March 7 for a professional development day for students. On the heels of the announcement, Nix announced that an additional SRO officer has been employed with Montevallo, ensuring that one officer is at each school.

The city council meeting then officially began at 6 p.m. The meeting began with the recognition of the students in the Leaders of Tomorrow program, which was explained by Matthew Williams, a sixth grade teacher at Montevallo who helps lead the program.

“Leaders of Tomorrow is a great program where we elect sixth grade students and when they get into their seventh-grade year, we try to hone in on their leadership skills,” Williams said. “They’re just great students who make good choices, and they’re just good role models for all of the students at Montevallo Middle School.”

Following the recognition of the students, Nix read a proclamation honoring the Arbor Day holiday.

“Trees are a renewable resource, give us paper, wood for our homes, fuel for our fires and countless other wood products,” Nix said. “I urge all citizens to celebrate Arbor Day and support its effort to protect our trees and woodland.”

The meeting concluded with the unanimous approval of the new business introduced in the work session.

For more information on the Montevallo City Council, visit Cityofmontevallo.com/MayorAndCouncil.aspx.