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By DANIEL LOCKE | Staff Writer

HELENA – The Helena City Council approved the replacement of two HVAC units for the Helena Public Library at a regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, June 9 at 6 p.m. at Helena City Hall.

The council approved a budget amendment of $23,000 for the two units, a decision that was a “no brainer” for Council President Alice Lobell.

“To me, a library is a staple of a community,” Lobell said. “It is a place anyone can go and check out books, but there’s so much more. If they don’t have a computer themselves, they can go and use the computers there. I just feel like it is a staple for any city and I’m kind of old school, but I still like reading those books and checking them out and having them in my hand.”

Prior to the approval of the HVAC replacement for the library, the council recognized the Helena High School Softball team that brought home a 6A state championship in May. The team was present alongside coaches Mark Sanders—who gave the invocation at the start of the meeting—and Bruce Howland.

The council, along with Mayor Brian Puckett, celebrated the team’s accomplishment. Lobell presented each player and both coaches with a painting that captured the moment right after the final out was recorded and the celebration began.

“Our youth have wonderful work ethic and they always strive to do their very best,” Lobell said. “This softball team, they had grit and they worked so hard, I tear up when I think about how good of a job they’ve done and the leadership of coach Sanders. His motto is ‘Find a way,’ and they found a way to do it. I’m very, very proud of them.”

The council also presented the principles of all four Helena schools with annual donations, referred to as Teacher Assistant Grants, a moment that means a lot to Lobell each year as a former educator.

“None of them (teachers) get enough funding. If they have a special need for their classroom that the school is not able to provide, they can write a grant to come to us and ask for us to fund it,” Lobell said. “Over the past four years, we have done hundreds of thousands (of dollars) in grants to these teachers to help the students and to enhance their learning. I’m extremely proud of it.”

The council also recognized Wyatt Toole who recently became an Eagle Scout. Toole led the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of the meeting.

In other business, the Helena City Council approved the following:

• The appointment of William Norwood to the TAG Board
• SAFER Grant program funding
• Held a first reading for an ordinance naming the absentee elections manager and establish compensation for the position
• Condition use zoning on behalf of Hybrid Cheer of Birmingham at 15 Metrock Circle

The next regularly scheduled Helena City Council meeting will take place on Monday, June 23 at 6 p.m. with a work session at 5 p.m.