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By DAVE DOMESCIK | Staff Writer

PELHAM – The Pelham City Council moved forward on several key items during its Monday, Sept. 22 meeting, including approval of a multimillion-dollar renovation project at Pelham City Park and new appointments to the city’s Parks & Recreation Advisory Board.

Council members voted to accept the lowest responsible bid from Coston General Contractors, Inc. for the Pelham Sports Park Renovations Project. The company submitted a base bid of $3,363,700 with an additional $7,176 for Alternate #3, bringing the total contract to $3,370,876. While the project is partially funded in the fiscal year 2025 budget, the city will require a $285,000 budget amendment to cover the full cost.

This major overhaul includes the addition of six new covered batting cages, with existing covered cages will remain in place, expanding training capacity and improving accessibility at the site.

The project will also see the addition of a reimagined entrance plaza crafted with elevated materials like natural wood to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The new central gathering space will feature shaded seating areas, a modern concession stand and updated restrooms.

In other business, the council appointed Kevin Jones (Place 3), Leonard Smith (Place 4) and Emery Plunkett (student representative) to the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board. Jones and Smith will serve terms ending Sept. 30, 2028, while Plunkett’s term runs through Sept. 30, 2026.

During the work session, Pelham Police Chief Ed Delmore presented funding opportunities to enhance officer training and protection. He asked the council to consider purchasing a state-of-the-art virtual firearms training system, estimated at $60,000, that would allow officers to train in simulated real-world environments, as well as expanding ballistic protection for patrol officers.

“These two requests go with my goal of us being the most highly trained agency anywhere,” Delmore said. “It’s not a video game, although some would characterize it that way. It’s an enhanced training system used by a lot of the major progressive departments in the United States.”

Council members also set a public hearing for Monday, Oct. 6 regarding a comprehensive amendment to Pelham’s business license ordinance, with plans expected to be adopted Monday, Oct. 20.

According to city officials, the draft ordinance modernizes Pelham’s business-license framework to align with current Alabama law and today’s business practices, clarifies administrative authority and strengthens both compliance tools and taxpayer protections. The draft would repeal and replace the city’s business license code and schedules for the year beginning January 1, 2026 and each year thereafter.

In her city manager’s report, Gretchen DiFante recognized the recent achievements of city employees Jamie Wagner and Justin Smith. Wagner, Pelham’s finance director, was selected for the Birmingham-based executive leadership program Momentum, while Smith, the assistant city manager, was chosen to serve on the national board of the International City County Management Association.

Mayor Gary Waters also issued proclamations recognizing September 2025 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and Hunger Action Month in Pelham.