HANCEVILLE — The city of Hanceville approved several necessary repairs to its park facilities Thursday, April 10, in preparation for the upcoming summer season.

Public Works Superintendent Rusty Fields presented the council with his plans to repair the fishing dock located in Veterans Park. According to Fields, the dock was in overall fair condition, but needed some relatively minor repairs in order to maintain public safety.

Fields’ plan included replacing the dock’s sub-flooring and at least one section of railing where he said a temporary fix was currently in place to deter visitors from leaning or pushing against the weakened guardrails. He also floated the possibility of giving the dock a bit of a facelift with newer vinyl flashing along the gable-style roof, but said he had yet to look into the exact cost of those materials.

The council also received an estimate to purchase a new floating dock for just over $25,000, but opted to repair the existing structure.

The council approved for Fields to purchase the needed supplies using some excess funds in the city’s Veteran’s Park Fund and for city employees to perform the repairs under his supervision.

The council also approved a budget of up to $6,100 to repair and upgrade its public pool before its scheduled opening on Memorial Day weekend. City of Hanceville Parks Director David Wasilewski said there were around 40 small areas along the bottom of the pool where the plaster had begun to “bubble” and would need to be removed and repaired. He also suggested the use of a newer rubberized pool paint as part of that process, which employees of the Parks Department would apply.

The council’s approved budget included 20 gallons of the rubber paint as well as repairing the plaster and having the filters cleaned and maintained.

Council member John Stam also updated the council on the city’s ongoing search for a new police chief. Stam said the appointed hiring committee had reviewed around 20 applicants before narrowing their search down to around four. Of those four, he said two applicants had submitted the necessary paperwork to have a background check performed by the city of Cullman Police Department.

Stam said the committee should have the results of those background checks back before the end of the week but, due to the Easter Holiday, said it may be next week before the committee is prepared to make a recommendation to the city.

In other business, the council Approved a one year extension of its lease allowing Hanceville High School the use of the Rayford Talley Building.

Patrick Camp may be reached by email at patrick.camp@cullmantimes.com or by phone at 256-734-2131 ext. 238.