Helena City Council Approves RFP Publication Offer; honors local Eagle Scout – Shelby County Reporter
By MICHELLE LOVE | Personal editor
HELEN – Helena City Council had a busy agenda on Monday, January 10, including a collaboration that will feature an updated post for the city.
To begin, however, Mayor Brian Puckett has declared January Human Trafficking Awareness Month.
“Each year in January, we want to proclaim January Human Trafficking Awareness Month in the City of Helena,” Puckett said. “We want people to be aware of the signs and make sure everyone stays safe. We have our emergency response staff who always do a fantastic job, so we want to make sure everyone is aware.
The Board then honored Eagle Scout member Zac Frowline with a special thank you note for his hard work rebuilding a bridge at Cahaba Lilly Park.
Frowline explained that he tripped over the bridge while riding his bike and found it to be rotten and unfit for use. Frowline put him on his Eagle Scout project to fix the rotten parts of the bridge so no one could be hurt if he used it.
“It was a very difficult project and I learned a lot from it,” Frowline said. “I hope other Eagle Scouts will help other Eagle Scouts and I can help them too.”
Next on the agenda was the approval of an offer from Shelby County Newspapers, Inc. (SCNI) to begin producing the Town of Helena’s monthly newsletter. The Board approved the offer, with the change effective immediately.
“Shelby County Newspapers, Inc. (SCNI) is pleased to partner with the Town of Helena in the development of Helena’s Monthly Magazine and Annual Guide,” said Daniel Holmes, SCNI’s General Manager. “Our goal is to expand our lasting relationship with the City of Helena as we work together to tell the stories that matter to the people of Helena. We are grateful to the city administration for entrusting us with a tool for communication is so important, and we will work hard to exceed their expectations for this partnership.
SCNI has provided award-winning community publications to Shelby County for 179 years and currently operates the Helena Reporter in addition to several other newspapers and magazines.
“We look forward to applying our expertise in digital and print storytelling and design to continue city leaders’ efforts to communicate cohesively and effectively with residents,” said Holmes.
Another major item on the agenda was the approval of a city budget amendment for Helena’s Parks and Recreation Department to improve and add to the park’s batting cages.
“The budget amendment will be $51,550 to repair the batting cages we have and build two more,” council member Alice Lobell said.
Parks and Recreation Director Bill Miller added that this would be a benefit to the facility.
“If built correctly, these batting cages will last a good five years, and the ones we have now are 20 years old,” Miller said.
The Board then approved the offer.
