In his proposed budget, Parks and Recreation Director John Simeon said his top priority is to have the T.J. Davis supervisor position unfrozen.

The position has been frozen since 2011, he told council. The $49,865 figure he gave the panel includes FICA.

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Simeon said the position is a key one within the recreation department. “The position helps with administering the office. They take care of adult athletic leagues and handle adult basketball.”

He told council the department has recently had holes and gaps in its softball program. “Softball is administered by our maintenance guy.”

Having the position frozen, Simeon said, has been difficult for the rest of the staff. “The position is key in planning special events and is instrumental in bringing in softball and baseball tournaments.”

The parks and recreation director budgeted $19,500 for the replacement of side porches at the Jo Story Senior Center, explaining the building has sustained interior damage by water leaking through walls.

He said he would check to see whether there was the possibility of having the side porches removed.

Simeon has budgeted for $325,000 in anticipated grant revenues for the proposed skateboard park, a Chaloner walking trail and concession and restroom improvements at Ledgerwood Field.

Restroom renovations at Kirkwood Adams are also included in his proposed budget. He budgeted $15,000 for those improvements, which would include installing partitions, new sinks and tiling on the walls.

At the library, he is requesting 13 new public access computers. “(The Computer Guy & Company) recommends changing them out.”

Simeon budgeted $15,000 for the replacement.

At the Roanoke Canal Museum, Simeon is asking for $3,500 for maintenance on some of the exhibits. “The exhibits are becoming older and are in need of repairs,” he said. “One of the four monitors is giving us trouble.”

Some of the pumps on water exhibits need to replaced, Simeon said. The security system has also become outdated and police recommend going with a system for the inside and outside of the facility.

Public works

Energy efficiency measures the department has put in place are paying off, director Larry Chalker told council.

Those measures come through the use of LED lights at city hall. The department budgeted $32,000 for electric utilities at the beginning of this fiscal year and the actual budget is at $17,534. He is requesting $30,000 for the upcoming fiscal year.

The same applies at the public works garage, he said, which is now burning recycled oil for heat.

Chalker is asking for $10,000 for a radio system upgrade and $4,000 for handheld radios.

He is requesting $60,000 for storm drainage work. “We've spent $40,000. We want to get rid of sinkholes.”

Chalker is requesting $60,000 for crack pouring, work he proposes to be done by a contractor.

He is requesting $32,000 to upgrade the traffic signal at Seventh Street and Park Avenue. “The red light goes off before the green comes on,” he said. “This will be last signal to be upgraded.”

For the cemetery, he is asking for $6,000 to install a central heating and air system at the office. “The old unit is a window unit from a single-wide.”