PELHAM – The 20 soft clay tennis courts at the Pelham Racquet Club will soon be resurfaced. The Pelham City Council approved the project at meeting on Monday, Feb. 4.

The council approved the lowest bid of $83,150 from Welch Tennis Courts Inc. Welch Tennis built the courts in 2001 when the racquet club first opened and has done every resurface since then. The city also opted to purchase tennis nets for $3,109.80, which brings the total cost of the project to $86, 259.80.

This will be the third time the courts have been resurfaced since the facility opened. The courts were previously resurfaced in 2008 and 2014. Chaney Mills, assistant director of the racquet club, said increased memberships, tournaments and inclement weather contributed to the deterioration of the courts.

“Each year we’ve increased play and the level of play on the courts, so we’ve been losing material on the court due to activity and weather,” she said.

The club has grown from 300 members in 2003 to 550 members in 2018, and the number of tournaments being played has increased from three in 2003, seven in 2008, nine in 2014 and 10 in 2018. This year, 14 tournaments have been scheduled.

With businesses steadily growing, Mills said the courts may have to be resurfaced every four years from now on.

The project is expected to begin Monday, Feb. 11, with an expected completion date of April 1. All of the courts will not be closed at the same time. The courts will be redone in sections. Mills said the club will have to get creative with scheduling, but all scheduled events will still take place.

In other business, the council:

-Held a public hearing for a request to change the present zoning R-1 (single family district) to A-1 (agricultural district). The 36-acre property is located adjacent to and west of Deer Ridge Phase 6 Sector 1.

-Approved amendments to various fiscal year 2019 budgets for the purpose of resurfacing 20 soft courts at the Pelham Racquet Club.

-Approved a bid of $22,939 from K and K Systems Inc. for trailer mounted digital traffic sign boards for the Pelham Police Department.

-Declared personal property of the city, nine vehicles and a generator, as surplus that is no longer needed for public or municipal use.

-Approved a request by Verizon for modifications to an existing telecommunications facility located at 5050 Beabout Drive.

-Approved an amendment to a 2016 agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation relating to a construction project, to include engineering and inspections, for a trail design and construction for the Pelham Trails and Greenways located along the U.S. 31 corridor, adjacent to Bishop Creek from Bearden Road to Alabama 119 and eventually crossing under Interstate 65 and continuing to the entrance of Oak Mountain State Park Road. Phases one and two.

-Approved a resolution to enter into an agreement with ALDOT relating to a construction project, to include engineering and inspections, for a multi-use trail and greenway system located along the U.S. 31 adjacent to Bishop Creek. Phases three and four.

-Announced that applications and resumes are now being accepted for Pelham Board of Education Place 1. Applications will be accepted until March 4.

-Announced that Taste of Pelham will take place March 19 at the Pelham Civic Complex.