DAPHNE, Ala.— On June 20, the council voted 4-3 to decline the appropriation of funds for improvements to W.O. Lott Park and Trione Sports Complex.

The improvements were not included in the budget for this fiscal year. The proposed improvements to Lott Park included updates to the tennis and bocce courts. The improvements to Trione Sports Complex would have included shade pavilions for the dog park. The improvements to Lott Park would have cost the city $4,752 and the improvements to Trione would have cost the city $3,028.

Councilman Ron Scott said he found concerns with the ordinance because it was not approved by the recreation board.

“I certainly have no problem with these two projects. The only problem is that we did have a committee that did not recommend these projects,” Scott said. “These are not emergency items, these are niceties. We certainly would like our guys to have some shade…”

The vote prompted Councilman August Palumbo to question the priorities of the council.

“It is just unbelievable. It is hard to find words to express my disappointment in this council to deny the elderly folks that go out to the dog park; $3,000 to build shade pavilions in a park that has no shade, and to use the argument that they planted oak trees that may have shade in 40 years is absolutely ludicrous. It just demonstrated to me the priorities.

“We spent $600,000 to put one football field on Trione Park… Our folks that go out there every day and use the dog park aren’t worthy of the $3,000 expenditure from this council?” Palumbo said.

“It doesn’t make me proud to be a member of this council.”