SHEFFIELD — Council members agreed Monday to provide $500 to help pay for costs associated with a Shoals music showcase at the South by Southwest Music and Film Festival in Austin, Texas, but not all who attended the council meeting were in favor of the move.

The festival starts Friday and features bands from through out the world. Several local bands will perform in a showcase presented by Cherokee Lair Productions and 6 Degrees of Muscle Shoals. Among the bands scheduled to perform are Shoals bands the Fiddleworms, Pine Hill Haints, Gnarly Charlies, SCM Electrix, The Valley Roots, An Abstract Theory and The Local Saints. Members of the Swampers, the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and The Decoys also will perform. The festival runs through March 17.

The local bands will be joined by Eye Candy, a new band formed by former Drive-By Truckers bassist and Shoals native Shonna Tucker, and Clayton Colvin with Buggaboo. Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit also are scheduled.

"This is the first time in 27 years they have had a Muscle Shoals (music) Showcase," Lair told the council.

Bands typically use the festival to present their music to music business executives and to interact with others in the business.

Sheffield Mayor Ian Sanford said he will approach the city's utility board about providing an additional $500.

Lair said the city of Muscle Shoals also is providing $500. She said she did not receive money from Tuscumbia or Florence. She said money was needed primarily for travel and lodging expenses.

Sanford said the city would like to be recognized at the venue, possibly with a banner referencing the city and the fact it is the home of Muscle Shoals Sound Studios.

Lair said the Marriott Shoals Hotel and Spa, Senator Coaches of Florence, The NuttHouse Recording Studio in Sheffield and the Alabama Department of Tourism also are helping sponsor the event.

Sheffield resident James Glass asked the council not to help fund the event.

"There are people here who need Sheffield services," Glass said during the council work session. "Please don't send my tax dollars to Texas."

In other business, the council:

• declared a trailer and three police patrol car light bars surplus property to be sold on govdeals.com;

• adjusted the municipal judge's pay to $2,300 per month;

• approved a $100 donation to the Sheffield High School softball team;

• approved a $14,994 purchase of two riding lawn mowers from Paul's Small Engines in Tuscumbia;

• appointed William White to the Historic Sheffield Commission;

• approved employee expense reimbursements of $25.07 to Senior Center Director Angie Roberts and $7.50 to Code Enforcement Office Jerry Reaves;

• announced the city has maintained its A bond rating with Standard & Poor's financial services company;

• approved the purchase of at least one table at the Shoals Chamber of Commerce banquet for $465.

Russ Corey can be reached at 256-740-5738 or russ.corey@TimesDaily.com.