SHEFFIELD — City Council members Monday approved spending $3,327 to improve the heating and air conditioning system at the Street and Sanitation Department's shop.

Department Superintendent Robert Holden said the work involves installing a new filtration system and an exhaust fan in the shop portion of the building.

Holden said the shop and office are connected, and dust from the shop frequently ends up in the office area.

Cleaning the heating and air conditioning ducts is also part of the project.

In addition, Councilman Steve Nix asked the council to consider providing the department with money to build a new "pole barn" to protect Street and Sanitation Department vehicles.

Nix said a pole barn is the equivalent of a large carport that provides shade for the vehicles and keeps them out of the weather.

"It's basically a roof over the trucks to keep the sunshine and the rain off them," Nix said.

A similar structure at the Street and Sanitation Department was damaged during a storm about three years ago, Holden said and had to be demolished.

"Some of our trucks are having to sit outside," he said. "We want to make everything as good as possible for the guys over there working."

Holden said about five or six Street Department vehicles are exposed to the elements. No action was taken, but the council will ask Sheffield Utilities if they can provide some power poles for the structure.

In other action, the council:

• approved selling a vacant lot on W. Montgomery Ave. to Larry Pilkilton for $100;

• opened fuel bids for city vehicles and food bids for city jail inmates and will allow the clerk to review them before they are awarded;

• approved expense reimbursements of $20 to Alvin Frankie Hollis for a commercial drivers' license test; $142.52 to Tammy Holden in the Street Department for uniforms; and $223.27 to David Osborn in the Building Department for mileage, testing and certification;

• approved $3,100 for equipment needed to implement an e-ticket system for one police patrol car; and

• approved a pay increase for Building Department code enforcement officer David Osborn.

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