Sparta Aldermen will spend the remainder of a broadband grant supplying Chromebooks to residents in need including local seniors and library patrons.
City Administrator Tonya Tindle said the purchase of 160 Chromebook computers are the final act of spending the state grant. She said it gives back to the community.
“We wanted to keep the Chromebooks until the very end so that we knew exactly how much money we had,” Tindle said. “So, you can see we’ve upgraded WiFi, we’ve done iPad’s, Apple TV’s for the YMCA, we’ve done iPad’s for the special ed speech, all the Libraries in the school system.”
The city has also used the grant money for new installations in City Hall and other quality of life upgrades with the YMCA.
“So, now we have this money left to finish this out and we really, really want to get it done before June,” Tindle said. “So, we can buy 160 Chromebooks for the senior citizens, the libraries, the veterans and the school system. And I can’t purchase these, it’s above my dollar amount.”
The motion passed unanimously.
Aldermen also allowed the purchase of a new 2026 Ford Expedition at a cost of $60,418. Aldermen approved Reserve Police Officer Brandon Ferris and swore in Reserve Fire Fighter Patrick Rice.
In other business, the Beer Board approved a beer permit for Eduardo Russell Diaz’s new Cuban restaurant, RD’s, on Bockman Way.
