Thorsby’s new varsity softball coach introduced herself Monday to the town’s council during a regular meeting that focused on the town’s parks and recreation department.

Leighsa Robinson, who teaches at Jemison but has been approved to travel to Thorsby each afternoon to coach the school’s softball team, told council members that she planned to field a competitive team but also teach the players about more than winning and losing.

“We want to have girls of character,” Robinson said. “I’m very excited that [school Principal Russ] Bryan gave me this opportunity.”

Robinson mentioned improvements she’d like to see at the field where the team plays. The field is owned by the town and maintained jointly by the town and school.

Upgrades could include painting and landscaping, and also possibly turning an adjacent basketball/tennis court into a hitting and pitching facility, a project that Thorsby First Baptist Church has considered undertaking.

The council also heard from Mike Davis, football director for the town’s parks and recreation department.

Davis said he oversaw the raising of more than $2,000 intended to benefit the football program. The council agreed to let Davis, along with town officials, deposit the money into an account that would ensure it is used only for the football program.

Parks and recreation Director Crystal Smith was present and did not object to the measure.

Smith also discussed how the town could help with improvements at the field that hosts the varsity team.

In other business, the town:

•Approved spending more money than budgeted for the purchase of a GPS mapping system. The town’s budget allotted for $10,000 to be spent on the system, but Mayor Jean Nelson and Councilman Glenn Littleton said the cost would be more than $11,000 for a system that would be accurate enough to map things like grave sites and water valves.

•Heard from Nelson that the town’s water tank, which has been repainted, should be filled with water Wednesday, and then the water would be tested on Thursday. If the test is favorable, the tank would be back in service.