Yesterday NBC 13 reported that Birmingham mayor William Bell and City Councilor Johnathan Austin visited our local Apple Store to investigate purchasing iPads for the current Council. The purchase would no doubt pay for itself as it would help to reduce costs involved with producing printed review materials for council and committee meetings.

The weird thing is, the City Council (at least the last council) received netbooks, jump drives and AirCards from former Birmingham mayor Larry Langford in last year in early June to accomplish the exact same thing. It was interesting at the time because they were delivered before the start of the last budget cycle. That purchase cost the city $4,975; the now proposed one would be $4,491 before taxes and cases.

We’re wondering if the cases for the iPads will come with a message similar to the one embroidered on the laptop cases that came with the netbooks last year?