Brundidge applies for waste plant grant

Published 8:42 pm Tuesday, August 19, 2014

The Brundidge City Council voted Tuesday to authorize the application for an Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) grant available through ADECA’s energy division.

Brundidge City Manager Britt Thomas said ADECA will award statewide four $10,000 grants for wastewater treatment plant improvements.

“These grants will be awarded for projects designed to conserve energy at wastewater treatment plants,” he said.

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If awarded, the City would use the funds to install DFD variable controls on the plant’s motor so that it would run only as fast as needed, therefore, conserving energy, Thomas said.

The grant would not include funds for administrative costs.

“The City would have to provide the funds necessary for the writing of the grant application and the administration of the grant funds,” Thomas said.

Susan Monroe and Associates of Prattville set the fee for writing the application at $750 and $1,750 to administer the grant.

“With paying those fees, the City would have $7,500 toward the project and that’s better than zero,” Thomas said.

The Council voted to declare the 1996 Dodge Ram 3500 van used by the R.E. Barr Nutrition Center surplus. In so doing, the Council gave the city manager the authority to dispose of the van by legal means.

At a previous meeting, the Council voted to purchase a new lawn mower for the street department at a cost of $7,785. At that time, the Council declared surplus a mower that had been in service for five years. That mower was to be sold on gov.deal. Thomas reported the used mower sold for $3,100.

The Council viewed a PowerPoint presentation that included work that has been done to correct a drainage problem on City property behind City Hall. The presentation also included images of the damage to power lines and pole when a semi-truck made an illegal right turn off Main Street onto S.A. Graham Blvd.

Thomas said South Alabama Electric Co-op provided assistance in restoring power and repairing the lines.

Council member, Cynthia Pearson asked if the truck diver received a ticket for the illegal turn. Thomas said he didn’t know if that was done.

The Council reviewed the FY2014 June financials, which revealed that overall the revenues and expenditures are on track with the projected budget.

Thomas reported that a staff conference has been set for Sept. 9 regarding the two Brundidge Landfill cases before Judge Thomas Head.

“At that time, hopefully, a date will be set for the hearing of these cases,” Thomas said.

The Brundidge City Council meets at 4 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at Brundidge City Hall. The meetings are open to the public.