The Brundidge City Council moved ahead with a proposed $1.5 million citywide sewer and water project at its Tuesday meeting. The council voted to authorize plans to be drawn up for the project by Polyengineering of Dothan.

Max Mobley, Polyengineering, discussed the project with the council members and brought them up to date on the upgrades that are needed to the city’s water and sewer systems and recommended the upgrades that should be addressed first. The city will apply for a Community Development Block Grant that, if awarded, would reduce a portion of the city’s cost of the project.

The council voted in support of a resolution to consult with city attorneys to determine what action should be taken following the Circuit Court’s ruling on the Brundidge Landfill lawsuit.

The ruling was handed down last week regarding the city’s suit against the Coffee County Commission and Brundidge Acquisitions. The court ruled in favor to the defendants, leaving the city with a decision about its future course of action.

Brundidge Mayor Jimmy Ramage said there is a time line of 42 days for the city to respond to the ruling.

“If we do not respond within that time line, then we lose any chance for appeal,” Ramage said. “With this resolution, we are giving the city the authority to consult with our lawyers to determine the best course of action.”

Council Member Cynthia Pearson said the council should not drop the ball.

“We need to do what is best for the citizens of Brundidge,” she said.

The council voted in favor of the resolution and will continue to pursue a course of action that will determine the future of Brundidge Landfill.

The council received only one bid for its drug dog. That bid was by Jones Animal Clinic in Brundidge.  Being no other bids, the council accepted the bid.

Glen Adkins, chief of the Brundidge Fire Department, attended the meeting and announced the awarding of a grant from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation for the purpose of purchasing a Kubota RTV that the VFD had requested in the grant application.

The grant funds totaled $14,535.

Adkins expressed appreciation to the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation for the grant and his appreciation was echoed by the mayor and council members.

Jane Ward, director of Sav-A-Life in Troy, attended the meeting and expressed appreciation for the council’s support of the organization.

“My vision for a long term goal is to have a one-day a week center here in Brundidge,” she said. “We have clients from this area who have problems getting transportation to Troy and we would like to have a presence here.”

Ramage quickly offered the city’s annex on South Main Street to Sav-A-Life.

“The county is in the building on Tuesdays and OCAP on Wednesdays but any other day, Monday, Thursday or Friday would be available to Sav-A-Life,” Ramage said.

Ward expressed appreciation for the offer and said she will work with the city to make it happen.

Prior to the council’s regular meeting, the council held a public hearing which was the final step before putting a lien on property at 307 Windmill Drive in an effort to recoup the expenses incurred by the city in cleaning the property.

The council voted to place a lien on property. The papers will have to be process at the Pike County Courthouse. The property will not be available for sale until the lien is cleared.

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