Nutrition Center Wednesday

By BETH LAKEY

Staff Writer

BRUNDIDGE ­ The Brundidge City Council held the first official event in the new Nutrition Center Monday afternoon.

Although some of the smaller things, such as window treatments, haven’t been completed, they will be by next week when the first meal is served to senior citizens on Wednesday.

The city will officially open the center with a ribbon cutting at 11 a.m., Nov. 15.

As its first act in the new building, the council honored the Pike County High School junior varsity football team which had an undefeated season. Each member of the team will receive a copy of the proclamation.

In other business, the council:

· Authorized Mayor Jimmy Ramage and City Manager Britt Thomas to enter into an agreement with AlaTax for the collection of city sales tax.

Currently, taxes are being collected by Local Government Revenue Enhancement Consultants and the city is paying $2.52 per return for that service.

Switching to AlaTax will cost $2.48 per return, but will offer "an advantage" in other ways, Thomas said.

He said AlaTax collects for Pike County, which will allow Brundidge to share the expense of audits.

Thomas said AlaTax will also provide better access to information.

"It appears to be, from what I can see, the best route for the city to consider," Thomas said of switching to AlaTax.

He said other governments in the Wiregrass use the company and changing is "a matter of us trying to keep up."

AlaTax will begin collecting the city’s sales tax on Jan. 1, 2001.

· Took under advisement a request to rename a city road

John Sutton approached the city council about renaming Adams Drive to Sutton Drive.

"Once we rename streets, we open a can of worms," Councilwoman Isabel Boyd said. "We have named streets, but we’ve never renamed one."

· Heard a request by Jerusalem Temple which has requested use of Galloway Park for open air services.

The request did not specify dates, but asked permission to use the part at least once a month and the center in times of inclement weather.

Brundidge Police Chief Moses Davenport said the city has been closing the part at dark because of "problems" and the police department would need to know specific dates in order to provide security.

· Heard a report from Davenport who said two officers are currently in the police academy and should graduate in December.

He also told the council an officer has not yet been put on the Pike County High School campus, although grant funds were received.

"The holdup is we don’t have anybody," Davenport said of having an officer to dedicate to working the campus. "We only have enough to cover the streets."