take on utilities department

By BETH LAKEY

Staff Writer

BRUNDIDGE ­ Officials in Brundidge are hoping to be in the electric business in the next week or so.

Tuesday afternoon, Brundidge City Council members were updated on a process that would mean the end to a utility contract and the beginning of a new city department.

Since 1979, the city has contracted with Jack B. Taylor for utility work, but that may be changing soon. Taylor would stay on as a consultant to the city’s utilities department, City Manager Britt Thomas said.

The goal is to make the changeover Sept. 20 in order to prevent problems with the billing cycle.

But, the parties involved are still working out some kinks in the plans.

"We have reached somewhat of an impasse," Thomas told council members. "At the moment, we don’t have a deal."

Once everything is finalized the council will reconvene to consider the contract.

"We’d like to get it done as soon as possible," Brundidge Mayor Jimmy Ramage said. "Everybody’s in limbo right now."

Having its own utilities department will take Brundidge out of the minority since most municipalities have already gone into the electric business.

However, still having Taylor will mean the city can have someone who has "personal knowledge of Brundidge," Thomas said.

In other business, the council:

· Awarded Floyd Contracting the bid for extension of Railroad Avenue, between Clio and College Street. The low bid was $94,264.

Other bids submitted were: APAC, Inc., $105,343; S.A. Graham, $97,118.70; S&C Materials, $119,567; W.W. Dyar, $112,423.

Bob Carter and Associates of Andalusia are the consulting engineers on the project.

· Was presented a redistricting plan by Ramage. That recommendation will be displayed at city hall and will be considered by the council after members have time to consider it.

Even after the council approves a plan, the Department of Justice must approve it.

· Publicly thanked Cornelius Griffin and Fred Baxter for donating funds to purchase uniforms for Pee Wee football teams.

The Brundidge players will take the field for the first time Saturday for a game in Dothan.

· Heard a report from Police Chief Moses Davenport.

He said the department responded to seven domestic violence calls last month, which concerns him. Also, an investigator has been hired from within the department.