will see pay increase

By BETH LAKEY

Staff Writer

BRUNDIDGE ­ Most employees in the city of Brundidge will be getting a pay increase.

Tuesday afternoon, the Brundidge City Council voted to give active employees a 5 percent increase and followed the state in giving retirees a 4 percent boost.

Normally, the council considers pay increases at the beginning of a budget year, but budget constraints prevented that last year. So, six months later, the city is taking action it could not at that time. The last across-the-board increase was in October 1999.

City Manger Britt Thomas said the city has, historically, approved 5 percent raises.

"I think it would be appropriate," Thomas said of a 5 percent increase. "I don’t think it would be prudent to do 7 (percent."

Councilwoman Cynthia Pearson recommended "up to 5 percent" for those who have not had pay adjustments since the last across-the-board increase. She also wanted the salary increased based on evaluations by department heads.

Thomas agreed the full 5 percent raise would not go to those "sloughing off" on the job.

Although Councilman Vernon Jackson was originally opposed to the 5 percent raise, suggesting it be 3 percent, he did offer support when the motion was put to a vote by the council.

"We have a hard enough time keeping employees," said Councilman Sherroll Tatom.

Despite the "lean times" the city has experienced, Thomas said the city believes in its employees and wants to do what it can to help them.

The increase for retirees will be retroactive, October 2000.

In other business, the council:

· Passed a resolution submitting an Economic Development Fund Infrastructure Community Development Block Grant application to the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs in the amount of $515,000. The money would provide an elevated water storage tank to be owned and operated by the Pike County Water Authority to serve the new Carter Brothers Manufacturing Company facility on U.S. Highway 231 and provide water and sewer improvements to the new Southern Classic Food Group facility to be located on Alabama Highway 93 in Brundidge.

The resolution also commits the city to a minimum of $123,600 to the project. If a total of $1.8 million from the Economic Development Administration not approved, the city would provide the additional $345,290 to make the project possible.

"We won’t be committed unless we sign the contract with the state," Thomas said.

He said the city should know about the EDA grant within two weeks and the CDBG grant application should be in by April 15.

· Authorized the mayor and Thomas to execute the deed, vacating 106 square feet of right-of-way at the former Piggly Wiggly location. The Mildred Morris family made the request.

· Approved a non-budgeted expenditure of $3,500 to assist the Brundidge Business Association in its publication.

· Authorized advertising for bids on a new pickup truck for the street department and the expense of putting a new motor in one of the trucks now in use.

· Acknowledged the absence of Isabell Boyd, who was sick.