A centralized wastewater treatment center could be in the near future for Brundidge if an agreement can be reached between the city and The Hudson Companies and a partner company in Decatur.

Britt Thomas, city manager, told the council Tuesday that the partner companies are interested in 10 acres of a 75-acre tract that belongs to the city. The land is located adjacent to the city's wastewater treatment facility. The companies are interested in the acreage as a site for a proposed centralized wastewater treatment center.

The council authorized Thomas to proceed with negotiations that would make the 10 acres available to the companies for $1,650 an acre if they receive the necessary permits to operate such a facility.

The council discussed at length &uot;much needed&uot; improvements to the city's wastewater treatment facility. Bids for the improvements came in much higher than the estimate that was made in December 2001.

However, Thomas said the bids included improvements that were not in the original estimate.

&uot;The wastewater treatment plant has an aging mechanical system and we are continually having to do maintenance work out there,&uot; Thomas said. &uot;We'll have a serious need when the flow is increased by 55,000 gallons a day to accommodate Wal-Mart and the food processing plant. We need to make improvements that will make the plant's equipment state-of-the-art.&uot;

The council took no action but will make a decision at the council's next meeting Feb. 18.

The city will soon have three new police cars thanks to a cooperative bidding agreement between the cities of Troy and Brundidge.

The city has in its budget $80,000 for three new cars and equipment, but, through cooperative bidding, will be able to purchase the Ford automobiles for $20,155 per unit.

Thomas said the low bidder for the vehicles was Floyd Shirley Ford of Brundidge.

&uot;We should be able to get the three cars and have them outfitted for between $72,000 and $75,000,&uot; Thomas said.

The council voted to accept the low bid and, once the new cars are in the fleet, to declare the replaced cars surplus property and put them out for bid.

The council also discussed needed improvements to a drainage ditch between Hardshell Road and East End Circle.

Thomas said much of the 1,000-foot long concrete ditch would need to be replaced at an estimated cost of $260,000.

&uot;Every time it rains, there is a problem,&uot; he said. &uot;We have to fill in behind the concrete with dirt and the next time it rains, it's to do all over again. We are spending lots of money that way. We can either spend the money to fix it right or continue to fix it in the same manner.&uot;

Thomas said the ditch is the worst maintenance problem in the city related to drainage, except open ditches.

&uot;There are not ifs ands and buts about it,&uot; he said.

The council took no action but will consider its options once it is determined how much, if any, funds are left from monies borrowed to fund other projects under way in the city.

In other business, the council:

Approved paying the difference between the salary of city employees called to active duty and what they will be paid while serving.

Heard a report on work under way on the former city hall building that is now used as a community theater. The work includes replacing a portion of the ceiling, renovation of the jail and adding a raised platform for the sound equipment.

Received an invitation from Lamar Steed, president of the Brundidge Business Association, to meet with the organization at 5:30 p.m. each second Tuesday of the month at Colonial Bank.

Agreed to find someone to head up an American Heart Walk campaign in Brundidge.