The redistricting plan for the city of Brundidge has been pre-cleared by the U.S. Justice Department but not in time for the city to change its voting locations for the elections on Aug. 28.

Britt Thomas, city manager, said the city had wanted to move the polling place from the former Haisten building to Brundidge Station, which is a larger facility with more available parking.

“A resolution to change a voting location has to be approved 90 days prior to the election and we could not meet the time requirement,” Thomas said, adding that the change could be made before a run-off if necessary. “But my concern with that is that it could be confusing to our voters to vote at one place during the primary and at another for the run-off.”

Thomas suggested that the council might want to consider changing the voting location effective after 2012.

In the absence of Mayor Jimmy Ramage and Councilman Lawrence Bowden, the council took no action and tabled the resolution until the next meeting.

Cynthia Pearson, mayor pro tem, told the council that the city did not receive federal or state funding for a summer recreation program at Galloway Park.

“A summer recreation program is very important to our young people and to the community,” Pearson said. “If we have 30 students guaranteed to participate in the program, then we could hire someone to lead the program.”

The summer recreation program at Galloway Park would be for ages 13-18 and would be four hours a day.

The council voted to give Thomas the authority to began developing a plan to implement a summer recreation program at the park.

Thomas said he will discuss the program with Willie Wright, Pike County High School principal, to see if there is a teacher or coach who would be interested in leading the program. The pay scale would be negotiable. Anyone who is qualified and interested may contact Thomas at Brundidge City Hall.

“We want to get this program started as quickly as possible,” Pearson said.

Thomas reviewed the city’s financials with the council and said that, halfway through the year, all line items are on budget in a positive manner.

Linda Williams reported to the council that she had been chased by a pit bull in the vicinity of Barr Street. She reported the incident to the Brundidge Police and officers responded.

“This problem with dogs is getting worse and, if I not been able to get inside a door, I don’t know what would have happened,” Williams said.

Pearson told Williams that the city does not have an animal control officer but “we have a solution.”

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