The Brundidge City Council held a public hearing Tuesday regarding the city’s application for financial assistance through the Alabama Clean Water State Revolving Loan Program for improvements within the city’s sewer system.  The public hearing was to allow input about the project from Brundidge citizens.

Following the public hearing, the council considered a resolution for a CDBG application in support of the sewer project.

Brundidge City Manager Britt Thomas said the city intends to apply for a CDBG Competitive Fund Grant from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, which is administered by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA), for an amount of $350,000. The grant funds will be used for much needed sewer improvements at three pump stations located in separate areas of the city.

Thomas said the CDBG Program requires that funds meet a national objective one of which is that the funds be used to primarily benefit at least 51 percent low to moderate income families. The city’s plan is to provide sewer improvements that provide service to the entire city or eligible portions on the city.

“After due consideration of community development needs, it has been determined that the condition of the existing pump stations is such that, without improvements to these essential sewer facilities, neighborhoods around the city would not have essential sanitary sewer service,” said Mayor Jimmy Ramage.

The total proposed cost of the necessary improvements to the sewage pumping stations is $761,500.

The council will submit an application to ADECA for $350,000 in grant funding.

“Due to the critical nature of the project, the city will guarantee matching funds in the amount of $411,500 to the project,” Ramage said.

The council voted to move ahead with the application and voted to give the mayor and city manager the authority to prepare the necessary documents.

Thomas reviewed the FY2015 March financials with the council and said, halfway through the fiscal year, Brundidge is tracking according to the year’s budget and is in sound financial condition.

Brundidge Police Chief Moses Davenport gave a monthly report to the council and said several burglaries have been reported and investigated. Davenport also reported that the number of traffic tickets written by city police officers has increased in an effort to decrease traffic violations in the city.

Councilmember Margaret Ross told the chief that diesel trucks continue to make a right-turn off Main Street onto S.A. Graham Blvd. Davenport said tickets are being written for the violation.

Councilmember Betty Baxter said the car wash on North Main Street continues to be a place for loiterers. She said the car wash was the site of several fights and possibly a gun or guns being fired over the weekend. She asked if the car wash could be more closely monitored by the police.

The Brundidge City Council will meet on June 11 and hold a public hearing regarding the CDBG grant application.

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