The Brundidge City Council awarded the loan bid for the city’s street resurfacing project at its Tuesday meeting and voted to purchase a tractor for use in the street department.

The city received two loan bids for the city’s $350,000 street surfacing project. The council awarded the bid to Troy Bank & Trust which offered the low bid at 1.75 percent for five years. The only other bid was 2.75 percent for five years.

City Manager Britt Thomas told the council that the city’s 1999 tractor that is used daily is in need of repairs that will total about $5,000. Thomas said he has searched the state bid list in an effort find a replacement tractor but has not found a tractor with the needed features. However, he has found a tractor on the National Government Purchase Cooperative in Galveston, Texas that could be purchased for $18,441 with a list price of around $23,000. The council voted to declare the city’s tractor surplus to be sold as is and purchase the John Deere 5210 from the cooperative at the set price.

Thomas said because of the recent rains, the city is behind with its grass cutting and bush hogging.

“But we’re playing by God’s rules right now,” he said.

The council received notification from U.S. Rep. Martha Roby’s office regarding the status of the inquiry the office submitted to the Department of Interior for the City of Brundidge.

The city has asked for Roby’s assistance in getting final approval from the Department of Interior for the city’s park remediation plans.

Thomas said more than five years ago, the city submitted a plan for the remediation of the park on Dickert Hill that was taken out of service. The remediation plan for improvements to Ramage Park included a walking trail, picnic areas and benches.

“We have made every change to the plan that has been required and we still haven’t gotten final approval so that we can go ahead with the project,” Thomas said. “We asked for Rep. Roby’s assistance in hopes of speeding up the process.
The letter from Roby’s Montgomery office stated that Roby could expect a response from the Department of Interior but would not give a time-frame for the response.

“Rep. Roby’s office is monitoring the inquiry and, if they do not receive a response by the first week in September, the office will follow-up again,” Thomas said. “So, hopefully we will hear something positive soon.”

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