The Brundidge City Council held a public hearing prior to its Tuesday meeting to give the public an opportunity to ask questions and give input into the city’s application for a Community Development Block Grant that would providing funding for a splash pad park off Veterans Blvd. or old 231 Highway.

Ashton Estes, director of communications and economic development, South Central Alabama Development Commission, presented an overview of the grant application for the splash pad park that will include a splash pad, playground, picnic tables, benches, a walking trail and restroom facilities. The total cost of the project will be $679,818.00 with the city’s match at $425,000.

Following the public hearing the council voted 5-1 in favor of the grant application. Councilmember Margaret Ross, District 3, voted in opposition to the splash pad park citing greater needs in the city than another park.

“This is a tremendous amount of money to spend when we have other needs,” she said. “By the time, we get this loan paid off in 20 years, in all likelihood, the splash pad will no longer be there and we’ll still be paying for it.”

Ross said she would rather the city spend the money to replace 4-inch water lines on four streets in town with six-inch lines. The larger lines would make water readily available for fighting fires in those areas. She also said the city’s money could be used to remove dilapidated structures and blight within the city.

Professional services for the CDBG grant were awarded to Polyengineering in Dothan.

In other business, the council approved the remediation plans for a park that was removed from service several years ago. The council approved the plans to only include a walking trail at a cost of $31,000, which is $1,000 above what is required for remediation of the Park by the Department of Interior.

Britt Thomas, city manager, said the city would have the option of adding picnic tables, benches and perhaps a covered structure if it so desires.

The council discussed the city’s recreation program and the need to involve more children of all ages and to include recreational programs other than basketball and football.

Present for the meeting were Mayor Isabell Boyd and Council Members Betty Baxter, District 1; Arthur Griffin, District 2; Ross; Byron Gaynor, District 4; and Christ Foster, District 5.

The Brundidge City Council meets at 6 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at Brundidge City Hall. The meetings are open to the public.