Following a Christmas luncheon for city employees, the Brundidge City Council met in short session to consider several items on the agenda.

The Council heard the first reading of ordinance 2015-1 which will increase the city’s water and sewer rates by 2.9 percent.

City Manager Britt Thomas said there are costs associated with doing business and that cost is usually passed on to the citizens.

“I believe the citizens of Brundidge would rather have their water and sewage rates increased in small amounts over time than in one large amount at one time,” Thomas said. The 2.9 percent increase will amount to about $28 a year based on 4,500-gallon usage, Thomas said.

The Council will hear the second reading of the ordinance at its Jan. 6 meeting.

The Council voted to join the Pike County Commission and the City of Troy in contracting with Haynes Ambulance Service as its new provider.

Thomas said Haynes offered a better deal for its services. The contract will be for three years with an option to extend the contract twice for one year added service.

Haynes will have a presence in the Brundidge community, Thomas said.

In other items of business, the council considered the recommendations of the planning commission on requests for a R-3 multi-family residential property at 373 7th Avenue to a MHR mobile home residential and, for an R-2 medium density residential at 341 East Troy Street, to MHR mobile home residential. The council voted to deny both rezoning requests.