Prior to its regular monthly meeting Tuesday, the Brundidge City Council held a public hearing to discuss a proposal to paint the water tank at the Walmart Distribution Center using the remaining Drinking Water State Revolving Funds to reduce the cost to the city.

Max Mobley, with Polyengineering in Dothan, said the cost to the city would be about $35,000.

The work would include re-doing the inside of the tank as well as minimal painting to the outside. From project approval to the completion of the actual work, the time frame could be about eight months.

Spending that amount of money now would avoid having to spend $60,000 to $80,000 or more down the road, Mobley said.

The council considered the proposal at its regular meeting and voted in favor of the project that will be a current savings to the city.

The council also voted to ask the Pike County Board of Education to continue its contract with the city for is recreational program under the existing terms. The BOE operated the program for $75,000 for the first five years but, according to the contract, is now operating the program at $56,000.
The Pike BOE has asked to be released from the 15-year contract. Brundidge Mayor Isabell Boyd and City Manger Britt Thomas met with Dr. Mark Bazzell, superintendent of Pike County Schools, and requested that the BOE continue to operate the recreation program through September 30, 2018 in order to give the city time to put a program together and hire a director.

The council voted in favor of the proposal to the BOE and also to increase the monthly amount paid to the school system to $6,250, which is the amount paid the first five years.

“Our hope is that the Pike County Board of Education will be agreeable to this,” Boyd said. “We need that time to organize a program that will be beneficial to our children.”

The council also considered a contract to engage the law firm of Beasley, Allen to pursue potential claims against the manufacturer and/or distributor of Opioids.

Thomas said the city has an opportunity to participate in the nationwide class action suit with no money outlay.

“If the suit is successful, the city would receive its share after the law firm’s 27.5 percent comes off the top,” Thomas said. “But successful or not, the city will not be out any money.”

The council voted in favor of pursuing the potential claims.

The council also voted to declare a breathing apparatus belonging to the Brundidge Volunteer Fire Department surplus property. The apparatus is no longer usable and cannot be resold. It must be declared surplus property so that it can be disposed of properly.

Tyesha Young, OCAP County Coordinator, was guest of the council. Boyd presented Young a proclamation declaring the month of May, “Community  Action Month” in Brundidge.

“OCAP meets the needs of many people in this area,” Boyd said. “We congratulate OCAP on 52 years of service to our community.”

Young thanked the City of Brundidge for its support of OCAP and pledged to continue meeting the needs of the people through it various programs.

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