The Brundidge City Council held a public hearing Tuesday night to give property owners at several locations around the city an opportunity to respond to the assessment of their properties related to the city’ weed control ordinance.

The properties at four locations have been cited for the violation of the city’s weed ordinance but had not complied.

Henrietta Jones and Phyllis White, 371 East End Circle; Ida Mae Flowers, Leona Place; Dianne Maulden, 155 Oak Street; and Thomas Cook, Sr., Mavis Cook and Thomas Cook, Jr. were notified of the public hearing by Linda Faust, city administrative assistant, said none of the property owners appeared.

“At the council’s regular meeting, resolutions were passed to provide the information to the tax assessor’s office at the Pike County Courthouse. A lien will be placed on the property for the cost incurred in cleaning up the property so that it is in code,” Faust said. “The property owners pay their property taxes, they will have to also pay the cost of the cleanup as ordered by Brundidge Municipal Judge Don Dickert.”

The council also voted in favor of applying for a matching fund Census 2020 grant.

“The census grant will be used to inform and educate our residents of the importance of filling out their 2020 census forms, “Faust said. “If the city falls before 2000 in population, Brundidge will no longer be a city. We will be a town and that will impact federal funding projects. So, it is vitally important for all residents to fill out their census forms with complete and accurate information.”

Faust said the Census 2020 grant would be in the amount of $5,642. The city’s match would be $5,642 bringing the total grant funds to $11,284.

“If awarded, the grant funds will be use to educate our residents on the importance of the 2020 census to our city,” Faust said. “The city is partnering with the city’s library, schools within the city and pastor’s association to ensure that people know the importance of every person being counted.”

The city will use the funds for signage related to the Census 2020 and advertising in local media and also to hire people to go door-to-door with Census information.

“The census forms are to be filled out on the computer but many residents don’t have a computer and/or won’t know how to fill the forms,” Faust said. “We will have people at the Tupper Lightfoot Memorial Library who will be available to assist residents with filing out the forms.”

Faust said the importance of accurately and completely filing out Census 2020 forms could not be overstated.

“If the population of Brundidge falls below 2000, it will adversely affect the services the city is able to provide its citizens.”
The Brundidge City Council meets at 6 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of the month at Brundidge City Hall on North Main Street. The meetings are open to the public.