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The Brundidge City Council voted Tuesday night to accept the low bid from Triple J Construction, Arley, Alabama for the city’s Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) sidewalk project.

The Triple J Construction bid was $364,975.

Other bids received were from Alabama Road Contracting Services of Andalusia for $398,740 and Grout, Inc. of Hoover for $477,511.

The TAP award to the city is $385,043 and the city’s match is $96,260.75

Britt Thomas said the project cost is $53,000 less than the estimated cost.

“We don’t want to spend money just to spend it but, if there is a way to utilized those extra dollars to benefit the city, then we will certainly want to consider doing so,” Thomas said. 

Thomas said the necessary paper work should be completed in around 45 days and the project in an estimated 90 to 120 days.

The sidewalks will run along Windmill Drive from Veterans Boulevard to Galloway Road and along Galloway Road from 6th Avenue, traveling along Galloway Road, turning south on Henderson Street and east on Veterans Boulevard before ending short of Main Street.

Brundidge Mayor Isabell Boyd said the sidewalks will be of great benefit to the city.

“The sidewalks will make pedestrian travel safer for people of all ages, especially for our young children,” Boyd said. “Safety is always a priority for our citizens.”

Representatives from the Brundidge Business Association, Lamar Steed, Brian McDaniels and Kathy Sauer attended the council meeting to discuss the BBA’s plans to repair and revamp the BBA’s billboard on Highway 231 North and to ask for the city’s support of the project.

McDaniels, owner of Jackson Hardware, said he will dedicate materials to the project at no cost in support of the efforts to promote the city and its upcoming events.

The upgrade of the billboard is a proposed project that potentially will include the BBA, the Brundidge Historical Society and the city.  The maximum cost of the project is estimated at $2,700.

Sauer informed the council that, with the city’s agreement, application will be made to the Alabama Historical Commission for historic designation for the downtown district. 

Sauer asked the council’s assistance in alerting city residents that both businesses and houses could potentially be photographed to include in the application.

“Being a historic district is a designation and places no restrictions on any building,” Sauer said. “The historic designation is just another way to spotlight a city or residential district.”

In other business, the council elected its voting and alternate delegates to the 2020 League of Municipalities Convention and Expo, May 16-19 in Tuscaloosa. Byron Gaynor, District 4, and Margaret Ross, District 3, will represent the Brundidge City Council at the convention.

Gaynor will be the voting delegate at the insurance and business meetings and Ross will be the alternate delegate for both meetings.

Boyd informed the council that the Robert E. Barr Nutrition Center received $5,000 in funding from the South Central Alabama Development Commission to purchase new tables and chairs for the nutrition center. The mayor also informed the council of several upcoming events of local interest, including the Church Safety Summit from 8 until 11 a.m., February 29 at First Baptist Church in Troy, the House of Hope Banquet on March 27 at J. Michelle’s and the Pike County Chamber of Commerce 2020 Banquet-State of the County Address on April 20 at Cattlemen Park,    

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