News Editor

During a meeting that lasted just under an hour Tuesday afternoon, the Brundidge City Council made two decisions concerning the Wal-Mart distribution center that is to be constructed there and is scheduled to be completed sometime in 2003.

City Administrator Britt Thomas told council members that the closing on the property for the project is set to take place on Jan. 23.

Thomas’ recommended to the council that the firm of Roth McHugh and Associates be hired to handle the administrative services for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for the project . The role of McHugh and Associates would be to make sure the city complies with all of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) requirements. The CDBG was administered through ADECA.

Council members approved Thomas’ recommend-ation.

Thomas also recommended that the council approve the engineering firm of Bob Carter Associates of Andalusia to handle the sewer design for the project.

Council Member Isabell Boyd asked if preference should be given to a firm located in Pike County. "We’re always talking about keeping our money here at home, in Pike County," she said.

Thomas said he felt that his recommendation was in the best interest of the city because of the company’s past history with them on other projects involving CDBG grants and the following of ADECA guidelines. "I put more weight on the ADECA guidelines, because we are required to follow them," he said.

After some discussion, the council voted to approve the measure. Council Member Boyd abstained from the vote.