Woman of the Year’ honors

By JAINE TREADWELL

Features Editor

The Brundidge Business Association (BBA) honored two community "servants" Thursday night by naming them "Man and Woman of the Year."

Robert and Nell McLendon, the first husband and wife to share the titles, were recognized for their many contributions to the community during the BBA’s annual banquet and membership meeting held at Brundidge Station.

"Robert and Nell were recognized, not because of any one special thing they have done for our community but for the many little things they have done and continue to do to make Brundidge a better place in which to live," said Jimmy Hollis.

Both husband and wife said they were humbled by the recognition and very honored.

"We certainly didn’t come here expecting this," Mrs. McLendon said. "I’m sure there are others who are more deserving. Anything that we do, we do because we want to do it, not for any recognition. We just do what feels good and helping our community feels good."

McLendon agreed with his wife that being involved in the community and in their church is a feel good kind of thing.

"You do something for yourself and you don’t get that much satisfaction from it," he said. "But, if you do for somebody else – well, it’s a good feeling."

McLendon said he will have to be on his pees and cues now that he’s be "discovered – I mean recognized," he said, laughing.

The McLendons have made Brundidge their home for more than 40 years and were involved in school activities when their daughter Carla McLendon Allen was a student.

"Salem Baptist Church has certainly benefited from this couple," Hollis said. "Nell has served the church as a Sunday school teacher and Robert is the church videographer. Together, they have served in the "family night fellowship ministry" by providing meals for families who lost loved ones. They serve on the kitchen detail for preparing meals at the Baptist Student Union, and two of the most recognized contributions to Salem Church are their involvement in the parking lot lighting project and the church chimes project.

Mrs. McLendon is a member of the Brundidge Study Club and is involved in the Salem homebound visitation program.

McLendon is a talented craftsman, who volunteers time to the city’s nutrition program by delivering lunches to the homebound.

Hollis said the McLendons give freely and unselfishly to the community and are deserving to be the 2001 Man and Woman of the Year.

The BBA expressed pride in the changing face of the downtown area and were encouraged by the mayor’s positive outlook for the future.

In 1996, the city set a goal to try and get the landfill which was constructed in 1992 by Waste Away, a partner in Waste Management, open.

This project culminated in late 2000 and should provide a boost to the economy in the coming years,

said Mayor Jimmy Ramage,.

"Two things happened almost simultaneously," he explained. "First, through arbitration and mediation, the city reached an agreement with Waste Management for breach of the original 1992 contract. To solve the breach of contract situation, Waste Management paid the city $425,000 of which the city netted $255,000 after legal fees and expenses.

"Secondly, the city concluded negotiations with Allied-BFI, the new owner of the landfill, and signed a contract with Brundidge Landfill, LLC for the opening of the landfill within 120 days of Jan. 16, 2001.

"Based on information supplied by the company, the contract should generate

$230,000 to $250,000 for the city annually and will keep the city’s solid waste disposal costs

– what the city charges for residential garbage collection – reasonable for at least 25 years."

In addition, there will be 12 to 15 employees at the landfill and city fuel tax income will also get a boost.

"The most important thing relating to this is the additional funds that will go into the general fund as a new source of revenue with no new taxes and no increase in user fees for service currently provided.," Ramage said.

The mayor also cited the completion of Brundidge Station, which houses the Robert E. Barr Nutrition Center, and the authorization necessary to put a police officer in the schools as steps taken by the city council to make Brundidge a better place to live.

"Now, we can turn our attention toward the park area surrounding

Brundidge Station and begin making plans for improvement to the old city hall building," Ramage said "We are very proud of the changes that have been made during the past year. Because of them, we will be able to improve the quality of life for all of our citizens and make Brundidge a better place to live and work for all of us.