The Piedmont City Council, on Tuesday, voted to request an additional $550,000 state loan from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management in order to cover unexpected expenses related to the long awaited upgrades to the city’s water treatment plant.
This new loan, if approved, will be in addition to the $1.87 million loan previously granted by ADEM in 2015.
The planned upgrades, which have been in the works for almost 5 years, will include much needed renovations to the city’s water treatment plant, built in 1954 and last updated in 1971, as well as the addition of a well to provide the city with a secondary water source.
According to city officials, the additional loan will be used to cover the rise in the cost of the project since it was first approved over 2 years ago.
In other business, the council received the city audit from Gail Kemp of Kemp and Associates for the fiscal year 2016. Kemp informed the council that they had a “good audit” and were “making strides in the right direction” with “no major deficiencies.”
The council approved Fire Chief Mike Ledbetter’s request to declare 1,500 feet of 3-inch diameter fire hose as surplus, along with an assortment of turnout gear and breathing apparatuses.
Bills for payment were approved in the amount of $499,644.97.
At the close of the meeting, Mayor Bill Baker informed those in attendance that a truck load of donated supplies will soon make its way to the storm ravaged areas of Florida, following the destruction from Hurricane Irma. The supplies will be sent in conjunction with the Cherokee County Volunteer Fire Association. This is in addition to a truck load previously sent from Piedmont to aid in the relief efforts following Hurricane Harvey in Texas.
The next regular Piedmont City Council Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 3rd, following the work session, which is set for 5:30pm.