$72K donated for new play area

Published 11:59 pm Monday, April 13, 2015

The Florala City Council committed $15,000 over a period of two years toward a new municipal playground.

Mayor Robert Williamson has been raising private funds for the proposed project, and announced Monday the John E. and Grace McMillan Estep Foundation has pledged $72,000 for the project. Williamson said his goal is to get $125,000 in private funds committed to the project, which he hopes can be constructed this fall.

He asked the council to also commit $7,500 toward the project in the current and next fiscal years.

In other business, the council:

• Appointed Jimmy Waldrop to the Planning and Zoning board.

• Agreed to seek opinions on the worth of a city-owned building, rather than pay for an appraisal. The minimum cost of an appraisal would be $1,400, and it is believed the building is worth about $6,000.

• Agreed to increase the fee for removal of dump truck loads of debris. At present, the first load is free, the second one is $40. The council increased the cost of the second load per month to $100. The fees are assessed with city water and sewerage bills, and if they aren’t paid, the water and sewerage will be disconnected.