The City of Brewton has received more than $396,000 in grant funds during the last week, city council members said Monday.
Thanks to $206,000 in funds from the Delta Regional Authority, the city will be able to relocate a section of natural gas lines. The project will require $935,000 in matching funds, making the total cost of the project $1.41 million.
City Clerk Steve Yuhasz said the city also received final approval from the state department of transportation on a $133,000 grant to replace the wooden boardwalk downtown.
“This project started in 2013, but we will soon be able to replace the structure using a composite board on top and treated lumber underneath,” Yuhasz said. “The next step is for us to advertise for bids. Construction should begin in April.”
The city also received $50,000 from the state soil and water conservation to upgrade lighting at for park improvements and another $7,500 construction grant to add lighting at Jennings Park.
In other business, the council:
• gave approval to Gerald Thomas to hold a block party on June 27 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. at Sportsman Park;
• heard from the Rev. H.K. Matthews about the “sorry state” of garbage collection in the city. Matthews said operators consistently miss his house and those of his neighbors as well as leave garbage inside the containers.
“It doesn’t make sense to pay $21 a month for $2 worth of service,” Matthews said.
Mayor Yank Lovelace said the city will soon begin collecting its own yard debris; however, the city is not equipped to handle its own garbage service.