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Linden Public Works Director Terry Tyson informed the city council that he had applied for a $619, 073 grant with the Alabama Department of Transportation during Tuesday’s meeting. The grant is part of ALDOT’s Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program and requires a $54,030 match.

Tyson said that, if awarded, the funds will be used to resurface McNider Road, Old Thomaston Road, Caroline Street and South Shiloh Street.

He also assured the city council that the department has the funds to meet the match requirements.

“We do have that,” Tyson said, adding that “it’s for street paving only,” he said.

Police Chief Robert Alston also said the police department received at $2,500 grant in order to execute “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” a traffic safety campaign aimed at de- creasing the instances of drunk driving. The campaign is taking place Aug. 21 – Sept. 2.

Other items discussed by the city council include:

• Mayor Charles Moore agreed to consider using the services of Bobby Skipper, an independent voting district mapper following his presentation to the council. Skipper offered to use the data from the 2020 census to redraw the city’s voting districts for $6,000 with a $1,000 retainer. Though the state offers the same service for free, Skipper said he would come to the council as many times as needed and work closely with them to redraw the maps. He said the experience would not be as personalized or convenient if the city went to the state.

• A flagpole dedication will be held at the entrance of Scott Park on Sept. 11 at 1 p.m.

• City Attorney Woody Dinning will coordinate with the owner of a prospective bed and breakfast to contact property owners within 300 feet of the business on Velma Lankster Avenue for approval as it is in a residential district.

The Linden City Council meets every first and third Tuesday at city hall, 4:30 p.m.

(This article originally appeared in the Wednesday, August 21 issue of the Demopolis Times. Additional information has been added to the article.)