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Linden Police Chief Robert Alston approached the city council on Dec. 3 to purchase two new computers, as the current machines are outdated and are currently utilizing an operating system that the Alabama Criminal Justice System and its programs will stop supporting in 2020.

Alston said the computer he is currently using is approximately 10 years old, and the other computer in need of replacement is five years old.

Though the city did not set a budget, Alston is expecting to spend approximately $500-600 on each computer.

The city council also discussed options to improve success with CDBG grant applications. Mayor Charles Moore reported that City Clerk Barbara Cannon has been contacting each city that received a grant for information on their engineering firms and grant writers.

Goodwyn Mills and Cawood is the engineering firm for Linden, and the Alabama Tombigbee Regional Commission provides grant writing services.

The council also approved applying for a Rebuild Alabama Act grant to resurface McNider Lane.

Other items discussed at the meeting include:

• Mediacom sent the city a letter announcing a $2.17 price increase for customers.

• Council Secretary Bruce Ward reminded that ChiLLy Fest will be taking place Dec. 13-14 and that the city’s Holiday Open House will take place on Dec. 15

Ward also suggested adding a category to the float parade called “Anything But” that would allow participants to decorate non-float parade entries for the chance of winning $50. The item failed due to lack of motion.

• Moore said he received a complaint regarding the Chili Cook-off that entries were accepted past the deadline, and Moore said that it needed to be corrected.

The Linden City Council meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at 4:30 p.m. at city hall. The public is invited to attend.

(This article originally appeared in the Wednesday, December 11 issue of the Demopolis Times.)