DEMOPOLIS &045; The city council accepted a bid from a contractor that enables it move ahead with the Whitfield Canal Project.

The project was created by the council as a way to improve the drainage in the city from the Whitfield Canal to the Frisco Vista Subdivision. Mitchell’s contracting turned in the lowest bid for the project out of the eight contractors that applied.

This bid was substantially lower than the other bids turned in to the council,&8221; said John Riggs, who addressed the council at the meeting.

The project has been a topic for the council for several months and by awarding the bid the project will be able to move to fruition. The construction portion of the project accepted through the bid will cost $881,375 and when administrative costs are added the project will cost approximately $1.19 million.

The city will be responsible for only $28,000 of the cost of the project due to grants. Both Federal Emergency Management Agency grants and Community Development Block Grants will fund the remaining cost of the project.

The council also heard an update on the planned River Walk Project that has been held up due to questions over the plans by the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT).

The council has approved the funding for the project and is waiting for ALDOT to approve the plans before moving ahead with the endeavor.

Williamson also said that the city has finished its survey of an ally that was believed obstructed and that anything revealed placed on the city’s property will be moved.

During council discussion Jack Cooley asked the council to consider enacting a plan that will allow them to be advised on what actions have been taken on items in the previous meetings minutes.