The City of Leeds is currently working on an 80/20 grant application to the Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program (ATRIP) that would permit the city to widen Rex Lake Road across from Ziegler Road in order to provide access to Phase I of the Grand River project.

The city would be responsible for 20 percent if they are awarded this match grant.

Also approved was Resolution 2013-03-04 regarding Buy Leeds, which allows a three percent preference for products and services with city contractors.

“Under Alabama law the city is authorized to designate residential and local companies as preferred vendors for city projects,” said Mayor David Miller.

Miller says the City of Leeds welcomes all contractors and vendors, but strives to keep the work local with strategic partners like Lehigh Cement.

In other actions:

* Emergency road repair will be conducted on Golden Rod Street totaling $26,376. “This was not scheduled, but needs immediate reaction,” said Miller.

“We’re using a metal pipe to reinforce the concrete,” said City Inspector Brett Watson. “Which will provide a longer lasting repair.”

* The city engineer will move forward with soliciting bids to alleviate drainage problems on Ivy, Berry and Beach Streets as well as Marie Drive and Mountain View Lane.

“These projects are well over due and should have been done years ago,” said District 1 councilman Kenneth Washington.

* Renewal of Leeds as a member of the National League of Cities. Membership dues are $1,489.

“This is a good thing for every member of our council to go to,” said Washington. “We have a well-rounded council that needs to find out what’s going on in other cities. This will be a good thing for them.”

* The council declared The Leeds Herald as the official electronic notification venue for the City of Leeds.

Other topics discussed:

* Members of C.L.E.A.R. and Leeds Leadership Steering Committee invited the mayor and council to attend the planning and oversight meeting on Saturday, March 16 at 9 a.m. at the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany located at 1338 Montevallo Road in Leeds.

Leeds is currently one of two cities in the state ready to be certified as a city of excellence by the Alabama Communities of Excellence (ACE).

“Being a city of excellence provides an enhanced quality of life every year,” said Dr. Carl Marbury.

In order to become a certified ACE City of Excellence the committee must submit a finalized master plan to Montgomery.

Miller asked that the master plan be accessed so the council could review the document.

“Nothing but good things to come from getting this certification,” Miller said.

During public comments:

* Washington said he liked the transparency of this council.

“I think it says a lot,” said Washington. “To know citizens aren’t getting left out this time. It’s a good thing. It should make you feel good and it makes me feel good. All of us need to work together as a whole. Right now we’re taking baby steps, but after awhile we’ll be taking big steps.”

Miller said his office on Parkway Drive, where the Leeds Chamber is housed, is always open.

The next Leeds City Council meeting is Monday, March 18 at 6 p.m. at Leeds Civic Center located at 1000 Park Drive.