City officials hope to see new construction begin soon on the 19th Street Community Center, following a bid approval for the project at Monday’s night’s council meeting.

“I think this is something we can all agree needs to be done, and we would like to see it finished,” Mayor Bill Hereford said.

Anticipated cost of the project is higher than what the city initially budgeted for it.

“We budgeted $150,000,” Mayor Hereford said.  “But this amount will far exceed that.”

Hereford said based on revenue projections, the city will be able to afford the cost of the roofing project.

GKL Company of Rainbow City submitted the lowest of three bids for the project in the amount of $246,116.45, a bid accepted by the mayor and council.

The city’s engineer, Essam Ahmad said that if everything goes through, construction will begin in four to six weeks.

In other matters at Monday night’s meeting, the council:

—Approved a bid for new air-conditioning units at the social services building in the amount of $6,521 from Allen Service Company.

—Approved a contract with St. Clair County to house inmates at $32.50 a day per inmate, an increase from $30.

—Approved the solicitation of bids for self-contained breathing apparatuses, turnout gear and an extrication tool for the fire department, paid for by the Assistance to Firefighter’s Grant.

—Approved an application for a domestic violence emergency shelter grant at no cost to the city.

—Approved the application of a library grant in the amount of $5,000.

—Approved the vacation of an alley in the E.D. Scott subdivision.

—Approved a Ford Motor Company credit lease contract for new police cars.

— Approved a contract with Allcomm Wireless for the new communication system for the fire, police and street departments.

—Authorized amending the utility budget for bringing utility operations back in-house.

—Held a public hearing for refinancing bonds the city secured 10 years ago for the Walmart development project.

—Appointed Dennis Mark Brooks to the Board of Adjustments.

—Appointed Dennis Mark Brooks to the city’s Industrial Development Board.

—Appointed Lori Suzanne Walker to the Pell City Library Board.

—Approved a proclamation in honor of Lynn Batemon, executive director of the Greater Pell City Chamber of Commerce.  Batemon retires from the position on April 6.