By Sara Reid, Staff Writer

It will be a two-step process, but after the Iris Festival, the paving of the parking lot behind the Dresden City Hall will be completed.
At the April monthly meeting of the Dresden City Board of Mayor and Aldermen this past Monday night, board members looked at four bids that had been submitted.
Though Wade Paving submitted the lowest bid for the two-step process of laying down the gravel before the Iris Festival and paving after the festival, assistant public works director Carl Stout reported that the company could not be reached for confirmation.
After much discussion, the board voted to go with the second highest bidder, Martin Paving, with a lump sum bid of $13,600 for the placement of an average of four-inch 33C limestone base, final rock grade and an average of two-inch 4-11-E hot mix asphalt.
In other unfinished business, the board voted to give the condemnation board the go ahead to decide how to move on the McWherter Lumber Barn.
“It was in the process of demolition, but it was stopped,” Mayor Danny Forrester explained. “We need to look at our options. It really needs to come down.”
In new business, the board discussed the possibility of changing policy for the rental of the Senior Citizens Center building for fund raisers or benefits. Currently, those renting the building pay a $100 deposit and a $125 rental fee and the $100 is reimbursed if the building is found to be in good condition after the rental. No motion was made to change the rent or deposit fee, so the numbers still stand.
Ordinance 2008-09 died due to lack of a motion. This was an ordinance authorizing the property located behind Kountry Korner to be rezoned from residential to commercial use. The property is proposing to be sold at auction and would like to have the potential of being used as commercial property.
In employee’s reports, Finance Director Melanie Bynum shared that the board needed to accept money from the Community Enhancement Grant. The grant will cover parks and recreation and the fire department.
“It is a zero matching grant. There is no cost,” Bynum reported. “Parks and rec will get $1,250 for the ball fields and the fire department will get $2,500 for radio communication.”
Stout reported that the cameraing was moving slowly due to the recent bad weather conditions. In addition, he said that a tree had fallen on the pipe at the lagoon. While no damage had been done, the department will move forward in repairing the situation.
Water and Sewer Director Jeff Pierpoint added that inflow had greatly increased due to the large amount of rain and it would take several days without rain to regulate it back to normal.
Police Chief Brent Perry reported that the digital cameras had come in, but there was some miscommunication about the installation and while the field representative can assist, the cameras will have to be installed by the department.
Assistant fire chief Lyndal Dilday reported that the flushing of the fire hydrants will begin on Saturday, April 12.
In announcements, Randy Marie Spence was honored by the board for her recent work in cleaning up South Poplar Street.
The budget publication will be ready for review by the May monthly meeting.
The next meeting of the City of Dresden Board of Mayor and Aldermen will take place at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 5.