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By JOYANNA LOVE/ Managing Editor

The Jemison City Council unanimously approved purchasing a new Trane 10-ton air conditioning unit for city hall as its only motion during the March 7 meeting.

Mayor Eddie Reed said the unit that had stopped working had been 23 years old. The new unit will cost $17,100, including labor and materials.

Active Air had been chosen to do the work. The company has done air conditioning work for the city in the past

An audience member asked how the city determined who did work on city hall. Reed explained that some projects are required by state law to be bid out based on the cost. However, this purchase was below the bid limit and did not have to be bid out. Reed said in cases like this the city staff choose from a list of known companies. He said he could get the audience members company on the list for future consideration.

The council also received information about upgrades that the Alabama Department of Environmental Management would be requiring for water pipes in the next two years.

Reed said a work session would be held on the issue at a later date so that the council members could ask questions and get further details.

Reed said these upgrades are going to be required for all municipalities in the state that provide water to their residents.

“It is going to require a great deal of work to upgrade and update,” Reed said.

The council received updates that the tractor that the city had purchased came in and upgrades to the park have begun.

Reed said the city should consider buying a different type of limb truck in the future so that it can be a one person job as opposed to the three people needed now.