ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — The Robertsdale City Council met Monday for its regularly scheduled meeting. All council members were present for the meeting.

Sewer issues took up much of the meeting. The council reviewed and approved the Municipal Water Pollution annual report.

The report covered 2008, and was due in the Alabama Department of Environmental Management by May 31. The council voted to forward the report to ADEM.

While the city did have several incidents of sewage released in 2008, most caused by large amounts of rainfall.

That is a problem recent improvements to the city’s sewer system will solve said City Engineer Greg Smith.

“We’ve replaced the old aeration lagoons,” said Smith. “That will carry us into the future.”

Smith noted that pollution levels in water released from the city’s sewage plant dropped after new equipment was installed. More work, estimated to cost $400,000, is planned for later this year. So far, the city has made $1.25 million in improvements to the system. The work should serve the city well when the economy improves and there is more development in the city, Smith added.

The council also voted to pay $218,555.87 in bills.

Service awards were presented to city employees with five, 10, 15, 20 and 25 years of service. All the honored employees received a pin, a certificate and an award of their choosing, based on their length of service.

John Lucas and Danny Henley were honored for 25 years of service. James “Jimbo” Brill, was absent but was also honored for 25 years of service to the city.

Brian Middleton and Brad Kendrick of the Police Department received 20-year awards.

Shannon Ellison selected camping gear for her 15 years of service. Ken Raines, Sheri Tucker and Rex Bishop earned 10-year awards. Bobby Nabors had five years of service.

The city’s Memorial Day observance will be at 9 a.m. Monday at Memorial Park on Highway 59 just south of the intersection with U.S. Highway 90. If it is rainy, the event will be held in City Hall.