ELBERTA, Ala. — When it’s time to deck the halls for Christmas, the town of Elberta will have some new decorations.

That’s because during its regular August meeting, the Elberta Town Council agreed to allot $3,000 for the purchase of new holiday decorations.

“We looked for a couple that are between $200 and $300 each,” Councilwoman Betty White said at the meeting.

She and Councilwoman Alma Doege explained that for the requested amount, approximately six new decorations could be purchased.

“We would get LED lights because they last longer,” Wood said.

Further discussion of the proposal led to how the city could provide that funding. Doege pointed out that the town still had $14,926.77 in a fund designed to maintain the municipality’s sewer.

“And we no longer have a sewer,’ she said. “So why can’t we use that to fund beautification and the library?”

Retired Town Clerk Sandy Germany pointed out that doing so would only require the Council changing the name of the account to reflect its new use. Following the discussion, the Council followed Germany’s advice and allocated $3,000 to purchase new Christmas decorations.

But that’s not the only change in landscape planned for the town. Also at its August meeting, the Elberta Council approved $2,500 to fund the completion of a walking trail that would pass from Main Street and end near Old Foley Road. Councilman Jim Hamby proposed the expenditure, explaining that the previous administration had approved the project.

“It got put on the back burner and has never been done,” he said. “We need to vote and allocate funds to do the project or cancel it out.”

Further discussion of the trail project included adding an archway that would be visually appealing.

Wood asked whether a lot of children play in the area and whether the trail would provide a safe walking zone. Hamby answered yes to both questions, adding that the trail could also provide an area of exercise for the town’s older residents.

Upon further discussion of the issue, the Council approved the expenditure from the former sewer maintenance account.