ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — Community Development Block Grants, collecting debts and honoring a group from Central Baldwin Middle School were the high points of Monday’s Robertsdale City Council meeting.

All councilors and Mayor Charles Murphy were present for the meeting.

One of the first orders of business was an agreement between the city and Mediacom Communications Corp. for the use of city-owned poles.

The city and Mediacom had a previous agreement but new language in the five-year pact has the company paying Robertsdale $16.50 per pole in 2009 and the fee will increase with the Consumer Product Index each year after that. Mediacom provided the city a check for $19,074 to cover this year’s rental.

Another case of pole attachment isn’t going so well.

Murphy informed the council that Southern Light, which has fiber optic cable attached to city poles, has not paid their bill in several years. The city had not billed the company for the use of the poles.

“We’ve sent two bills,” Murphy told the council. “They are not arguing that they don’t owe it, but they haven’t sent us a check.”

According to Murphy the company owes several thousand dollars.

Murphy was asking the council to authorize him and City Attorney Ken Raines to take further action against the company. The council gave their permission with a unanimous vote.

The council also heard from Bill Chambers, the director of the Alabama Free Clinic. He informed the council that the Free Clinic had opened in the Public Health Office Robertsdale and was seeing adults Tuesday evenings, and hoped to open more clinic hours. The clinic already operates twice a week using volunteer doctors and nurses in Bay Minette.

Chambers made his presentation to the council hoping that the council would “consider what it can do” at budget time later this year. The clinic treats adults without medical insurance, The AFC can be reached by calling 937-8096

Marion Mason, the director of the Central Baldwin Chamber of Commerce, asked the council for permission to have the paperwork needed to hire a part-time worker run through the city.

“It’s just for this year,” said Mason, explaining that the Chamber did not have paperwork in place to be considered a 501(c)3 nonprofit, a requirement for the Senior Community Employment program.

Murphy explained to the council that the arrangement “will not cost us anything.”

The council approved the arrangement.

Cindy Brown, also representing the CBCC asked the council’s permission to use two of the city’s free days at the Baldwin County Coliseum so the Chamber can hold its “Flavors of the South” event July 23. Permission was granted.

The council also heard a proposal from Stacy McKean of Galbraith and Associates L.L.C., a company that helps communities navigate the Block Grant process.

“What we are proposing is doing housing rehab,” said McKean, adding that most of the beneficiaries of the program will be senior citizens. The application is for $500,000 and Robertsdale will be expected to match the grant with $50,000.

“Do we have $50,000 to approve this?” asked council member Paul Hollingsworth.

McKean responded that funds won't be needed until fall, when the grants will be awarded. The proposal passed.

Tiffaney Plato, the career enrichment teacher at Central Baldwin Middle School brought members of the Technology Student Association from the school who will be competing at the national level in Denver at the end of June.

“We’ve come to ask you for your support,” said Plato.

The council voted to give the students $1,000 to assist them on their trip. Paul Hollingsworth, a school administrator, abstained.

“It does not mean I don’t support you,” explained Hollingsworth.

In other council action, the council:

— Reappointed Nick Cillo and Tony Williams to the Library Board.

— Approved a liquor license for Miguels Mexican Restaurant at 22379 Highway 59 South.

— Renewed the city’s general insurance liability policy.

The council also invited the public to attend the city’s Memorial Day ceremony which will be held May 25 at 9 a.m. in the park near the electronic billboard. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held at City Hall.