ROBERTSDALE, Alabama -- The City of Robertsdale earned an honorable mention in the 2013 Municipal Quality of Life Award by the Alabama League of Municipalities, it was announced at Monday’s Council meeting.

Robertsdale was recognized in the 5,001 to 12,000 population category for its Neighbors Helping Neighbors utility assistance program.

All utilities customers have the option of rounding up their utility bills to the next dollar, said Ann Simpson, Robertsdale’s chief financial officer, who applied for the award on behalf of the city. That extra change, which averages out to be about $6 per year per customer, is put into a fund.

When residents apply for assistance with their utility bills through Catholic Social Services, they fill out an application with that organization, who in turn determines how much assistance is available for that individual. Catholic Social Services then informs the city’s utilities department who makes the adjustment to the customer’s bill.

“We started the program in January of 2010 and the BP oil spill happened in April,” Simpson said. “It was an opportunity to help a lot of people who were really hurting at the time and with a lot of people still struggling in this economy, we are continuing to help a lot of people.”

In nearly three years, the program has raised more than $55,000, helping over 350 families, Simpson said.

“It’s been a great program for us,” said Mayor Charles Murphy. “Ann deserves a lot of credit. She worked really hard to get us this recognition.”

The city of Andalusia submitted the winning entry in this year’s 5001 to 12,000 population category with its “AlaTex Monument Park and River Falls Street Renovation Project.”

Other winners and honorable mentions will be announced in the over 12,000 population and under 5,000 population categories at a later date in the upcoming issue of “The Alabama Municipal Journal” magazine and on the League’s website, www.alalm.org.

Winners will also be recognized at the League’s Annual Convention in Montgomery in May.

The City Council conducted business during a short meeting Monday morning at Robertsdale City Hall.

Among actions taken at Monday’s meeting, the Council:

• Approved the purchase of two vehicles for the city’s police department.
• Accepted the donation of land in Errybane Subdivision.
• Rescinded action in August to accept donation of land from the Gilbert Family Trust and instead accepted land donations from individual family members.
• Adopted Resolution No. 023-12 entering into an agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation to purchase a van for the George P. Thames Senior Center. The van, valued at $32,000, will cost the city only $7,200.
• Voted to rezone property on U.S. Highway 90 from R-1 to B-2.