Correction

The article published in the Wednesday, March 14 edition of The Onlooker included an incorrect date for St. Patrick's Leprechaun Chase. The event was actually held Sunday, March 11. The error has been corrected and we regret any confusion this may have caused.

ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — Robertsdale’s city employees will have a little more money in their pockets following a vote of the Robertsdale City Council at its meeting on Monday, March 5.

The council approved a cost of living adjustment for city employees of 3.5 percent, higher than the 2 percent budgeted because of nearly across-the-board increases in revenue, said Robertsdale’s Chief Financial Officer Ann Simpson.

Simpson told Council members at the Monday meeting that the city has had increases in sales tax, business license and utility fees beyond what has been budgeted for the 2018-fiscal year.

The city was also overcharged nearly $500,000 from Alabama Power, which has been reimbursed over the last few months, and there has been an overall reduction in the number of city employees over the last year, all contributing to the city being able to increase its budgeted raise.

“I just feel like it has been a while since we have been able to do something special for our city employees,” said Mayor Charles Murphy. “They deserve it.”

In other business Monday, the council:

•Authorized Frazier-Lanier to research refinancing of a 2009 bond. A representative from Frazier-Lanier told council members March 5 that refinancing could reduce the city’s interest rate on the loan from 5 to 3 percent.

•Authorized city engineer Greg Smith to solicit bids for culvert replacement on McAuliffe Drive.

•Authorized the city’s public works department to surplus miscellaneous items.

•Authorized the application for the city to be named a Bee City USA through the Baldwin County Beekeepers Association, which meets once a month in Robertsdale.

•Authorized the city to host a First Responders Parade in Robertsdale on May 12. The parade would follow the same route as the city’s annual Christmas Parade.

•Approved Ruthie Campbell as a voting delegate for the Alabama League of Municipalities Convention with Mayor Charles Murphy as first alternate and Brent Kendrick as second alternate.

•Authorized the city’s police department to direct traffic during St. Patrick School and Church’s Leprechaun Chase March 11. Parking would be available at the school and foot traffic would need to be directed across Alabama 59 to the church.