VALLEY — On Thursday evening, the Valley City Council annexed some land into the city, had a land swap with the Langdale Methodist Church and took steps to purchase a 27-acre site just off I-85 near the recently purchased Burney tract off 55th Street.

The annexed property is the site of the JetPep convenience store off Fob James Drive near Exit 77 off I-85. The request for annexation was made by the site owner BBPP LLC.

In the land swap, the city is basically trading a small section of land it owns in front of the church for some land across 20th Avenue near the Horace King covered bridge. Mayor Leonard Riley said the city would be doing some erosion control work along the bank of Moore’s Creek while keeping the area with a park-like appearance.

The council suspended the rules and adopted upon a first reading an ordinance authorizing Riley to execute a contact to purchase 27 acres of land from Wade Stuart Enterprises of LaGrange for $364,500 payable at closing.

In another unanimous vote, the council approved a lease with the Lamar Companies for some existing billboards on property the city previously purchased. It’s a two-year contract with the city receiving $1,333.34 each year in rental fees.

The council approved an amendment to the city’s zoning ordinance assigning the correct zoning to some property on Boulevard in the Fairfax community. Four lots between East Sears Street and Combs Street had been listed as C-1 (commercial) and are now R-6 (residential).

The council had previously rejected bids for some much-needed paving on the CV Railroad Trail. They agreed to a negotiated price with Chris Clark Paving & Grading for $330,243. The contact is conditioned to approval by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Development (ADECA), but no problems are anticipated with that.

ADECA previously approved a Recreational Trails Program grant for the city in the amount of $277,200 with the city having a match of $69,300.

Chris Clark is the low bidder for the asphalt portion of the work. Other amenities such as new benches, signage and some fencing will be going in as well.

The council confirmed the costs for abatements of properties located at 1125 Foster Circle, 2310 38th Boulevard and a site on Bennett Street.

Police Chief Tommy Weldon reported to the council that a roof replacement project was coming along on schedule at the police department.

Mayor Riley urged Valley residents to participate in the city’s annual clean up week, which will be taking place in early April.

“It will be a good time to clean up your yards and to disposed of unwanted electronic items,” he said.

Public Works Director Patrick Bolt said that the electronic recycling will be taking place on Saturday, April 6. A truck will be at the Valley Farmer’s Market Pavilion from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. EDT that day to gather the electronic items. A shredder truck will be there at 10 a.m. for anyone who wants documents shredded at no cost.

Early April will be an ideal time for Valley residents to leave limbs and other yard waste by their curbs. An extra truck will be running along with the regular truck to pick up curbside debris.

Council Member Randall Maddux said that he’d recently talked to someone from the Smiths Station area who wanted to pass along their heartfelt thanks to the work done by Valley’s Public Works Department following the devastating tornado on March 3.

“They wanted it known that they very much appreciated our Public Works Department helping them with the cleanup,” Maddux said.

Council Member Jimmy Gilson said that he had received complaints from residents in his district that someone had been throwing trash in a ditch on Church Street. This is something that can’t be tolerated, he said.

Valley residents who want to be proactive in a community cleaning up litter can take part in a Moore’s Creek watershed cleanup. It will be taking place from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. EDT on Saturday, April 6. Individuals, civic groups, businesses and churches are encouraged to take part.  To register for the event, go to www.chattahoochee.org/sweepthe hooch/ or contact alex.james@auburn.edu.

At 10 a.m. on April 6, a group will meet at Valley City Hall and assign a street or creek location to clean up. Gloves, trash bags and safety vests will be provided.

Anyone who participates in the cleanup will receive a $2 discount on the ticket price for the Chambers County Sheriff’s 23rd Annual Rodeo, which will be taking place that evening at the Chambers County Agricultural Park in LaFayette.