By Emily Reed / Special to the Reporter

Members of the Pelham City Council approved changes to a bid from Wiregrass Construction Company Inc. for the completion of projects related to improvements at Village Place.

During a special-called council meeting on Sept. 13, council members unanimously approved a change order, submitted by Wiregrass Construction Company Inc., as recommended by Goodwyn, Mills, and Cawood, in the amount of $23,628.65 for additional work to be completed with the Village Place improvements.

Village Place is a road located in Parkside Village, and will be resurfaced as part of an overall plan to create a second roadway access route to the under-construction Pelham Park Middle School. The school is set to open in the fall.

Once complete, the project will connect the school to Bearden Road via Old Asheville Road, Village Place and Court Way. As part of the overall project, Court Way will also be widened, repaved and curb and gutter added.

Pelham Council President Rick Hayes told the council it would be likely that an additional change order should be expected for the council to consider related to the project.

Council members also approved a first-reading of a resolution to amend the council’s order of business for council meetings to add a report of the city manager to the format of the meetings.

The change will be brought up for approval at the next council meeting.

The Pelham City Council unanimously approved the hire of Gretchen DiFante as the city’s first city manager in July.

If the resolution is approved, DiFante would be added to the council’s regular agenda to provide reports to the council.

During the public announcement section of the meeting, Hayes told those in attendance that the Pelham Fire Stations were serving as a drop off/collection point for hurricane relief supplies. Items including canned good, bottled water, cleaning supplies, toiletries, non-perishable items, diapers, baby food, baby formula, pet food and powdered milk will be accepted from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. until Sept. 15.

Prior to adjourning the meeting, council members met in an executive session to discuss preliminary negotiations of trade or commerce.

There was no action taken when the council resumed the regularly scheduled meeting.