Improvements to the walking track at Sweetwater Recreation Park seem closer to reality.
During the called portion of the October workshop on Monday, the City Commission opened bids for surface improvements and stripe painting for the track.

Southeast Asphalt Maintenance submitted a bid of $6,056 for the project.
The bid price is good through June 1.
Parks and Recreation Commissioner Julian Walton said about $4,000 has been raised for the project so far.
With cooler weather approaching and more money needed, the Commission voted to hold off on formally accepting the bid until March.

Walton believes the city will have raised enough money by then and the project can be completed in April when warmer weather arrives.
On Monday, the City Commission voted to close Main Street from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Nov. 28 for the annual Small Town Christmas event held each year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
The city also will close the side street for the businesses across the tracks for their participation in the event.

The city is stepping up efforts to collect unpaid traffic and parking tickets, some of which date back more than 10 years.
The city is studying an online service that will allow people to pay tickets online, which should improve the collection rate on tickets issued to out-of-state drivers, city officials believe.
"We do get requests for this (service)," Police Chief Eddie Byrum said.
Using the service will not cost the city any money directly, only the time helping with the initial set up, City Recorder Jessica Morgan said.

Morgan said she is learning more about a federal stimulus grant for up to $100,000 with a zero match.
The money could be used to improve city buildings' energy use should the city apply and receive the grant.
Mayor Doyle Lowe opened Monday's meeting by ringing the old bell/alarm the city restored and put up in City Hall last week.
The Sweetwater Mayor and Board of Commissioners will meet in regular session at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 2 at City Hall.

tommy.millsaps@advocateanddemocrat.com | 337-7101