The Buffalo Springs Drive bridge, a new farmer’s market and the reappointment of city council members were just a few items up for discussion during Montgomery City Council’s May 23 regular meeting.

Council members John Champagne and Jon Bickford were absent during the meeting.

Here are a few things to know that happened during the meeting:

1. The city engineer recommended the council delay sending the Buffalo Springs Drive Bridge repair project out for bid and request an 18-month extension to allow the city time to meet the requirements to file a claim with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The bridge was damaged during the 2016 April and May floods, and due to delayed funding from FEMA the repairs may not be complete until Spring 2018.

“We’re backed into a corner on this,” Huss said. “Despite wanting the bridge to be under construction and to start spending money on improving people’s quality of life, we don’t have the money to do this ourselves and we’re having to wait on federal and state agencies. We have to accommodate the federal tax schedule if we want their money, which makes me unhappy, but I don’t really see a choice.”

The council reluctantly, but unanimously, voted to defer the bidding and request an extension. A special neighborhood meeting will be held May 30 at 7 p.m. at the Community Center, located at 14420 Liberty Street, Montgomery, to update residents on the project status.

2. Council members TJ Wilkerson and Dave McCorquodale were sworn into office for positions 3 and 5, respectively, following an unopposed city election May 6, which was cancelled.

Council member Jon Bickford was absent during the meeting and will be sworn in to Position 1 by  City Secretary Susan Hensley later this week.

Council member Rebecca Huss was appointed as the Mayor Pro Tem for a one-year term.

3. The council unanimously authorized City Administrator Jack Yates to work with the Historic Montgomery Business Association to plan a street closure or use of community center grounds for a new farmer’s market hosted by the HMBA.

The new event would take place every Thursday beginning June 8, from 5 p.m. until dark and would host a variety of local vendors.

4. The council unanimously authorized the City Attorney to file a lawsuit against Barnier Construction and Sargent Plumbing Company to collect damages to a city water main on Eva Street, which occurred late February.

The damages amount to approximately $6,000 and the city would file a negligence claim against the companies.