By this time next month, the city of Calera could be receiving bids for a new library.

According to Calera Mayor George Roy, the city should start bidding out the work within a few weeks.

&uot;Mike (Wood, city building official) will oversee that,&uot; Roy said.

By sub-contracting the work itself, the city will likely save 15 to 20 percent on the total cost, according to Wood. That could result in a savings of up to $400,000.

The library update was given during Monday’s council work session, just after library director Janet Greathouse asked about the project’s status. She had received calls from some contractors asking about the project. A construction network report lists the library project as &uot;abandoned.&uot;

&uot;I’m already getting telephone calls…wanting to know why it was postponed or abandoned,&uot; she said.

Roy said that was not the case.

&uot;Tell them to call me if they’ve got a problem,&uot; he said.

The new library, which will be adjacent to Oliver Park and up to four times as big, will cost approximately $2 million.

Budget amendments

The council voted 5-1 to amend the budget after finance director Mike Hinson made revisions to the budget passed several months ago.

According to Hinson, revenues are $300,000 ahead of earlier projections, while expenses are lower than expected. Councilmember David Bradshaw, the lone person to vote against the amendments, brought up several concerns he had during the work session and the council meeting. He made mention of a decrease in salaries’ budgets.

&uot;You’re wanting to buy capital with salaries?&uot; he asked Hinson.

Hinson said the salaries’ budgets were adjusted because he overestimated what was needed earlier. He added salaries would not be lowered.

The council also:

* Approved guidelines for a historic district plan review board. The seven-member board will include the mayor, a council member, city engineer, planning and zoning board chairman or other member, industrial development board representative and two citizens elected by the other five members. No specific members have been named yet.

Most members will serve four-year terms. The mayor and council member will serve as long as they are in office.

* Approved a contract with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office to hold inmates as needed.

* Approved a $273,319 bid from American LaFrance for the purchase of a new fire truck.

* Approved property appraisal related to the proposed bypass