PELHAM — The City Council voted Aug. 3 to give Mayor Don Murphy the authority to apply for an 80/20 grant from the Alabama Department of Transportation to build a sidewalk from Bearden road through Pelham City Park to U.S. 31.

The total cost of the project is $272,265.11.

The resolution proposes the city will pay 20 percent of the total cost of the project, or $54,453.02, while the federal share will be 80 percent of the total cost, or $217,812.09.

The resolution passed by a 3-1 vote, with councilmember Karyl Rice voting no. Councilmember Teresa Nichols was absent from the meeting.

The resolution was created after the city did not receive funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, or stimulus package.

Mayor Don Murphy said he still had confidence the city would receive 100 percent federal funding for the project, but the application process would at least ensure 80 percent of the total cost was covered.

However, councilmember Bill Meadows said he does not feel the city will receive money for the project from the stimulus package.

“If we want to have sidewalks in the city, we’ve got to start somewhere,” said Murphy.