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By BRANDON GLOVER/THE DEMOPOLIS TIMES

LINDEN &8212; The strategic plan compiled for the City of Linden as part of the Grow Linden grant is completed and ready for presentation to city leaders and the community.

City Councilman Mitzi Gates said she was informed by Kim Walker at the University of West Alabama, where the Community and Impact Grants Program that sponsored the grant is located, of the plan&8217;s completion. She said the next step was deciding to whom and when the plans will be unveiled.

The strategic plan is a compilation of the information received from Linden residents and businesses on a range of topics regarding the city&8217;s future development. The community input was gathered at two town hall meetings open to the public in recent months.

Christmas parade

Gates also said the city is preparing for its second annual Christmas parade, which will take place at 7 p.m. on Dec. 2.

Gates said this year&8217;s Christmas parade will be precluded in the morning by a chili cook-off at the Linden Fire Station the morning before the event. She said contest participants will then be able to set up vendor spots for the parade and the events preceding it, which start at 5:30 p.m., to sell their chili creations.

Entry forms for the parade and vendor registration forms are available at Linden City Hall.

.In other business

Proposed licenses fee adjustments were presented to council members, who tabled the matter until the next meeting to review changes to the existing policy.

The council accepted a low lease bid to provide the city with a backhoe. The low bid of the three submitted was $963.20 a month for a Case backhoe, which was $20 a month more than the previous three-year lease for Cat equipment.

The council also made a commitment of $15,000 for construction work planned at Austin Park.

Two openings on the Industrial Development Board were filled by the council. John Werner was reappointed to the board and Dr. Walter Davis was selected to fill the remaining spot.