The Georgiana City Council will now be reviewing certain “non-essential, non-repetitive” expenses prior to their payment each month.

The council voted unanimously Tuesday night to adopt councilmember Lisa Lowe’s suggestion to have monthly reports come before the council for review and approval. These would include any expenditures of $500 or more that do not fall under routine expenses such as utilities or payroll.

The council also unanimously voted to join the National League of Cities.

“There are several municipalities in our area, including Greenville, that are members of this group. We are already members of the state league, but this offers us some advantages the state league doesn’t,” councilmember Byron Ward said.

Ward said the NLC would offer the city more insight into federal funding, “webinars” about community improvement and enhancement and a chance to learn about, and from, cities and towns across the nation who are facing similar challenges.

“We might learn something from a town in California that would help us here in Alabama,” Ward said.

He added membership in the NLC would also offer residents benefits such as discounts on prescriptions. “This would be a good thing for the city and for its citizens,” Ward said.

Ward also stated during the public forum held after the meeting the NLC would provide the City with a website.

In other business, the council voted to approve request from South Butler Rescue for the annual donation of $800 toward insurance in the FY 2009-10 Budget. They also voted to provide paperwork for tax purposes to Oliver Black for his donation of property to the City (valued at $4,300).

During the public forum, Mayor Mike Middleton said limbs hanging down and creating problems on Pine View would be cut and cleaned up with the assistance of the county, who had the necessary equipment to do so. He also said the drainage system on Pine View, which residents say is leaving large amounts of standing water days after a heavy rain, would be looked into.

The Georgiana City Council meets at 6:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month in the meeting room downtown. The public is invited.