ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — The city council approved spending $5,000 on flashing school zone lights in front of Central Baldwin Middle School hanging over Highway 59.

“The local share, according to ALDOT, was $50,000,” said Mayor Charles Murphy.

Murphy told the council that city officials negotiated with the Alabama Department of Transportation to lower the costs to $15,000.

“We’re going to use some used equipment,” added Murphy. He added that because Silverhill and Loxley students use the school, those towns have been asked to contribute to the cost of the new lights. Murphy also said that the Baldwin County Commission was expected to pay $7,500 for the lights.

Because it was not known if the other towns would contribute to the new lights, the council approved spending up to $7,500 for the lights.

The council also approved selling two vehicles, a 1988 and a 2002 Crown Victoria as surplus.

The autos will be auctioned off on the govdeals.com Web site. Police Chief Brad Kendrick said that one of the cars belonged to the Robertsdale Volunteer Fire Department.

“They loaned us the car,” explained Kendrick, after the meeting, adding that the fire department had no use for the car at the time. Money from each car will go to its respective department. The motion to “surplus” the vehicles passed unanimously. Paul Hollingsworth was absent.

In other action, the council:

— Voted to approve Aug. 6-8 a sales tax holiday in the city. This matches the state “back to school” holiday.

— Approved payment of $257,488.71 in bills.