ROBERTSDALE, Alabama --- Work on a new McDonald's at the corner of Highway 59 and Media Drive should begin immediately after the Robertsdale City Council took a final vote to clear up an error on the property which was discovered in December.

It was announced in October than an offer was made to purchase two properties owned by Judy Brill, the former Country Cook-N restaurant which she owned and operated with her late husband, Steve Brill, and property currently being operated as Judy's Hair Salon in Robertsdale.

On Monday, Dec. 19 the Council took action to repair an error that was done when a county right of way was acquired for Highway 59 years ago, including accepting a quit-claim deed from the Baldwin County Commission and proceeding with whatever action was necessary to vacate the property.

At the Tuesday Jan. 3 meeting, it was announced that the County Commission approved the quit claim deed at its meeting Dec. 20 and the city must approve an ordinance to vacate the right of way, which requires providing public notice for 30 days and advertising for four consecutive weeks in the local newspaper.

Following a public hearing on the matter at Monday's meeting, the council voted first to suspend the rules by a unanimous roll-call vote, then voted unanimously by roll call to approve the vacation of right-of-way for the property. All Council members were present at Monday's meeting.

City Engineer Greg Smith said Monday that he had been in contact with McDonald's officials and they indicated that, once all the paperwork has been filed on the matter, construction is expected to begin immediately and should take approximately 90 days to complete, which should put the date of opening sometime in May.

In other business Monday, the council voted unanimously to accept the city's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year which ended Sept. 30, 2011, presented by Dennis Sherrin with Hartman, Blackmon & Kilgore.

"The most important thing is that we did not find anything wrong with the city's financial records," he said. "It was a tough year, but it was a year that you clearly planned for and you are already looking ahead to a better year next year."

Mayor Charles Murphy said the city has made several adjustments since being hit with a drastic reduction in tax revenues between 2007 and 2008 and commended all the city's department heads for their work in making budget adjustments.

"The thing I'm proudest of is that we've been able to do this without having to lay anyone off," said Council member Paul Hollingsworth. "I think that is a true testament to the job our mayor and city employees have done over the last few years to keep this city moving forward."

In other business Monday, the council:

• Voted to donate $1,000 to the Central Baldwin Middle School Technology Student Association class to attend the National TSA Conference which will be held this coming June in Nashville.

• Approved an advertisement in the Gulf Coast Newspapers Baldwin Marketplace publication at a cost of $275.

• Approved a sign request from Central Christian School at a cost of $150.

• Received a presentation of the Safe Route to School Program resolution, which was approved by the council.