The Athens City Council pledged its support Monday for two ongoing historical renovation projects with a $20,000 appropriation. The council unanimously decided to give $10,000 toward work being done on the Beaty Mason Home and $10,000 to the Trinity School/Fort Henderson Project. The council had also considered using $5,000 to create a historic preservation fund, but decided to wait.

The Beaty Mason Home, which serves as Athens State University’s president’s home, was built in 1826 but was taken over by Athens College in 1960. Rick Mould, vice president for University Advancement at ASU, told the council the house is one of the few in the south that survived the Civil War, and that the first floor of the home is often used for community events and meetings.

He said the first phase of renovations are under way and will address moisture issues in the home and include the installation of a French drain.

Richard Martin, a member of the nonprofit Athens-Limestone Community Association, told the council efforts to renovate Trinity School and Fort Henderson could cost as much as $2.6 million. The ALCA would like to turn the site into a museum and tourist destination.

Earlier this month, the site was deemed “a place in peril” by the Alabama Historic Commission and the Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation.

Council President Jimmy Gill, a Trinity School graduate, said he felt the project is heading in the right direction and represents a quality-of-life amenity and tourism opportunity for the city.

“I think this is a mere drop in the bucket compared to what we’re dropping on some other (appropriations),” he said during the work session.

Also Monday, the city awarded the widening and resurfacing of Nuclear Plant Road from U.S. 31 to Cowford Road to Reed Contracting, the low bidder, for $1,034,101.30. Last year, the city was awarded an industrial access grant of $1.1 million and both the council and Limestone County Commission voted to split any cost over the grant amount up to $250,000 each.

Council member Dr. Milly Caudle said the project represented a “long-time need” for the city, though it’s an “expensive project.”

Work on the project will likely start in August, and the contractor has 90 days to complete the work.

In other action, the council voted to approve the purchase of a compressed natural gas-powered garbage truck. The move came less than a week after Athens unveiled its first compressed natural gas-powered vehicle, a 2012 Honda Civic.

The council awarded a bid of $274,626 to Nextran Truck Center for the vehicle. Funds for the truck will come from a combination of Gas Department capital expenditures and capital infrastructure funds in the city’s general fund.

The council also voted to allow Athens Utilities to purchase two transformers and spare parts at a cost of about $1.4 million. The equipment will be used to build a new power substation for Carpenter Technology Corp., which is building a specialty allow manufacturing facility south of Athens.

Athens Utilities General Manager Gary Scroggins said most of those funds would be reimbursed by the company.

In other business, the council:

• Held a public hearing on a request from the developer of Piney Creek subdivision to change Lot 1 from a residential lot to a common lot. The developer sought to install a swimming pool and clubhouse on the lot, which is at the entrance of the subdivision. Citing previous concerns from the Athens Planning Commission about the proposal, the council voted to allow the lot to be used for green space and landscaping only;

• Held a public hearing and passed an ordinance to rezone three properties near the intersection of Mooresville Road and U.S. 72 from agricultural use to B-2, or general business district;

• Held a public hearing and passed an ordinance to amend the city’s zoning table to allow bed and breakfast establishments in historic districts. Owners of such businesses would still be required to receive a special use exception by the city’s zoning board;

• Passed resolutions appointing Don Huddleston to the zoning board; Cherry Anne Ward, Wayne Kuykendall, Chris Paysinger, Peggy Hammons, Ida Terry and Mac Martin to the Historic Commission; Kurt Leopard to the Industrial Development Board; and Marvin Young to the Alcoholic License Review Committee;

• Approved an ordinance to abandon a sewer easement on L. Gray Boulevard;

• Approved a one-year contract with Professional Probation Services to collect unpaid court fees. The agreement stipulates the company’s fee will be 25 percent of collected fines;

• Passed a resolution granting Greyhound Lines, Inc. a franchise in the city;

• Approved the purchase of a computer backup system at a cost of $17,450; and

• Approved the purchase of an aerial device with service body and cab and chassis for the utilities department at a cost of $167,796.