Three Tallapoosa City Council members took their oath of office during the council’s regularly scheduled meeting Monday night.

Returning Council Member Kendall Robinson and returning Mayor William “Pete” Bridges will maintain their seats on the council and continue for another term, while Council Member Connie Gentry’s seat was filled by Dan Pope.

Gentry decided not to run for re-election last year. Pope defeated Tallapoosa resident and Tallapoosa Planning Commission Member Ann Crim for the seat. Pope, a retired Haralson County High School teacher, previously served on the Tallapoosa City Council from 2001 to 2005.

In other news, the council approved a memorandum of understanding with the federal government and the Georgia Department of Transportation to implement the city’s DOT-sponsored transit grant, or TEA grant, which will fund new sidewalks, trash bins, lighting, benches and some landscaping along Alewine Street, Alabama Street, Lyon Street and some of Highway 78 through Tallapoosa.

Ben Turnipseed of G. Ben Turnipseed Engeneering, Inc., was awarded the contract and has reportedly begun planning for the project, according to the council.

“This is the third phase of our Streetscape Project,” said Tallapoosa City Manager Philip Eidson, “and there will be two more phases in the future.”

Pope was concerned with whether the project would include handicap ramps for the new sidewalks.

“That was part of an earlier grant and earlier project we did,” Bridges said, “when we improved several sidewalks around town. That grant has been completed, and at that time, we made six or seven wheelchair accessible areas. With this project, the only wheelchair accessible places will be where the sidewalk ends at an intersection.”

The council closed the meeting with hopeful outlooks for the new year.

“I hope we have a better year this year,” said Council Member Charles Worthy said. “I hope we can bring more jobs to the area to help out more people.”

Pope expressed that he was glad to return to the duties of a council member for the city of Tallapoosa and said he has already seen some models of forward thinking that he hopes to replicate throughout the city.

“I met the new man down at the golf course (Golf Course Superintendent Billy McCroskey) whose been reusing and recycling material, such as mulch. I feel like moving forward with things [like that] in the future is one of the things we need to do and address more cost-saving measures.”

The next Tallapoosa City Council meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8.