LEEDS — The City of Leeds will be ridding itself of one of its  bond payments after a vote last week to pay it off.

The city council voted unanimously during a meeting Monday to pay off a bond dating back to the year 2000. The city will pay $1.66 million to retire the debt.

The city obtained a series of long-term debt bonds in 2000 and 2002. The specific bond addressed with the vote is for the 2000B series bond, which was originally over $2 million. The city had already paid off the 2000A series bond.

“We are at a point where we can get this off our books without penalty. We need to pay it off now to get rid of the interest (payments) and to help us with (payments for) the school bond issue,” said Leeds Mayor Eric Patterson, referring to the bonds taken out to build the new high school and middle school.

The funds will come from an account set up several years ago designed specifically for debt retirement.

Other items discussed by the council included:

• hearing a report from Superintendent John Moore.

Moore informed the council of progress being made in construction and renovations at the schools.

He thanked State Representative Owen Drake for his help in acquiring an initial $35,000 to help with renovations at Leeds Elementary. He said since then, Drake informed the system that $58,000 would be added to finance the project. That money, he said, would be used for improvements at the elementary school and restrooms at the football stadium.

“(Drake) has worked very hard to help the school system acquire this funding,” Moore said. “We are very thankful to him for his efforts.”

Moore went on to say he was very pleased that the school system as a whole met its Annual Yearly Progress goals and that LES and LMS met school goals. While LHS did not meet goal in its graduation rate, he said the 82 percent rate was equal to that of the previous year and that faculty and staff will continue working to improve.

He went on to say that the school year began with a total of 1,483 students, an increase of 3 percent. The increase was most prevalent at the elementary school where the total number of students enrolled at the beginning of the school year stood at 771.

The city council also discussed helping the school system with gutter and curb work associated with the stadium. The council agreed to provide up to $2,500 in curb and gutter work and in exchange the school system would provide the civic center with surplus weight and exercise equipment;

• Librarian Mondretta Williams reported that the library had 400 children and adults sign up for summer reading. The library hosted 30 programs and participants read over 6,000 books;

• Patterson reported that a road to the youth football facility was being repaved and would be completed in a few days;

• approved a refund request for overpayment of taxes as well as waiving a fee for another business who self-reported that they had not paid enough in occupational taxes;

• approved making the Leeds K9 unit surplus property “of useless value” due to its health problems. Due to its lack of value, the city is able to offer the dog to its Leeds Police trainer to provide a home;

• approved an ordinance striking down an animal control ordinance passed in 1998. The city had to strike that ordinance in order to utilize an ordinance passed more recently.

Discussion ensued about how the city would enforce its animal control. It was stated that residents have to sign a complaint form for anything to be done legally.

It was also said that the Jefferson County Animal Control reports to Leeds two times each month;

• Distric 5 Councilmember Johnny Kyle asked that the city consider a cost of living raise for retirees;

• Councilmember Susan Carswell expressed concern over an upcoming ALDOT project that would, according to Carswell, close down all lanes on either side I-20 from the Kilgore Exit to Leeds for a major resurfacing project. She said it was vital that Leeds officials attend an upcoming meeting on the project.

“We need to make sure we have representation there to ensure that this will not interfere with the Grand River opening,” Carswell said.

Carswell also said the city should speak with ALDOT about signage for Grand River and adding information pointing to downtown Leeds.

“We need signage before you get to the exit pointing to Grand River and to downtown Leeds. They did it for Barber, which has three signs,” she said; and

• approved moving the next council meeting to Tuesday, September 7, 6 p.m. in observance of Labor Day.