The Greenville City Council voted unanimously Monday night to increase the pay for the city’s next mayor by $14,000.

Dexter McLendon, the city’s current mayor, draws a salary of $48,000. Whoever is elected to the office in 2016 will receive a salary of $62,000.

The pay for the council members will remain unchanged. The five council members are each paid $7,000.

According to City Attorney Richard Hartley, the pay increase had to be approved six months prior to the municipal elections.

In other business:

• The council authorized Alabama Power Company to add two streetlights on Harrison Street.
• The council authorized the purchase of a building located at 204 West Commerce Street.

In recent months, the city has purchased three other downtown buildings in the area. The city has since torn down two of those buildings.

McLendon said removing the buildings will give that area of town a new look.

“We’re going to let (City Horticulturist) Jennifer (Stringer) work her magic,” McLendon said.

McLendon said the space will also free up more room for parking.

“We’re seeing more and more people downtown, and we need more parking,” he said. “Once we get those buildings down we’ll be able to upgrade the parking situation in that part of downtown. That space really isn’t very far from Sears and The Pineapple and several other businesses in that area. Once we get it done it’s going to be real nice.”

• The council awarded a bid to Southland Builders for the construction of the Sherling Lake lodge.

“The low bid came in at $449,975, but I’m hoping we can work with them to get that down some,” McLendon said.

The council approved the following expenses:

• $6,250 to McCoy Fire for a fire alarm system and installation at Dunbar Recreation Center
• $35,000 to Midsouth Paving to pave a portion of Landfill Road
• $1,400 to ALDOT for renewal of Sherling Lake directional signs on Interstate 65 for 2016
• $5,000 to Goodwyn, Mills & Caewood for a survey of property in the Industrial Park
• $4,373 to Temple Display, LTD for 10 Christmas pole directions

The city council’s next meeting will be held Dec. 7 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.