The city of Gardendale on Monday approved its first draw on a $3.5 million line of credit with Regions Bank.

Earlier this month, the Gardendale City Council renewed the line of credit, which is meant primarily for construction of a City Center complex on Mt. Olive Road and renovation of a grocery store for the future Public Safety Center.

The council initially approved the line of credit last year.

A $225,935 draw authorized by the council this week is the first withdrawal on the loan.

Also related to the Public Safety Center, the council approved a $220,000 change order Monday that reduces the overall contract sum to $2,476,500.

The change puts certain elements of the project under the city’s control, including interior and exterior signage, parking lot improvements and landscaping.

The majority of the change order total, $180,000, was for a “contingency allowance” meant for unexpected problems or other expenses, according to Mayor Othell Phillips.

“We will control the funds going to those items rather than the contractor,” Phillips said. “It gives the city more control over those expenditures.

In other business, the council:

• authorized a contract for Jefferson County to provide election services for the 2012 municipal elections.

• fixed and assessed the costs of mowing certain properties found to be in violation of the city’s weed control ordinance. The city will send a copy of the resolution to the Office of the Judge of Probate of Jefferson County, where the tax collector will add the amounts of the liens to the ad valorem tax bills on the properties.

• authorized a Severe Weather Preparedness sales tax holiday weekend on July 6-8 9. (See next week’s NJN for more information about the sales tax holiday.)

• set a public hearing for July 9, 6:30 p.m., at Gardendale City Hall regarding closing part of Phillips Drive

• thanked De Allen for his years of service on the Gardendale Park and Recreation board. Allen is stepping down from the position.

The next regular council meeting is July 2, 6 p.m., at Gardendale City Hall.