In an effort to help the city save money during unstable economic times, Atmore Mayor Howard Shell has cut his salary $10,000 per year effective next month.

The city council approved Shell’s voluntary decrease in salary from $35,000 per year to $25,000 during Monday afternoon’s meeting.

“As long as I’m trying to get everybody else to be cost efficient, it’s a little hard to ask if you don’t try to set an example,” Shell said Tuesday.

In addition, the council approved a $4,800 annual salary for council members effective November 2012, the start of a new four-year term.

“The economy is going down everywhere, so rather than go up, we just decided to go down a little bit,” Shell said. “We’re trying to get all of our department heads and employees to squeeze every nickel they can and be economy minded.”

Shell added that by law council salaries have to be set six months prior to the end of a council term.

“We just decided to go ahead and do it,” Shell said.

In other business Monday, the council:

• Approved two project bids for work to be performed at the Atmore Municipal Airport as recommended by the FAA. The first bid for electrical work was awarded to Stewart Electrical Contractors, Inc. in the amount of $213,113.34 for replacement of lighting including runway and beacon lighting and windcone replacement. The second bid was awarded to Starfish, Inc. in the amount of $611,327.86 for construction of a road for access to the new hangers.

“Anytime you make improvements to your airport, you are making it a safer place and more convenient for larger planes to land,” Shell said.

• OK’d mitigation plan

• Reappointed Carol Crook to Library Board

• Approved ECHS homecoming parade for 2 p.m. on Oct. 8 from YMCA down Main Street to high school.

• OK’d Veteran’s Day parade for 10 a.m. Nov. 11.

• OK’d Stomp the Yard for Saturday at Houston Avery Park.

• OK’d Women’s Day for Saturday at Second Mt. Triumph Church.