FLORENCE — The City Council and mayor may be looking to the bond market in 2013 with Tuesday’s approval of a letter of engagement with Joe Jolly and Co.

The city has not had a capital projects plan for years, and several big-dollar improvements could be looming on the horizon, including streetscaping and a city archive.

Jolly has acted as the city’s investment banking services agent in the past.

In other business in Tuesday’s short meeting, the council approved initial funding for the second phase of a sidewalk improvement project for west Florence. The council approved a $13,125 contract with White, Lynn and Collins engineers for design work. An sidewalk improvement project is already under way in west Florence that is, like the next project, funded through the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Also approved Tuesday was a contract with Worldwide Aircraft Recovery LLC to dissemble and transport an F-4D Phantom fighter jet to Veterans Park. The decommissioned plane is now at Fort McClellan.

The city is working with local veterans to add the iconic Vietnam War-era aircraft to other pieces of military hardware already on display at the memorial in the park.

Randy Chapin, a Florence veteran spearheading the project, told the council some alterations will be made to the plane, and it will be repainted this winter. It should go on display this spring, he said.

Board appointments were also announced during the meeting.

Councilman Barry Morris will serve on the Shoals Economic Development Authority; Councilman Hermon Graham will serve on the Shoals Industrial Development Board; and Bud Ward was appointed to the Shoals Economic Development Authority.

Robert Palmer can be reached at 256-740-5720 or robert.palmer@TimesDaily.com.