Features Editor

Three members of the Troy City Council have been declared winners although the election is still four weeks away.

The official declaration was made during the council’s meeting Tuesday night.

Charles Meeks, Jason Reeves and John Witherington were elected without opposition and signed the papers, Monday night, to serve another term beginning Oct. 1. Meeks represents District 2, Reeves is the District 3 councilman and Witherington serves District 4.

District 1 Councilman Jose Henderson and District 5 Councilwoman Wanda Moultry have opposition in the Aug. 22 election.

In other business, the council:

· Awarded the bid for demolition of seven dilapidated buildings to A.G. Boothe in the amount of $12,250.

At its June 27 meeting the council passed a resolution declaring the following buildings as unsafe: 300 Orion Street; 208 Griffin Street; two buildings at Route 5, Highway 29 North; 502 Hanchey Street; 113 Carroll; 104 Hodges Street and 125 Boyd Street.

Property owners of those sites have 10 days before crews move in and begin work. Cost of demolition will be accessed to the owner through taxes.

· Appointed the following election officers for the municipal election and any necessary runoffs: Iris Lynn Floyd, Margaret Davis, Rosie Lee Munson, Linda Jeter, Francis Taylor, Carolyn Osteen, Earlie Mae Collins, Louise Calhoun, Russell E. Harris, Ann McWhorter, Charles Bennett, Pat Bennett, Eleanor Bassett, Nell Fannin, James W. Bell, Helion Motes, Charlie R. Terry, Mageline Stringer, Odessa Suddith, Mary L. Bland, Parrie Powell, Wilma King, James Ginyard and Georgia Mae Pennington.

Those appointed to receive, count and return absentee ballots are: Sylvia M. Harris, Dorothy Townsend, Nora McLendon, Angie Cox, Doris Adams and Alice Terry.

· Gave Mayor Jimmy Lunsford authority to enter into an agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation for an access road at the Industrial Park. Improvements to County Roads 21 and 39 will cost $900,000.

"We’ve worked hard to get this," Lunsford said of the money

He said the effort was a joint one between the city, Pike County Chamber of Commerce and the state.

· Was told the Troy Police Department is working on a plan to handle the litter problem.

"It is a problem," Lunsford said. "Picking it up is not the solution."

Meeks said he is embarrassed to admit the city has such a bad litter problem.

"I probably get more calls pertaining to litter than on anything else," Meeks said.

· Members were given an update on the weed abatement bill signed into law by Gov. Don Siegelman. The mayor said the ordinance currently on the books will be evaluated by the city’s attorney to see if it is "in line" with the new state law.