Troy Council president Marcus Paramore gave members of the Pike County Republican Women an update on the progress of the city, including the progress of projects such as Kimber, Rex Lumber and Conecuh Ridge Distillery.

Paramore said the site plan for the distillery is expected to be considered at the September meeting of the Troy Planning Commission.

“I would expect you would see them breaking ground within about 60 days if that is approved,” Paramore said.

There have been some delays with the distillery, some of which Paramore said he was not yet at liberty to discuss, but he did share that the distillery purchased Ireland’s second-oldest distillery during the past year, and that the company has had to shift the focus there temporarily.

Paramore said other developments at the distillery could mean that the company will create even jobs than the approximately 50 positions that were expected and required under the project agreement.

Paramore also gave updates on the progress at Kimber Manufacturing and Rex Lumber company.

“Kimber is up and running with right at 100 employees,” Paramore said. “They’re contracted to have 366 by the end of their third year of operation. They’re ahead of the game there and they’ll probably get there quicker than what their plan was. Production has started and it is expected to double by January. Rex is also up and running, although they’re still under construction on several things.”

The most recent project, the recruitment of Hutton to build a new shopping center featuring Hobby Lobby and TJ Maxx, is also ongoing, Paramore said.

“We hope you should see some dirt being moved and heavy equipment rolling in the next few months,” Paramore said. “Outparcels are still in negotiation. We’re looking to hopefully locate some restaurants.”

Paramore said there are also possibilities for the development of new restaurants and a hotel on outparcels on land next to the Publix-anchored Park Place Shopping Center by the Spring of 2020.

Paramore said Troy and Pike County are among the few cities and counties in Alabama that are actually seeing growth.

“With that comes some growing pains,” Paramore said. “I’d rather have a few growing pains than nothing at all. If you’re not growing, you’re dying.”

One of the key elements to control, Paramore said, is increased traffic.

“Everybody knows U.S. Highway 231 is a nightmare at certain times,” Paramore said.

Some of the plans to manage that traffic include a road project funded by new gas tax revenue that would extend Mockingbird Lanefrom U.S. Highway 231 to a new industrial access road being built for Kimber Manufacturing company. The road at the new shopping center will also connect to John H. Witherington Drive and the exit at from the shopping center onto U.S. Highway 231 will be right-turn only. Paramore said the city is looking at making more exits onto the highway right-turn only to increase safety and keep traffic from backing up in parking lots and access roads.

Paramore said there are also plans to review the intersection of Henderson Highway and U.S. Highway 231 and potentially expand a road between Premier Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and Bill Jackson Ford back to Three Notch Street.