City seeks Academy input

Published 8:04 pm Tuesday, June 23, 2020

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The City of Troy continues to seek public input on the proposed renovation of the Academy Street High School.

Melissa Sanders, zoning and planning commissioner for the city, told council members on Tuesday that the public is urged to share their input on the proposal to renovate the high school and convert it to a community and cultural arts center.

“The public has until June 30 to share their comments, and they can do so one of three ways,” she said. A petition of support is available for signatures inside city hall; a online survey is available at www.troyal.gov/academy, or individuals can send comments via email to academy@troyal.gov.

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“This is important,” said Stephanie Baker, District 4 councilwoman. “This is not just a project for a neighborhood, but it’s a project for our community.”

Wanda Moultry, District 5 councilwoman, also urged the public’s support, which is a necessary factor in the CDBG grant application approved by the council on Tuesday. “We approved this first phase before and it didn’t pass,” Moultry said. “We can’t do the other phases until this one is done.”

The council approved the application applying for a $250,000 CDBG grant to assist with the first phase of the renovation, a $1.4 million project which would include renovation of the main building, auditorium, lobby and bathrooms. Later phases would address the classrooms and the gymnasium.

In other business on Tuesday, the council:

• Awarded the bid for the Conecuh Ridge Industrial Access Road to CarSenn Construction for $592,910.20, all of which will be reimbursed by the state. The road will be located off Trojan Way and construction will begin in August and should be completed within 90 working days, or roughly five calendar months.

Mayor Jason Reeves said construction of this road is the city’s final obligation in the creation of the Conecuh Ridge Distillery project. “The developers are finalizing their plans now,” Reeves said.

• Approved the issuance of a $2.5 million general obligation warrant to repay a portion of the debt related to the development of the Kimber Manufacturing facility in Troy.

• Reinstated the $3.062 million general obligation warrant used for the purchase of commercial property adjacent to the Park Place shopping center on U.S. 231. The developer held a five-year option on the property, which is located south of the Publix shopping center, and decided not to exercise that option when it expired earlier this year. “They had been paying the interest on the note, but we’re taking it over and financing it for one year,” Reeves said, adding that the city expects to sell the property within that year.

• Appointed Reeves as the city’s voting delegate at the Alabama League of Municipalities meeting.