The Troy City Council has approved the final plans to build a sidewalk along George Wallace Drive, and it’s done it at a surprisingly-low price.

“I was very surprised that every contact was substantially under the grant,” said Troy Mayor Jimmy Lunsford.

In it’s Tuesday council meeting, members voted to award a construction bid to build a sidewalk along Goerge Wallace Drive to Cardwell Construction, who was the lowest bidder at $218,000.

After adding in engineering costs, Lunsford said the council project should fall well-under the $400,000 federal transportation enhancement grant awarded last year.

The sidewalk will span across the West side of George Wallace Drive, beginning at University Avenue and meeting with U.S. Highway 231.

Lunsford said the project should begin within a month’s time. The plans for construction are subject to approval from the Alabama Department of Transportation, but once those approvals are made, Lunsford said the project will be underway soon after.

But, while one construction project fell within budget, another will likely exceed its limits.

The plans to construct a new walking trail at the Troy Parks and Recreation Center has been discussion for some time, but with bids higher than anticipated, Lunsford said he’ll need more time to review.

The $100,000 grant to construct an approximately 1-mile trail has had construction bids at prices higher than the city anticipated, but Lunsford said the project will continue.

“We will award the walking trail,” Lunsford said. “There may be some modifications. We still want to go in the area through the woods, and there will be some modifications in the actual award.”

In other business, the council discussed the federally-mandated minimum wage increases to $7.25 per hour. Lunsford asked the council whether the members thought they should increase some other employee’s wages to more than $7.25 that fell below minimum wage now but make more than the current minimum wage.

There was no formal vote, but the council unanimously agreed to not make any increases higher than what is required.

The council also awarded a liquor retail license to the Shell gas station located on U.S. Highway 231 before the Highway 29 bypass.