The City of Troy’s plans for a new library are coming to fruition, after an architect was hired Tuesday.

The Troy City Council voted to approve an architect agreement with Godwin Jones Architect Firm, which will begin the initial designing process.

The library, which will be located where the old Troy High School once stood on Elm Street, doesn’t have specific plans yet, but Lunsford said it will create more space for books, meeting rooms, class areas for children’s programs and expanded areas for genealogy.

“This is the preliminary design for the library,” Lunsford said. “Then they will meet with the board and the city council and design based on what they deem the needs are, and then we’ll price it.”

Lunsford said there is no budget for the project yet.

The council also voted to hire a consultant to apply for stimulus money that, if awarded, will construct an east-west corridor transportation system for Troy.

“We normally hire a consultant for this type of thing, but this is more of a long shot program,” Lunsford said. “I need permission to hire a consultant at the cost of $12,500.”

If the city is awarded the stimulus, the City of Troy will begin work that will create a complex road network spanning across the city.

“It’ll be an east-west corridor that will stretch across the city and help move traffic,” Lunsford said.

And while that will take some out of the city’s budget, another unexpected need to spend has risen.

With one of the Parks and Recreation Department’s mowing tractors in the ship, Director Dan Smith asked the council Tuesday to consider purchasing a new mower.

The new mower will include a grooming mower that they will be able to use to mow the land outside the ball fields, as well.

The council gave Lunsford the authority to purchase the tractor at the lowest bid, which is around $35,000.

Though this is an added expense to the city, Lunsford said it is budgeted in capital costs.

The council also heard from a local resident Margie Barrow, who asked council members to assist her and her family. Barrow and her mother and sister were evicted from their home in Fox Croft Apartments.

“We’re asking for everybody’s help,” Barrow said.

To conclude the meeting, the council had a first reading on a public hearing, which will be the final step in completing rezoning parts of Highland Avenue.

The Planning Commission voted to rezone the first block of Highland Avenue last month, and a hearing will be held Sept. 8 before the council makes the final decision.