Troy focuses on projects in meeting

Published 10:05 pm Tuesday, June 8, 2010

The Troy City Council members had two points of discussion in its Tuesday meeting: projects in the works and those they hope will soon be.

The council approved first an agreement to finalize around $18,000 in National Resources Conservation funds, which will aid the city in repairing streets damaged in heavy rainstorms.

City Planner Calvin Lott said the funding will go to repair parts of Sherwood Avenue and Spradley Drive. Lunsford said when the damage occurred earlier this year, the city made temporary repairs and was reimbursed for a portion of that expense using FEMA funds.

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But, these monies will give the city the ability to make repairs to prevent future damage.

The council also discussed its current city-wide sewer project, that will force a portion of George Wallace Drive be closed for about two weeks in July.

The tentative close-date is July 6, and will keep the road closed from Pell Avenue to Second Avenue. The council plans to finalize that date by its next meeting June 22.

Also in its next meeting, the mayor plans to present a recommendation for an “emergency paving” project to resurface several streets damaged in the last few months.

He said his recommendation will likely include resurfacing for an area of George Wallace Drive in front of the high school and a portion of Spradley Drive. But, he said the city will also be looking for other areas that may need to be a part of the project that will be funded by gas tax revenues.

There is no estimate for how much the roadwork may cost at this time.

Lunsford also announced at the meeting, he hopes to have an answer on a reapplication of a federal transportation grant, TIGER, by mid-September.

If awarded, the project would be used to build an East-West Corridor through the city, spanning from George Wallace Drive near Charles Henderson High School to Montgomery Street and back to U.S. Highway 231.

In other business, the council gave Lunsford the authority to enter the city of Troy in the bond market on a day when conditions are favorable, to fund a 20 year bond for CGI construction.

The bond will be taken by the city, but Troy University will be responsible for making payments. And, CGI in turn will pay rent to the university to pay for its funding.

Essentially, Lunsford said it’s just a way to find more favorable payment options for all parties involved.