A new nutrition center is on the way for Troy senior citizens, thanks to a $250,000 grant.

Mayor Jimmy Lunsford told council members Tuesday that architects are exploring location options for the new center, which will be funded in part by a community enhancement grant through the Community Development Block Grant program.

“We learned last week we received the grant,” Lunsford said during the council’s work session. “And we had already approved the matching funds in the bond refinancing.”

With the $250,000 from bond refinancing, the city will have approximately $500,000 to spend on the project.

Lunsford said he had made a visit with architects to the existing nutrition center, located at the Colley Senior Complex building on Elm Street, to determine if the new facility could be built on that location. “It will involve some infrastructure work, and it could run slightly over budget … but it would keep the activities in one place,” he said.

The primary function of the nutrition center, run by Hassie Green, is operated through the Senior Services division of the state and funded in part by the South Central Alabama Development Commission, is nutrition. “They serve one meal a day in the center and deliver may more (to shut-ins and homebound seniors,” Lunsford said.

The new center would include a large common area, a food pantry, offices and bathrooms, Lunsford said.

The new center is needed because the nutrition program and the adjacent Colley Senior Complex programs continue to grow. “Both programs are growing,” Lunsford said. “The Colley Senior Complex has completely outgrown their space, and the nutrition center is expanding the number of meals it serves … by virtue of giving the nutrition center a new space this allows the Colley Complex to expand as well.”

Plans are for the Colley Complex programs to expand into the space currently used by the nutrition program.

In other business at its Tuesday meeting, the council:

• Approved a resolution allowing the city to assess property owners for the cost of the removal of dilapidated buildings at 105 Hodges St. and 106 Martin Luther King Drive.

• Approved a resolution to accept approximately 94 feet of right of way donated along South Brundidge Street by RPM/Village Apartments. The right of way will help with the planned improvements along Brundidge Street.

• Approved the purchase of a Ford F10 pickup truck from Ken Cox Ford Inc., for use in the inspection department. Ken Cox Ford was the lowest bidder, with the 3 percent local option enforced, at $15,334.04.

• Heard a report from the mayor, who encouraged everyone to attend the city’s Christmas parade and tree-lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. Monday. “I think we have 82 entries in the parade,” he said. “And I’ve noticed quite a few departments really working late (on their entries).”

The mayor also provided an update on the plans for a new public library. “We’re holding fast to the design,” he said, in sharing insight into ongoing discussions with architects. The city has allocated $4 million for the building, which will be located on Elm Street.

• Heard from council member Johnny Witherington, who congratulated the four soccer teams representing Troy Parks and Rec Department which won state titles this weekend. “Those of us who were down there were pretty excited, as well as a lot of kids,” he said. The teams will be recognized at a hot dog dinner at 6 p.m. Dec. 2 at the rec center.