The total dollars spent on construction in Troy increased in 2010 by nearly $300,000 over the previous year.

The growth – from $16.2 million in 2009 to $16.5 million in 2010 – was reported by Mayor Jimmy Lunsford during the city council meeting on Tuesday.

“That’s a slight improvement,” he said. “Of course, the previous years were higher … but hopefully this is another sign of the economy turning around and beginning to move in the right direction.”

In addition to the total dollars spent on construction, which are reported through the building permit records kept by city hall, Lunsford said the city issued permits for 56 new homes during 2010.

“That’s a little drop for the 71 issued last year, but 1 more than 2009, when we had 55,” he said.

The total estimated value of the new construction is $5.07 million. Other major projects included CGI renovation sat $4.5 million; the theater addition at $629,163 and the Level Line Apartments at $2.4 million

In other business on Tuesday, the council:

• Passed a resolution officially appointing Brenda Dubose to a four-year term on the Troy Hospital Health Care Authority. The council had previously voted to appoint Dubose, who was serving an interim term, to a full term on the authority.

• Accepted the resignation of Dorothea Thomas from the Troy City Schools Board of Education. The council will seek to appoint a replacement at its Jan. 25 meeting.

• Learned that members will undergo ethics training to learn about the new ethics laws passed by the Alabama Legislature. “We’ll bring someone in to do the training here,” Lunsford said.

• Heard updates from the mayor on several projects, including the final paving of George Wallace Drive, Franklin Drive and Park Street; the planned sewer work and resurfacing of Brundidge Street; and the expansion at the Troy Airport. Lunsford said the final surface coating would be placed on George Wallace, Franklin and Park Street once weather allows. “It has to be above 40 degrees to lay asphalt,” he said. Work will begin on the South Brundidge Street resurfacing and expansion once final approval is received from the Department of Transportation, he said. And the airport expansion “is coming along … hopefully we’ll be flying on the new runway by the end of the fiscal year.”

• Met Meerim Mamyrbekova, a Troy University exchange student from Kyrgyzstan who is serving an internship with the city this semester.