The Troy City Council on Tuesday appointed Alturek “Al” Jones to the Troy City Schools Board of Education.

Jones, a graduate of the local public schools, is a store manager for Wells Fargo Bank in Troy.

“He’ll be a good addition to the school board,” said councilwoman Wanda Moultry during a work session prior to the council meeting.

Moutlty nominated Jones to fill the seat vacated by Dorothea Thomas when she resigned earlier this month. Jones’ term ends May 31, 2005.

Jones’ appointment comes the day after Superintendent Dr. Linda Felton-Smith announced her decision to step down as superintendent effective March 1. She was at the city council meeting on Tuesday in support of the board appointment.

“We wish you well and thank you for your service to our school system,” said Johnny Witherington, council president.

Felton-Smith will continue to serve as a consultant to the board of education until the end of her contract term, which is June 30, 2012.

Mayor Jimmy Lunsford said after the meeting he was surprised to read of the superintendent’s decision in the Tuesday paper. “I wish her all the best in future endeavors,” he said.

The superintendent’s position has the potential to influence much of the city’s efforts, Lunsford said. “Having a good public school system is very critical to the community. That’s the number one question we have to address when recruiting any type of business to Troy.

“And it’s very critical that we have a very efficient system. Obviously, the superintendent is key to that.”

School Board President Roxie Kitchens said Monday the board would meet soon to outline qualifications and begin the search process for a replacement for Felton-Smith.

In other business on Tuesday, the council:

• Approved the purchase of two lots at the corner of Elm and Brundidge Street, at a cost of $110,000. “This is below market value,” Witherington said during the work session. Lunsford said the city uses the area for overflow parking for the municipal court and “we’ll look at whether we need to do anything with that.” Lunsford also said appraiser Mark Green had completed the appraisal “in a very timely manner under some adverse conditions … and we appreciate that.”

• Approved a special event liquor license for Ducks Unlimited, which will hold a fund-raising event at the Cattlemen’s Park on March 4.

• Heard an update from the mayor on the upcoming Brundidge Street widening and resurfacing project. The plan is to begin advertising the project Feb. 15 and to bid on March 15. “They want to have the bid awarded and have construction begin by May 7, which takes advantage of the good weather,” Lunsford said.

• Agreed to host an ethics training seminar for all the governmental bodies in Pike County required to undergo training under the newly passed ethics regulations in the state of Alabama. Lunsford said attorney Steve Shaw will be in Troy on Feb. 11 for another event, and the city will try to coordinate the training for that afternoon or morning.

• Heard an update from Lunsford on plans for the new public library. Lunsford said the library staff and board members were working with architects to make changes to the original plans in order to meet the $4 million budget set by the city. “We’ll meet with the again in early February to review,” Lunsford said.