The Troy City Council took two steps forward in the process of bringing Kimber Manufacturing to the city during their biweekly meeting Tuesday.

The council, absent District 5 councilwoman Wanda Moultry and District 4 councilwoman Stephanie Baker, unanimously approved an agreement for the construction of a road to access the facility and approved the issuance and sale of up to $5 million in bonds to take care of costs on the project until the permanent financing can be put in place in June.

The council first voted to approve an agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) to construct a road that will connect the industrial park south to the road between Troy Bank and Trust and Lowes that intersects with U.S. Highway 231.

Mayor Jason Reeves said this is important to give workers a traffic light to enter and exit the property.

“Anything we can do to keep traffic off U.S. 231 will be a plus,” Reeves said. “It will give lighted access in and out of the industrial park for folks trying to go north on U.S. 231 when leaving businesses, whether Horn Beverage, Kimber or Baker Metal. A right turn is not that hard to make, but trying to cross traffic can be dangerous.”

The industrial access project will cost over $1.7 million, of which the entirety will be paid by ALDOT. The city will not pay anything toward constructing the road.

Reeves said the issuance and sale of bonds is a bridge to get through to he permanent financing arrangement, which he said is planned to be announced June 12 and closed June 13.

Reeves said dry weather has allowed the process to go more quickly than expected and the city needed to borrow the money until the final arrangement can be made. At that time, the temporary loan will be factored in.

The council also declared an emergency situation on Pell Avenue after environmental service workers discovered a hole under the road while doing repairs on the road.

Vaughn Daniels, director of the department, suggested that the city take $107,000 option to fortify the entire storm drainage structure to ensure the condition of the road is good.

Another cheaper option to fix the structure was discussed, but Daniels said it would be a gamble on whether it would actually fix the problems for any significant length of time.

In other business, the council:

• Approved a project to install 20 cameras at the city’s water wells and tanks to ensure security for up to $25,000, which will be refunded by FEMA.
• Appointed Jonathan Cellon to represent District 4 on the Troy Board of Education.
• Heard from Tamara Williams about the Daughters Lives Matter event in April.

The council will meet again this morning at 9 a.m. to discuss tax incentives to Troy Bank and Trust and The Pig Café regarding potential expansion opportunities. The council will meet again on Tuesday, June 12 at City Hall. The executive committee will meet upstairs at 4 p.m. and the council will convene in the City Council Chambers at 5 p.m.