Troy Mayor Jason Reeves spoke to the Rotary Club about the recent EF2 tornado damage and some upcoming projects that could have a big impact on the city.

Reeves said the March 15 EF2 tornado that touched down near the Troy Sportsplex and traveled northeast across Elm Street and into Bullock County caused significant damage across the city. He estimated there was $4 million in expenses for government agencies and local utilities.

Reeves said the city was working to reach the damage threshold to receive Federal Emergency Management Agency funding to offset the expense of cleaning up the tornado damage. In addition, he said there was significant damage to the Troy Sportsplex, which was being used as a temporary storm shelter for about 200 people.

He also recognized Ted Clem as the new president of the Pike County Economic Development Corporation. Reeves said Troy is currently developing a new industrial area on the Henderson Highway in the vicinity of Dollar General.

He said the city had purchased approximately 465 acres that connect to existing industrial zoning near K&W Plastics. However, Reeves said there was a great deal of work that needed to be done to prepare the site for industrial development.

Reeves also fielded questions from Rotarians about areas of concern in the city.

• Reeves said the city was aware that a pavilion was needed in the downtown area, where the city regularly hosts musical events on the square. He said the city owns the Square, but the property was deeded to the city by Pike County. He said there are revision clauses in the deed that limited what the city could do with the Square.

• Reeves said a Public-Private Partnership with building owner David Nelson would create public restroom access for events on the Square. The city invested about $200,000 in the PPP and the bathrooms will be ready in time for TroyFest at the end of the month. Reeves said the public would be able to enter the restrooms from a side door to the building on East Church Street.

• Reeves also briefly addressed an ongoing Alabama Department of Transportation project on U.S. Highway 231. Reeves said the center lane would be removed and U-turn lanes would be placed at various locations between the intersection of U.S. 231 and Alabama Highway 87. A barrier would be placed between the lanes from that intersection southward to Walmart. Cars will only be able to cross over at traffic signals or the U-turn locations.

• Reeves said the city also has received grants to improve the intersection at U.S. Highway 231 and the Henderson Highway. He said similar improvements would be made at all intersections along U.S. 231. Reeves said the intersection at 231 and George Wallace Drive would be expanded to include additional turning lanes on George Wallace and Trojan Parkway.