At the May 27 Troy City Council Meeting, the council unanimously approved an extension for the Sales and Use Tax Certificate of Exemption for Conecuh Ridge Distillery through the time of the expected completion of construction. 

Conecuh Ridge Distillery has been under construction since 2022 and the project has exceeded its original $18 million projected cost of construction. The distillery has undergone a number of production and construction delays over the past three years. 

This is the second extension of the sales tax exemption Conecuh Ridge Distillery has received from the city and extends through Aug. 31 for the purchase of construction materials needed to complete the project. Conecuh Ridge’s new projected opening is by Sept. 30. 

Additionally, the council approved a resolution to apply for a Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) grant for a sidewalk project from West Fairview Street to the Judicial Complex in Troy. The total amount requested for the grant will be $1 million with the city required to pay 20 percent of the total cost of the project.

The council also approved a request to change a previously received TAPS grant order. The council received the grant originally in 2024 for a sidewalk project on Academy Street. Portions of the existing sidewalk were left out of the project due to the belief that those portions were still good. After inspection from the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT), those portions were found to not be Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant. With the addition of those portions to the project, it still comes in under the projected budget for the project. 

The council approved the purchase of new LED lighting for lights at the Troy SportsPlex and Franklin Park, much of which was damaged during the tornado that hit the SporstPlex in March. The cost of the project will be $1.6 million and funding will come from insurance payouts and bond funds. The new lighting will come with a 25-year warranty on all bulbs and equipment, as well. 

Also, the council approved a resolution to enter into a three-year professional electrical engineering services agreement with Gunn and Associates from Millbrook. The council also approved a resolution for the city to once again take part in its Summer Feeding Program, using funds from the Alabama Department of Education. 

The council also approved a bid award to Mullins Fire Equipment in Dothan to perform inspections on the city’s fire extinguishers at the cost of $10 per inspection. Fire Chief Michael Stephens said that Mullins Fire was not the low bidder for the contract but was his recommendation for quality of inspection.

“I’m looking at dependability, reliability and taking care of the city,” Stephens told the council. “This recommendation is not the low bidder but the company that was the low bidder, the city had concerns with them in the past. They did not provide good service for the last three years. They did not do what they were supposed to do as far as inspecting and maintaining our extinguishers.” 

Council member Wanda Moultry nominated Troy resident Makelia LaRee Wingard to be appointed to the Troy City Schools Board of Education. Her appointment was unanimously approved. 

The Messenger will have more detailed stories and information on the appointment of Wingard to the Board of Education, the repairs and upgrades at the Troy SportsPlex and the Summer Feeding Program throughout the week.

All resolutions at the meeting were unanimously approved. All council members were present except for Sharon McSwain-Holland, who was unable to attend. The next city council meeting will take place on June 10 with a public work session at Troy City Hall at 4 p.m. followed by the meeting at 5 p.m.