At the June 25 Troy City Council Meeting, the council approved the request to apply for a Community Development Block Grant to contribute to the funding of a proposed community center at Knox Street Park. 

“This project will serve as a meaningful enhancement of the Knox Street Park by providing a safe and welcoming space for community veterans and increasing recreational opportunities for residents,” Troy Community Development Director Melissa Sanders said at the meeting. “This project will serve the area by providing a safe and welcoming space for community veterans and increasing recreational opportunities for residents. It also aligns with the city’s goals for the area.”

The amount of the grant applied for is $400,000. The total estimated cost of the project is $2,048,771. The city also has received a written commitment from the Troy Housing Authority for a $400,000 donation to go towards the project. The city has also applied for another grant that would go towards the “back side” of the project. Troy Mayor Jason Reeves said at the meeting that it is estimated the city’s total funds would make up 1/3 of cost of the project if all grants are approved. 

The council also entered into an agreement with the Alabama Uniform Certification Program. It is a program that the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) is required to have. The city had previously been under the program with ALDOT without needing a formal agreement but federal regulations now require it. 

The program is a certification process that authorizes the Federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Programs’ combined DBE Directory within the State of Alabama. The purpose is to ensure that a business’ DBE certification is accepted at member agencies that receive U.S. Dept. of Transportation funds and have authorized DBE Programs. 

Additionally, the council approved the appointment of Troy City Clerk Shannon Bryan to serve as election manager for upcoming municipal elections. The Council also heard the first reading of a proposed redistricting of property at the intersection of Highway 87 and Spradley Drive. The request would rezone those 3.20 acres from Commercial Office Zoning to General Commercial Zoning, with a planned gas station/convenience store to be constructed. 

This request was originally brought before the Troy Planning Commission on May 22. The Planning Commission first hears these types of re-zoning requests and then either approves a recommendation for the city council to approve the re-zoning request or denies the request to recommend it. A number of local residents spoke in opposition of the request at the May 22 meeting and the commission unanimously denied the request to recommend the rezoning to the council. 

Despite that denial, the applicants requested that the city council still consider it. The council heard the first reading of this request and will hear the second reading at the July 8 meeting. After a second reading, a public hearing will be held at that same meeting before the council votes whether to deny or approve the request. 

The council also held a public work session prior to the June 25 meeting. At the end of the work session, the council entered into executive session to discuss the “general reputation and character of an individual.” No individual was named and executive sessions are not open to the public, pursuant to Alabama’s Open Meetings Law. 

The Troy City Council will hold its next public meeting on July 8 at 5 p.m. in the council chambers at Troy City Hall. A public work session upstairs at Troy City Hall will be held at 4 p.m. the same day.