By Sarah Stephens of Elmore Autauga News
During this week’s Prattville council meeting, Mayor Bill Gillespie delivered positive updates concerning enhancements to McQueen Smith Road.
“In April, our economic development team, city engineer, and city council president embarked on a highly successful trip to Washington D.C. to champion funding for various municipal projects,” Mayor Gillespie stated. “We engaged in very productive discussions with the offices of Congressman Palmer, Senator Coach Tuberville, and Senator Britt. I am pleased to report that Senator Britt has incorporated the city’s funding request for McQueen Smith Road into her budget.”
He further announced, “With the approval of the President’s budget, the City of Prattville is set to receive $6 million via ALDOT specifically allocated for improvements on McQueen Smith Road. I wish to express my gratitude to Senator Britt for including this crucial project; her continued support for the City of Prattville is much appreciated.”
The Mayor expressed anticipation for potential contributions from other legislators as well. He noted that one of four planned traffic signals has already been installed on McQueen Smith Road, with the remaining three expected to follow soon, contingent upon favorable weather conditions that allow for a pause in recent heavy rainfall.
Continuing his report, Mayor Gillespie addressed downtown parking, announcing the addition of 160 new parking spots. These new spaces will include the area behind the Way Off Broadway establishment and Spillway Park, which is currently enclosed by fencing. Handrails are also slated for installation in this vicinity.
Mayor Gillespie also provided an update on the downtown ADA sidewalk project, confirming that construction is scheduled to commence shortly, starting near the Doster Center and the former kindergarten building site.
Regarding local paving initiatives, he mentioned that these projects are also set to begin soon, provided the weather permits.
Introducing a less positive note, Mayor Gillespie addressed the ongoing challenges associated with the Fairview Avenue Project. “The difficulties with Fairview Avenue persist,” he acknowledged. “Councilors, I want to be unequivocal: the lack of advancement on the Fairview Avenue Widening project is unacceptable.”
He elaborated, “Our city engineer is actively engaged in seeking answers and accountability from Sain and Associates and SDAC. We are exploring every available option to accelerate progress on this project. The residents of Prattville rightfully expect results, and I share that expectation. We will remain focused on this until the work is completed correctly. If anyone has further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I spent a considerable amount of time observing the site today, even during my lunch break, to assess the crew’s efficiency and effectiveness.”
Shifting back to positive developments, Mayor Gillespie confirmed signing a letter to proceed with putting the North Highland Park project out to bid. The mandatory pre-bid meeting is set for June 26, with the bid opening scheduled for July 8. He stated he is looking forward to seeing progress unfold at North Highland Park.
In other updates, Mayor Gillespie reported that the Public Safety Training Facility is expected to reach completion around late June. The facility is awaiting the delivery of air conditioning equipment. Once the HVAC system is operational, the FATSE equipment (Firearms Training System) for first responders can be installed.
Concluding his report, Mayor Gillespie remarked, “Throughout my many years in office, I can honestly say this is the most effective collaboration I have witnessed between the City of Prattville and our EMA team. It is also the best I have seen the city work with the 911 team. Furthermore, the cooperation between the City of Prattville and the Board of Education is at its peak. I genuinely believe we all act with the best interests of every Prattville citizen in mind.”
In additional council business, Finance Director Daniel Oakley presented a report indicating the city’s financial standing is healthy. For a comprehensive overview of his report and other details discussed, The EAN recommends watching the entire Council meeting, starting around the 1:10 mark, available here: watch the entire Council meeting
