Prattville Council Approves Projects, Incubator Renovation, Equipment Purchase
At its Dec. 2 meeting the Prattville City Council approved a series of infrastructure agreements, equipment purchases, and property actions that affect public works, downtown economic development, and neighborhood code enforcement. The decisions include a state funded Bowen Way construction agreement, the purchase of a new excavator, and renovations to house a small business incubator, matters that will shape local services and development in the months ahead.
The Prattville City Council adopted a consent agenda on Dec. 2 that bundled nuisance abatements, routine appointments, and several substantive departmental authorizations. The council approved a construction agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation for the Bowen Way project identified as STPMN0125, listing a total project amount of $1,183,000 with a net city cost reported as $0 under the terms presented to the council. Council members also authorized engineering agreements with Civil Southeast LLC for resurfacing and other ALDOT related local road work.
Public works capacity received a direct boost when the council authorized the purchase of a Caterpillar excavator for $130,465. The machine is intended to support city maintenance and infrastructure operations and will be assigned to the public works fleet.
Downtown economic development was addressed with approval of renovations at 124 West Main to prepare the building to host small business incubator tenants. Council leaders framed the project as an initiative to support local startups and entrepreneurial activity in central Prattville, with the renovated space intended to attract new small businesses and increase foot traffic in the downtown core.
Code enforcement and blight removal featured in multiple agenda items. The council provided direction to staff on long running dilapidated structure cases at 103 and 106 7th Street and 113 Isom Street, discussing multi year enforcement timelines and asking staff to follow up with additional documentation and to work with property owners where feasible. A small demolition contract for the residence at 103 7th Street was authorized, not to exceed $10,300, as part of the city's efforts to address public safety and neighborhood property values.
The council also set a public hearing on a rezoning request for 1320 Old Ridge Road East, approximately 123.5 acres, related to Central Alabama Community College and noted additional planning commission steps would follow. The range of actions taken on Dec. 2 reflects a mix of maintenance, targeted investment, and enforcement that will affect city services, downtown business prospects, and neighborhood conditions as officials and staff move to implement the approved measures.
