Prattville Library Foundation Repairs Now Expected Under $100,000

Prattville Mayor Bill Gillespie told the city council on Jan. 6, 2026, that emergency foundation repairs for the Autauga-Prattville Public Library are now projected to cost less than $100,000, a dramatic decline from earlier estimates. The announcement followed months of review after the Maintenance, Vehicles, Facilities, and Lots Committee outlined a proposed stabilization plan in a Dec. 9, 2025 meeting that carried an estimated price of $370,000.

City leaders said the revision came after officials solicited additional bids and explored more competitive contracting options. “After looking through different construction folks and everything else, I’m proud to say that our current cost on that is going to be less than $100,000,” Gillespie said during the council’s regular meeting.

Council members pressed for clarity on whether the reduced figure reflected a narrowing of the work to be done. Councilor Thea Langley asked whether the scope of the repairs had been significantly altered to achieve the lower estimate. Gillespie reassured the council that the original stabilization plans remain intact and that cost savings came from more favorable proposals rather than cutting corners in the work.

The news was met with relief from residents and officials who had been following the emergency repair process since the initial notice in December 2025. “It’s wonderful news that the costs are going to come way under budget from what the original quotes were,” said local resident Jackie Nix. “Honestly, that’s a huge drop from over $370,000. It almost seems too good to be true.”

For Autauga County taxpayers, the smaller bill means the city can proceed with stabilizing a public building that serves as an information and community hub without diverting large sums from other municipal needs. Officials indicated the lower estimate will allow the city to preserve funding for other priorities while addressing the foundation issue promptly.

The library’s emergency repair process remains active, and leaders plan to move forward with contracting and scheduling now that a substantially reduced cost projection has been confirmed. Residents seeking background on the origins of the emergency repair effort can refer to the Dec. 12, 2025 emergency repair notice for additional context.