Photo taken Dec. 13: Colony Town Council members are (front) Julian Fields, (center) Jamelle Dimbo, (back, l-r) Mayor Donnis Leeth, Tam Malcolm, Myra Twitty and Curtis Johnson.
COLONY – Due to the absence of three council members during the Christmas/New Year holiday, the Colony Town Council did not hold its regular meeting this week. The Tribune did, however, catch up with Mayor Donnis Leeth and Councilmen Curtis Johnson and Julian Fields on Tuesday for a brief update on happenings in the town.
Game Room and Community Center
According to Johnson, the trial opening of the community game room last week saw around 10 kids per day coming to make use of the facility. The number was not high, but the parks and recreation chairman felt that the number was a good start.
Leeth mentioned that the town hopes to finish repairs and upgrades to the kitchens in both the Educational Complex and Community Center before the end of January. This will allow time for health inspections ahead of a projected May opening for kids' summer programs. With fully operational kitchens, Colony plans to offer hot food along with snacks.
With as many as 100 children and teens in the Colony area, the council sees the development of activity programs as an important task.
Projects in the works
Leeth spoke about three long-term projects currently in planning stages.
1. Storm shelters will be constructed over the next two years near the Educational Complex. Colony is in line to get these built, but two other municipalities' shelters must be completed first.
2. The council hopes to bring a Dollar General to Colony. With assistance from Cullman County Economic Development, Leeth hopes to sit down with a developer possibly as soon as January.
3. The town park walking trail is in a state of disrepair. Sections of the trail up to 40 feet in length are dirt with no remaining pavement. Leeth is seeking grants, including one from the Cullman County Community Development Commission, to repair and upgrade the trail.
The Colony Town Council meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 6 p.m. at Colony Town Hall. The public is welcome to attend.
Copyright 2016 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.