West Point Mayor Kenneth Kilgo, center, speaks to council members at this week's town council meeting. / Andrew Cryer
WEST POINT – West Point Mayor Kenneth Kilgo has called a special meeting for Monday, July 31, 2017, the subject of which will be an economic development update as the Town is adding a right turn lane from Alabama Highway 157 onto County Road 1242.
The entire project is expected to cost $200,000, with the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) committing $100,000 and other sources committing $60,000. All other costs are the responsibility of the developer. The Town of West Point will have to cover engineering and permit costs associated with the project, which is currently estimated to be $20,000.
In old business, the town council is considering a potential expansion of the town’s sewer system, as economic activity is expected to boom with the additional turn lane. The town currently sits at 35 percent capacity, and Kilgo says he is working on a general cost estimate to present to the council in the coming months; Kilgo will meet with a representative of Living Water Services in the next month as a part of this effort.
Kilgo says he hopes the new economic activity will help the town reach a job quota set by the Appalachian Regional Commission which can be a funding stream for the sewer expansion. Said Kilgo, “If we can meet their quota on job creation, they will fund up to 50 percent.”
The town is also hoping to attract an urgent care facility in the near future. Says Town Attorney Dan Willingham, “There’s a nurse practitioner from this area that wants to open a clinic in West Point, and specifically West Point. We’re currently looking for property (near County Road 1242).”
In new business, the West Point will host the bi-monthly mayor and commissioners luncheon on Wednesday, August 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the new fire station on Highway 157. Commented Kilgo on the facility, “The opening was fabulous… it’s a state-of-the-art facility.”
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