By Gerri Miller
Staff Writer
Millbrook Mayor Al Kelley was in the middle of one of the City and the Millbrook Chamber of Commerce’s efforts to help promote small businesses when he sat down and talked with me on the state of the city.
It was the grand reopening day for the Front Porch Grille and the parking lot was full of people waiting for curbside pickup of the restaurant’s meat and three plates. City and Chamber Commerce officials were there to support Owner Marty Bean. The Chamber videotaped the event and shared the video through social media.
“We’re so excited,” Mayor Kelley said. “The Front Porch Grille is an institution and we want to thank you for what you’ve done for our community,” he said.
It was one of many videos that have been made for local businesses since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis. And Mayor Kelley said this project will not stop when the health crisis is over. “When these businesses open up, we will keep supporting them,” he said.
He said each City Council member is responsible for a different location each week and helps the Chamber with the event.
The project was one of the many ways the city has stepped in to help businesses during the crisis. Kelley had announced earlier that the city would pay interest on loans made by Millbrook businesses to get through the corona virus crisis. “We wanted to help our businesses stay open and we thought that would be a good way to do that,” he said.
The Small Business Administration, however, announced its Paycheck Protection Program and this program was more beneficial. This program allocated $349 billion for small businesses hurt by COVID-19. Kelley said around 20 of the city’s small businesses were able to get funds through this program before the funds were gone. The funds can be used for payroll costs (including benefits), rent, mortgage interest, and utilities over an eight-week period.
Looking at Millbrook’s financial situation amid the COV-19 crisis, Kelley said the city is in great financial shape and can weather the down time for quite some time.
“I think we can weather this thing for months if we have to,” Kelley said. He said he has not seen the real impact of the crisis yet because sale taxes for April 3-28 haven’t all come in yet. “We won’t notice that impact until May,” he said.
“What I’m thinking is that an uptick in our big box stores will help us stay okay financially,” Kelley continued. “Their sales should offset the decrease in our small business sales.”
The City has not had to lay off any of its employees and certain departments have stepped up to help other departments. “We lost the ability to get inmate labor, so we had to double up to catch up,” he said. “the Parks and Recreation Department and the Utilities departments helped the Street Department pick up limbs.”
The Street Department has a drop off point for limbs and other yard debris at 3841 Grandview Road at the old police department across from Fire Station 1. The areas for limbs are marked as well as bags of leaves. Natural materials only. No household garbage or other materials can be dropped off.
The City closed the Millbrook Utilities Business Office to the public until further notice. An employee is manning the office 8am to 5pm Monday through Friday to assist customers who have questions or concerns. The phone number is 334-285-3001. Kelly urged customers to pay their bill electronically if possible.
City Hall is open with limited access. There is a table at the front door and visitors must wait for an employee to take them where they need to go.
Kelley said the COVID-19 crisis may have slowed down economic development projects, but everything is still on track to open and the city has not lost any projects. “Construction on the Taco Bell slowed down and of course the Waffle House is just sitting there ready to open,” he said.
The City Council this month approved a site plan for the new Ellianos Coffee Company which will be locating in Millbrook in front of Walmart, next to Zaxby’s. The council also approved site plans for Lockdown Climate Control, which will be located at Hwy. 14 and Oak Tree Road behind Troy Automotive on what is now Dismukes property.
One business that is booming is the Pines Golf Course, which is operated by the City of Millbrook. Social distancing requirements limits players to one person per golf cart, so the course has been running out of carts on its busy days.
“People have more time now to play golf and it is a great way to get out and get exercise,” he said.
