By Gerri Miller
Staff Writer
The Millbrook City Council received an update Tuesday night on the status of repairs to the City Library and a possible timeline for when it might be reopened.
The library was damaged in a break-in on May 15th. A 34-year-old Millbrook resident, Christopher D. Moody, was arrested and charged with Burglary 3rd Degree and Criminal Mischief 1st Degree. The building sustained extensive damage to both its outer and inside glass doors, exterior windows. Electronics inside the building were damaged as well.
City Engineer Stuart Peters said work is being done to fix ceiling tiles, carpet, and blinds. Exterior items such as the storefront glass and other door repairs are also being done and are expected to be completed within two to three days. Peters said the primary damage was to the exterior, the lobby entrance, and a multi-purpose room in the building.
Mayor Al Kelley said the target date for reopening the library will be around June 1st or 2nd.
Angie Dewberry, the library’s acting director, said the library will initially be open from noon until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday for checking books in and out only.
She said the library’ normal summer children’s reading program will not be held this year due to COVID-19 concerns and no summer story hours have been planned. “We will do weekly prize drawings for children who are reading this summer,” she said.
City Gets Recycling Grant
In other news, the Council also found out Tuesday night that the City has received a $20,587 recycling grant through the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.
Ann Harper, the City’s economic developer, told the Council that the grant will be used to purchase a 14-foot collection tilt trailer and 15 55-gallon recycling receptacles that will be installed at the municipal parks and other places.
“I am very proud of securing this grant,” Mayor Kelley said. “I understand that this grant year was extremely competitive. Recycling provides environmental and economic benefits which are important to our citizens. I’m looking forward to implementing this opportunity to make our city greener.”
The Millbrook Recycling Center is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Center accepts plastics, aluminum cans, tin cans, cardboard, and newspaper.
Life Celebration Planned for John Price
On a final note, Mayor Kelley asked the Council to mark June 20th as the date for a Life Celebration and Dedication in remembrance of John Price.
Price was the General Manager of The Pines Golf Course. Price, 63, died of a massive heart attack this month and his death came as a shock to all who knew and loved the man who was always working to make the course better.
A celebration of the life of the man known as “J.P.” will be held from 4 -7 p.m. at the Pines with music, hamburgers, and hot dogs. There will also be a golf tournament starting at 10 a.m.
A dedication ceremony will be held at 4 p.m. on Hole One, the part of a fairway upgrade project that Price was able to see completed. Mayor Kelley said the project at Hole One meant a great deal to Price.
He said the City is in the process of looking at choosing a marker to be placed at the Hole at the dedication ceremony.
John and Judy Price 
Black Flag at Pines Golf Course
