FROM MICHAEL GAY
MILLBROOK CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT
Great things have happened, greater things are coming.
This week I went to the ribbon cutting for the new Popeyes in Millbrook. Standing in the parking lot looking around, I reflected on how far we have come in the past year. Many accomplishments have been achieved despite the strong head winds of COVID 19 and changes in consumer shopping habits. Millbrook continues to grow at a steady substainable pace. We have improved quality of life for our citizens while maintaining the lowest tax burden of any city in the River Region. New neighbors are moving in every day to new and existing homes. Our new friends want a taste of the good life we enjoy.
Popeye’s joins a number of new restaurants that have opened in the past year. The list includes Taco Bell, Hibachi Express, Ellianos and Neighborhood Grill. I have no doubt these establishments will succeed in Millbrook. They join a diverse list of local establishments, a number of which are locally owned. Please continue to support them. We all win when they succeed.
The largest project moving forward that I like to call a generational changer is 17 Springs. When completed, it will make Millbrook the destination place in Central Alabama for outdoor and indoor recreational sports. 17 Springs will be a large multi-sport sports complex with sports fields and a large indoor fieldhouse. We will be able to provide our citizens with tournament quality sports fields for soccer, tennis, pickleball, cross country, track and field, baseball, softball, wrestling, and basketball. You can see work being done off Highway 14 on the North side between Oak Tree Road and Kinsley. This has been years in the making and includes partnerships with Elmore County, Elmore County School System, YMCA and ECEDA.
We believe this will have an economic impact similar to the RTJ in Prattville. It will create a destination hub that will attract future retail, restaurant and hotel expansion. Google “17 Springs Millbrook” to learn more about this incredible quality of life project.
The city has also been purchasing land around the Village Green. This is being done to prepare the way for major changes and improvements to this area. We believe one day a downtown will grow near the Village Green. Plans are being made to look at the best way to make this happen. I am excited about some of the ideas that are being suggested. There will also be a new Senior Center built this year across from the Millbrook Fire Station on Grandview Road. This is a project we are working with ADECA to complete with the assistance of a CDBG grant. Hopefully by the time COVID is in the past our Seniors will have a place of their own to enjoy.
I mentioned partnerships earlier. Partnerships with the county and state are leading to much needed road improvements. We will continue to see road improvements made to our city. Some of these include Camp Grandview Road, Old Pratt Road, Ingram and Hwy 14, Main Street and Cobbs Ford Road. The city will continue to pave city streets each year with revenue we receive from gas taxes. When you buy gas in Millbrook, some of the tax money goes to pave our streets. Another reason buying locally leads to a win-win for all.
Millbrook is on the move. It is our time. I want to thank the citizens of Ward 2 for the opportunity to serve you. I also want to thank the council members for trusting me with the position of Council President. We have servant leaders in Millbrook. Our city employees are the best. Other cities know it! However, it is you the citizens of Millbrook that make our city a great place to live and raise a family. God Bless.
