BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
Top Photo: Art Faulkner recently gave an update on the status of the former Stephens Auto junk yard. All vehicles have been removed, and now metal buildings will be be removed as well.
Millbrook City Council members had a nice surprise at Tuesday’s regular meeting, concerning the sale of metal buildings from the old Stephens Auto junk yard on Hwy. 14.
The property is now owned by the City of Millbrook and the Elmore County Commission. The surplus buildings were put out for bid, and all four buildings were acquired by new owners, with the condition they had to be removed from the property. A total of $27,165 was received from those bids, and will be split evenly between the City and the Commission.
“When I saw the bids I had to call Stuart (Peters) and ask is this what we are getting or is this what we are paying someone?” Millbrook Mayor Al Kelley said with a laugh. The successful bidders have 60 days to remove the metal buildings from the property.
The former junk yard is part of two properties purchased as part of the 17 Springs project, also known as The Field at 17 Springs. For years the city was interested in acquiring the property where the junk yard had been for as long as most residents can remember. Officials believed it was prime for future development on the Hwy. 14 corridor. A deal was finally signed for that property as well as a larger piece that joins up to the Grandview Family YMCA.
Ground work has already begun on phase 1 of the project that will soon be athletic fields and an event center with many recreational uses. Part of phase 1 included the former owner of the junk yard to have all of the vehicles and equipment removed. That was completed earlier this year, and city officials have praised how much better it looks along Hwy. 14 with the vehicles and equipment removed.
This is making way for future economic development attached to the 17 Springs project, Mayor Kelley said. That property has generated a lot of interest from potential businesses, officials said.
While specific details are not ready for release at this time, it is known that some of those businesses, or developers inquiring, could include new hotels and restaurants on Hwy. 14 as well as Cobbs Ford Road near I-65.
With that in mind, another item on the agenda Tuesday night was approval of a bid solicitation for underground power and LED street lighting in the area around/near the current Springhill Suites off of Cobbs Ford Road near I-65.
City Engineer Stuart Peters explained this to the council.
“Hospitality Lane and the Cobbs Ford Road area – What you have seen out there since 2018 leading to the hotel is LED lighting. This proposal is to augment that and continue it along that stretch of roadway adding 12 to 16 LED fixtures. We would like to go ahead and put this out for bid. It will definitely help with traffic, safety and future economic development coming to that area.”
The money for the project will come from an additional tax passed years ago from the Cooperative District which includes the area around Hospitality Lane, Mayor Kelley explained.
“This money is from when we formed that cooperate district a few years ago. This money can only be used for items in that cooperative district. So that is why we have a certain time frame We need to extend that lighting on out.” Kelley said.
As for what business possibilities are coming to that area, council members were told more information will be forthcoming in a future public meeting. “Good things are happening,” said Council President Michael Gay.
