PARRISH — More roadwork is expected in Parrish after the town council voted Tuesday night to apply for a $400,000 Community Development Block Grant from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.
“We just finished with one project paid by a CDBG grant. It took almost two years to complete, but it paved some roads that really needed it,” Mayor Bubba Cagle said during the council meeting. “Even if it takes two years again, we have the roads that need the work.”
If approved, the $400,000 grant would require a 10 percent ($40,000) match by the town, and it is would pave Banks Street, Wright Street and Hill Drive.
“As we’ve talked about before, there are a lot of bad roads in Parrish, Ala., but we’ve made some dents,” Cagle said. “In the last 10 years, it’s looking better. There are a lot more connected when you look at the map. We’ve got a lot more to do, but we are going to keep working at it.”
Cagle said there will be people coming to residents of those roads with surveys that will help in the approval of the grant by showing the needs.
“We need our residents to answer those surveys. It is important for the approval,” he said.
The Parrish Town Council also approved a small paving project on First Street, Hill Drive and Chambers Avenue using $45,100 of American Rescue Plan funds. Cagle said the work will be done by Central Alabama Asphalt and Construction and will finish off the ARP funds the town received.
William Sherer, a town resident, spoke up near the end of the meeting to thank the council and mayor for road work done in Parrish.
“I want to say thank you for paving the road that I mentioned over going to the church,” he said. “I just left the church, and everybody out there was happy, thankful, grateful that town stepped up, did what they promised and what they said they would do. We know the other roads that have been done here, you know, like you say, it’s gonna take time, and, you know, can’t get it all at one time because the other roads are bad. One step at a time makes a difference.”
