By Stephanie Nelson
Andalusia Star News

City of Andalusia employee Harvey Peacock works to finish
                     a project at Dream Park.

The Andalusia Dream Park renovation project is now in the hands of the city, and officials predict it will be open for use on Thursday.

Kristy White, Dream Park Revitalization committee co-chairman, said crews of volunteers worked tirelessly last week to make the park handicap-accessible. The build ended on Sunday.

“We did not finish, but I invite you to walk through and see the remarkable progress,” White said. “There are two new components that did not get built because we did not have the manpower. The city has agreed to get these ready before the Homecoming dedication.”

The renovation and expansion of the Dream Park, located on the Andalusia campus of LBWCC, is the civic project planned for the city’s Homecoming 2010 celebration. The park will be dedicated on Sat., Nov. 13, during the Homecoming gala.

Work consisted of adding 20 new “components,” including a handicap-accessible swing, ground-level mirror and rock wall; new railing throughout the park, and the installation of new “handprints and fence pickets,” which were sold as part of the project’s fundraising effort.

Dwight Mikel, Andalusia’s director of leisure services, said he expects the park to reopen for use Thursday morning.

“Now, that’s weather permitting, and right now, it looks like it might cooperate,” Mikel said. “I think the work space will be cleaned up and the finishing touches done by Wednesday night.”

Mikel said parts to two of the components didn’t arrive “in time” for the volunteer work drive.

“We have get cleaned up and get ready to open in time for the weekend,” he said. ”We might have to close at the first of next week to finish the installation, but we’ll get it done.”

People unable to pick up tools Monday or anyone with questions about future Dream Park projects, can continue to call White at 334-881-2246 or 334-488-1770.

By Michele Gerlach
Andalusia Star News

The Andalusia City Council has joined the Alabama League of Municipalities in urging voters to support Amendment 1 on the Nov. 2 ballot.

The amendment corrects unintended wording in a 2006 constitutional amendment that would have shifted costs in future years for assessing and collecting ad valorem taxes.

With the correction, agencies receiving ad valorem taxes share the cost for collections.

By Stephanie Nelson
Andalusia Star News

W hat do the Statue of Liberty, Queen Elizabeth I, Jim Bowie and Franklin D. Roosevelt have in common? They’ll each be on parade tomorrow at 10 a.m. in the annual Andalusia Middle School ‘Living History’ program.

The parade will travel in front of city hall, and immediately following the more than 140 costumed characters will be on the Court Square until noon telling of their life’s history.

 Emily Dendy as the Status of Liberty; Rachel Dayton as
Christine of Sweden; Faith Brundidge as Queen Elizabeth I;
Holly Majors as Marie Antoinette; Dieanna Fair as Bessie
Boleman; Moesha Prior as Harriet Tubman; and Lillian
Andrews as Elizabeth Blackwell.

By Michele Gerlach
Andalusia Star News

The Andalusia City Council last night rejected all bids submitted for the renovation of Church Street Elementary School as a cultural arts center and home to the Andalusia Ballet.

Instead, the city will negotiate with the apparent low bidder, Ingram Construction, LLC, of Montgomery. The company’s bid was $1,621,215.

Mayor Earl Johnson said there is a lot of work involved in the project that the city will be able to do to cut the total cost of the project.

The council has an agreement with the Andalusia Ballet in which the association agreed to contribute $500,000 toward the renovation. It will act as managing tenant of the facility and occupy the main floor.

The council also:

• declared lighting at Johnson Park surplus so that it can be sold as renovations on that park begin.

• named Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood its engineering firm for a project for a water and sewerage project in the city industrial park.

• accepted a $248,065 bid from Jim House and Associates to replace pumps at several sewerage pumping stations. The purchase is covered by a stimulus package grant designed to improve energy efficiency

This conceptual drawing shows the finished facade of the
Church Street Cultural Arts Center.