Holly Pond residents may have already noticed some changes beginning to take shape in Governor’s Park, but the town council reported on Monday, Nov. 4, that there are still more amenities on the way.

The town approved to upgrade the lighting in Governor’s Park in May which including switching to more energy efficient LEDs and the installation of photocells to ensure the lights did not remain on during the day. During Monday’s town council meeting, Mayor Carla Hart announced that those upgrades had been completed.

Hart also said she had added solar powered accent lights to accentuate the statue of the late Holly Pond Mayor Dane Estes, located at the entrance to the park, but was so far unhappy with the output and was considering purchasing more powerful lights.

As of Thursday, Oct. 31, residents using the park may have also noticed faster internet speeds while using the park’s complimentary WiFi. The town had previously received free WiFi for its municipal buildings — which was extended to Governor’s Park — as part of a rental agreement with Point Broadband.

As of last week, Hart said Point Broadband had amicably terminated that contract but that the town had been able to quickly receive Sprout Fiber Internet services through the Cullman County Electric Cooperative. She said that she has pleased with the service so far and that the service had come at a cheaper cost than it would through other providers.

While residents are sure to have been enjoying the park’s broadband internet service and brighter lighting during their evening walks, Hart said the biggest upgrade has entered into its initial planning phases.

Hart said a preliminary drawing had been completed for a bathroom facility to be developed in the park. She said several changes needed to be made to the current drawing but received presumptive approval from the council to release the bid packet for the project once those changes had been made.

Once completed, Hart said the facility will be a 28×24 foot split face, concrete block structure with a six foot overhang at the entrance which will feature recessed LED lighting. Separate men’s and women’s bathrooms will each be outfitted with two handicap accessible stalls. Hart said she had opted out of installing urinals in the men’s restroom due to maintenance issues the town has faced in other facilities.

Hart said she received an unofficial estimate of around $134,000 for the project before any design changes had been made but was unclear on how those changes might eventually affect the final cost. She said she plans to update the building plans and email council members a final draft sometime this week, after which she will put together and release a bid packet for its construction.

In other business the council:

Approved to include Veteran’s Day in its list of paid holidays for town employees.

Approved council member Julie Ray’s request to add an “encouraging word” to the LED sign in front of town hall encouraging drivers to not litter or use engine brakes within the town limits.