This is part two in a six part series about the muncipalities in Carroll and Montgomery counties.
Once the serving as the Bank of Kilmichael from the 1930s until the late 1960s, the Kilmichael’s City Hall had deteriorated from age, and the small space was no longer conducive in serving the needs of the town’s leaders and employees in conducting town business. However, thanks to an investment into the future of the town by the Bank of Kilmichael, the town has a new city hall.
According to Bank of Kilmichael President/CEO Buddy Mortimer, the bank purchased six storefronts along South Depot Street and has plans to return them to their former glory. The Main Street makeover plan extends its current Kilmichael Headquarters, moves and renovates a new Kilmichael City Hall, and develops three vacant commercial/professional offices for new businesses. Currently, with work completed at City Hall, work continues on the other store fronts.
“I don’t think people know how blessed we are here with the [Bank of Kilmichael] doing all of this,” Kilmichael Mayor Bobby Howell said.
The town has a lease purchase of the new City Hall, with the bank making the initial investment in the renovations of the building.
City Hall now boasts a reception area with customer seating; a customer service counter for the water department; offices for Howell, Chief of Police David Eldridge, and Public Works Director Johnny Pearson; a large board room for town meetings; plenty of storage as well as a break room; and handicap-assessable bathrooms.
Howell hopes to have host a grand opening celebration later in the spring to allow work on the neighboring store fronts to get closer to completion.
In addition to expanding the Bank of Kilmichael headquarters to develop a training center (in the old Kilmichael movie theatre) as well as another board room and employee break room.
Three store fronts that are included in the renovation plans will be available for lease for a retail establishment or office space.
“I am very excited about the restoration of the fronts of the buildings,” Howell said. “Three [store fronts] will be renovated and rentable. I hope when they are done, [the bank] will get a return on those investments.”
Howell said the bank invested private funds into “I don’t think people know how blessed we are here with the [Bank of Kilmichael] doing all of this,” Kilmichael Mayor Bobby Howell said.
The town has a lease purchase of the new City Hall, with the bank making the initial investment in the renovations of the building.
City Hall now boasts a reception area with customer seating; a customer service counter for the water department; offices for Howell, Chief of Police David Eldridge, and Public Works Director Johnny Pearson; a large board room for town meetings; plenty of storage as well as a break room; and handicap-assessable bathrooms.
Howell hopes to have host a grand opening celebration later in the spring to allow work on the neighboring store fronts to get closer to completion.
In addition to expanding the Bank of Kilmichael headquarters to develop a training center (in the old Kilmichael movie theatre) as well as another board room and employee break room.
Three store fronts that are included in the renovation plans will be available for lease for a retail establishment or office space.
“I am very excited about the restoration of the fronts of the buildings,” Howell said. “Three [store fronts] will be renovated and rentable. I hope when they are done, [the bank] will get a return on those investments.”
Howell said the bank invested private funds into community development, which is usually a bigger investment than one made using public funds. In addition, there are no limits, outside of building codes and municipal ordinances, to what a private company can do in improving private property like a government entity.
“This is a good partnership for us,” Howell said. “The bank has been very helpful for the town. I am very grateful for everything the Bank of Kilmichael has done to help this community. What they are doing is phenomenal.”
In addition to a newly-restored City Hall, Howell said work to refurbish one of the town’s elevated water tanks is about to begin. He said that the tank will get a total makeover – paint on the inside and out, welding, and various repairs.
“This will be an improvement to our water system” Howell said. “Soon both tanks will be modernized and renovated.”
The Kilmichael Board of Aldermen – Bernard Jenkins, Earnest Curtis, Jr., Wilma Carodine, Charles Austin, and Bryan Lott – approved a contract Tuesday night to begin a six-street overlay program in Kilmichael. The plan includes the overlay of all or a portion of Binford, Main, Pine, Money, and Greensboro, primary streets in Kilmichael. The cost of the project is just over $250,000, with $200,000 in BP settlement funds and $50,000 bond money.
“The town is preparing the street beds, but we are paying a contractor to put the asphalt down,” Howell said. “Then, like we did in 2017, we will come back and do a rock and seal on other, not as heavily traveled, streets.”
Howell said the board of alderman agreed to purchase a mini excavator for public works department, something needed to help keep the town’s sewer and water system operating. In addition, the town purchased a newer firetruck for the Kilmichael Volunteer Fire Department that reduced the towns fire rating to a seven class.
“We also painted and upgraded the fire department,” Howell said.
Howell said thanks to a $450,000 grant, the town was able to repair the sewer system, but he said additional work is needed to continue to maintain the system properly.
“We have some additional work that needs to be done,” Howell said. “We need to replace one of our pumps, and we need to run a camera through our pipes to see where there are leaks.”
Howell said cracks in the pipes can lead to the system being overwhelmed during heavy rains, and that is something that can damage sewer infrastructure.
“If you have a good economical system, it don’t cost much to operate,” Howell said.
Howell provided an update on storm cleanup following the April 30, 2017 tornado that swept through Kilmichael, leaving devastation in its wake.
“All those private citizens that needed help, I believe it has all been completed,” Howell said. “Some homes were completely destroyed and they were not rebuilt.”
Howell said aid to private property came slowly because the county did not have a 501C3 organization to accept grant funding for private property owners. Funds from FEMA had to be funneled through an organization in Holmes County before it could go to those in need in Montgomery County. However, after almost two years, work is almost complete.
“We had a bunch of volunteers, and the county helped us,” Howell said. “With our in-kind and the in-kind from the county, it worked out well.”
Howell said in the future, in disaster strikes, the county now has a 501C3 organization established to accept grant money for individuals in need.
Howell said the town is still planning improvements, with the hopes of building a new stage on the Kilmichael Square for community events.
“We are hoping we will be able to build a new stage on the square, and we hope to get it done with private funds not public dollars.”
Howell said he is so thankful for all Kilmichael citizens who have worked together on various projects in Kilmichael.
“I am so grateful and thankful for all that has been done and to everyone who has helped us with the success of the town,” Howell said.
