The Monticello Town Board agreed Tuesday to lease a building toa prospective industrial company but would not comment further.

“The figures and the name of the industry cannot be released atthis time at the request of the prospect,” Mayor David Nicholssaid.

The announcement came after an executive session that includedLawrence County Community Development Association Director BobSmira.

The industry would locate in the McLain Building behind IGASuper Valu should the city and the prospect be able to negotiate anagreement, he said.

The McLain Building has been vacant since Kellwood Manufacturingclosed its Monticello operations several years ago.

In other matters, Nichols announced the city had received agrant and obtained approval to request a second.

The city has received a $53,000 grant through the Department ofWildlife, Fisheries and Parks to construct a one-mile paved walkingtrail at Atwood Water Park.

Nichols said construction on the trail should begin soon, but hecould not provide a firm date.

The city is still awaiting word on a second grant, ofapproximately $150,000, for the water park. The larger grant wouldbe used with local matching funds obtained through a timber sale atthe park and other money to build or renovate a large portion ofthe park. Among those projects is a parking lot, a new gatehouseand remodeling the restrooms.

The mayor also received board approval to pursue a $150,000 STEPgrant for a multi-purpose building at the Lawrence CountySportsplex. The building would house the concession stand, pressbox, restrooms and a storage room.

“I think we have a good chance at success with this grant,”Nichols said.

The mayor cited pledges by local industries as making for a”very strong” application. The Georgia-Pacific Monticello mill haspledged 100 percent of the engineering costs and help with theplumbing and electrical work and Miles Lumber Company has agreed toprovide the lumber needed for the project.

Any leftover grant funds could be applied to lighting the soccerfields and fencing the fourth softball field, he said.