Construction on the new Alabaster Senior Center is nearing completion, and the senior citizens of the Alabaster with soon have a new building, and maybe a bus, to call their own.

County Commission Dan Acker presented the City Council with a $200,000 check June 17 for the center as part of grant.

“It’s nice to have a partner like the County Commission,” Council member Bob Hicks said.

The new center will be located near the site of the old Buck Creek Mill, which lies close to where Acker lives.

“We’ll call it Hotel Acker,” Council President Jim McClain joked. “It’s going to kick start that area.”

Council member Scott Brakefield agreed.

“That is a nice touch in that area of town,” Brakefield said. “It is going to pay off big in the long run.”

During the meeting, mayor David Frings also spoke in favor of an 80/20 grant, where the city pays 20 percent of the costs, for a bus for the center.

A public hearing was held for the matter, and Frings said the city would purchase a 25-passenger, wheel-chair accessible bus if the resolution passed at the next meeting.

“This is a great idea for the city,” Frings said. “We made good use of the one we had last time. And with the new senior center, we’re going to be growing that program even more.”