Lowndes County took another step closer to expanding its industrial park into a sprawling development-ready recruitment machine.
The Lowndes County Board of Supervisors Monday morning tapped Steve Edds of the Baker Donelson law firm as the bond attorney for a $13 million loan from USDA”s office of Rural development.
Baker Donelson this year was named the top bond counsel firm in the state by The Bond Buyer, a national publication about the municipal bond industry.
Lowndes County will pay for Edds” services, based on what the project entails.
For the county”s $7.5 million bond issue (to pay for the Burns Bottom soccer complex, courthouse renovations and a new justice court complex), the county paid Edds” firm about $60,000.
Lowndes County Administrator Ralph Billingsley recommended Edds for the job, since he already is familiar with the project and the players. Billingsley expects the fees to be less this time, as the project is less complex.
The decision comes on the heels of USDA formally announcing the funds” availability. The county already has received $17.5 million in a grant-loan combination from the USDA, for the Golden Triangle Regional Aerospace Park.
With the latest funds, the county plans to purchase 1,475 acres of land, complementing land already controlled by the Columbus-Lowndes Development Link.
In 2008, the Link announced plans to create a regional industrial park, with a special focus on attracting aerospace industries. Since them several counties and industrial development arms have pledged their support to the project.
In other matters, the supervisors:
n Declared a road in Lowndes County abandoned, relinquishing all interest in the property to the Robert and Shellye Kizer. The land, which is at 934 Old Yorkville Road, is actually in the homeowners” yard, noted District 3 Supervisor John Holliman. The former road was left on the county books after Yorkville Road was paved, some 40 years ago and has not been in use for more than 30 years.
n Agreed to draft a letter of acceptance for work on Pritchard Road. The Office n of State Aid Road Construction had a box culvert installed on the road.
“They”ve determined the project to be complete,” said Bob Calvert, county engineer, who noted the county now needs to formally accept the work as completed and send a letter to the contractor, asserting such.
n Agreed to support the state in appointing a statewide consultant and inspector for bridges. The special consultant will be provided at no cost to the state”s counties.
n Authorized the Lowndes County Sheriff”s Office to pay a $50 deductible toward vehicle repair. Sheriff Butch Howard requested approval to pay the deductible, which was necessary for the warrant repair of a sheriff”s office vehicle.
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