WEST POINT — The West Point Board of Selectmen agreed Tuesday to contribute to the construction of Clay County’s latest attraction.
Joe Max Higgins, CEO of the Golden Triangle Development LINK, addressed the board about agreeing to a tax increment financing bond that will reimburse costs associated with the construction of Mossy Oak Golf Course. Old Waverly Golf Club owner George Bryan, who will co-own the new course with Mossy Oak founder Toxey Haas, has agreed to put up $750,000 out-of-pocket to get access to water, sewer and road improvements near the incoming course. The TIF would reimburse Bryan that $750,000, Higgins said, via a pledge of a new ad valorem tax.
“What the payment of these bonds will consist of is a portion of the new ad valorem tax for the city and county on this project to debt serve these bonds,” Higgins said. “Right now, our models are showing 75 percent of the new ad valorem tax will go towards servicing the bonds and 25 percent will go to the city or the county, depending on what entity we’re dealing with. So, it will mean some net income to you, but you also get the water and sewer improvements, and the new road improvements.”
Higgins said the new course will bring tourism and tournaments to West Point. The course will provide 60 local jobs — 30 full-time and 30 part-time — according to Higgins. That does not include positions created through the course’s construction.
Selectmen Linda Hannah and Gary Dedeaux were absent from Tuesday’s meeting, but the quorum present unanimously approved the TIF bond.
Police department promotion, West Point indictments
Also on Tuesday, Police Chief Tim Brinkley asked the board to approve Albert Lee as the new assistant chief in West Point. Lee is a West Point native who has served with WPPD for 15 years, the last five of which he has spent leading the investigation division. The board unanimously approved the appointment.
Brinkley said the April grand jury results have come back on cases the WPPD submitted. Of 67 cases the department presented, 49 came back as true bills, 18 no bills and five were submitted to be reviewed again.
In other news
On May 2, West Point will be participating in National Cleanup Day, where citizens and public officials will pickup litter city wide.
Mayor Robbie Robinson was granted permission to sign an agreement with Experience Works to be a Senior Community Service Employment Program host. The program provides skills training and jobs to citizens 55 and older. Experience Works will provide all salaries, insurance and liabilities for the seniors, who will get 20-hour per week, part-time jobs through the program.
The selectmen voted unanimously to approve the purchase of a $100, full-page, black and white ad from the Clay County NAACP 42nd Annual Freedom Fund Banquet on May 16.
West Point will be submitting an application to receive the Community Development Block Grant via the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Phylis Benson of the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District told the board the minimum threshold to get the grant was not having an ongoing project with HUD, which West Point does not, and that 51 percent of the persons benefiting from the grant be of low to moderate income. Every municipality with under 50,000 residents and county in the state can apply for this grant, Benson said. The process is competitive. The selectmen and mayor agreed to sign a resolution to apply. The application is due May 15.
Should the city win the grant, it will receive $600,000 to make improvements to Zuber Park, which will include making the park handicap accessible.
Although he wasn’t there to agree to it, the board nominated selectman Dedeaux to represent West Point on the LINK advisory committee. Selectman Keith McBrayer cited Dedeaux’s business experience throughout the Golden Triangle. Dedeaux owns Gary’s Pawn and Gun in Columbus and West Point.
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