Gadsden Times
- The Etowah County Commission approved the transfer of $918,934 to cover the purchase of 160 acres of land and engineering fees for an Interstate 59 interchange.
- The land purchase increases the Northeast Alabama Regional Megasite’s size to 1,250 acres.
- An elevated water tank at the megasite will feature a large sign advertising the site.
The Etowah County Commission on Feb. 4 dotted the final “i” on the most recent expansion of its footprint at the Northeast Alabama Regional Megasite.
Commissioners approved the transfer of $918,934 from its fund balance into industrial development accounts to cover the purchase of 160 additional acres of land for the megasite ($902,634) and for the initial engineering fees ($16,300) connected with the construction of an Interstate 59 interchange adjacent to the site.
The money comes from American Rescue Plan Act funds, which had been transferred into the fund balance six weeks ago to meet federal requirements that it be obligated (it was tagged for “salaries and benefits”) before Dec. 31, 2024, or it would be forfeited.
“We’re making these transactions to repay ourselves for the purchase of land and the first one or two invoices on the interstate exchange,” said Shane Ellison, the county’s chief administrative officer.
Both the land purchase, from the Ellen L. Stewart Trust, and the Interstate 59 interchange were announced in October.
The new land brings the megasite’s acreage to 1,250, and county officials have long considered an interstate interchange to be a “game changer” for the project. They contracted with Goodwyn Mills Cawood for engineering services on the latter project.
“It’s exciting to drive down the interstate and see that the billboard (placed by the county to advertise the megasite) says 1,250 acres available as opposed to 1,100 before,” Ellison said.
And people entering the megasite from U.S. Highway 11 will soon see another landmark: a sign is being painted on the huge elevated water tank that’s been placed there.
Ellison said Alabama Department of Commerce officials had requested that a large sign, similar to the interstate billboard, be placed on that side of the project. “We did them one better,” he said. “This is a very functional sign in the form of a half-million-gallon elevated water storage tank. You cannot miss that.”
The county is also using ARPA funds paired with a state Site Evaluation and Economic Development Strategy Act grant to first run water transmission main lines from Rainbow City, which has committed to provide infrastructure and basic services for the megasite, underneath Interstate 59 and then connect them to the elevated tank. (Rainbow City also has committed $1 million in ARPA funds to the interstate interchange.)
Commissioner Jamie Grant said of the megasite, “It’s continuing to grow, there’s a lot of energy there, it’s ramping up. You’re going to see the landscape change in Etowah County in the next five or 10 years.”
Commissioners in other action declared four Engineering Department vehicles surplus; approved the annual service agreement for the jail body scanner; approved the transfer of more than $53,000 in opioid settlement funds to the Drug Enforcement Unit for opioid awareness presentation equipment, drug test kits and evidence bags and tape, and salary and benefits for the deputy commander.