County hears pitch on another economic development group
By Barry H. Hendrix Contributing Writer

A new regional economic development partnership is being created in south Alabama. Debra Bolen, Executive Director of the Clarke County Economic Development Partnership, and Mack McDonald, an attorney who works with the Mobile County Commission, spoke Monday to the Clarke County Commission concerning the agency, which would include representatives from Mobile, Baldwin, Clarke, Washington and Escambia Counties.

The partnership is proposed as a financial arm for future development mega-projects such as the new ThyssenKrupp Steel plant. "This would be looked at as an ongoing economic development authority to be utilized as a financial incentive for projects that would locate within these five counties," Bolen said. The authority would only be involved with "projects that will have a regional impact," McDonald said. "…The whole notion behind the authority is to start erasing some of the county lines and recognizing that when we get these big projects…they are not going to have impact in one county."

Without such a regional partnership in place, it is difficult when negotiations on a large development project are moving quickly, McDonald said.

Governor Bob Riley and Alabama Development Office head Neal Wade are encouraging this effort. Bolen, Clarke County Commission Chairman Joe Hunt and Jackson Mayor Richard Long had represented the county at a Sept. 6 meeting concerning the proposed authority.

The new agency would be different than the Twin Rivers Economic Development Partnership, which is a marketing arm for Clarke and Choctaw Counties, she said.

Each county would have to meet two out of three criteria for a development project to be considered for funding in the new partnership. "Mobile County would need to meet 1,000 direct jobs, (jobs paying) $15-an-hour, and $500 million in capital investment," Bolen said. "Baldwin County, 500 direct jobs, $15-an-hour (wage), or $250 million in capital investment. The three rural counties, Clarke, Washington and Escambia Counties…150 direct jobs (each), $12.50-anhour, or $25 million in capital investment."

The volunteer board for this new regional authority would include 18 members: four members from Mobile County, one from the City of Mobile, four from Baldwin County, and three members each from the three rural counties. The Clarke County Commission would appoint two of the three representatives from the county, and the commission would consider recommendation from county mayors for the third representative.

"Very soon, there are going to be Tier One suppliers (for the ThyssenKrupp plant) looking to locate in an arc probably north of the plant," McDonald said. "Those are going to be mini-economic development projects in their own right. They are going to have to have transportation hubs (and) warehousing. There may be other manufacturing facilities. There are a host of other things that will ripple through the region once ThyssenKrupp is up and running.

"…The authority will have very broad powers. Those include issuing bonds, pledging proceeds of money or appropriations… conducting analysis for suitable locations…surveying the labor force…entering into contracts, deeding property (and) excepting deeds of property." The authority would even be able to establish an industrial park, McDonald said.

He also said the authority is limited, "only able to spend the dollars that the county commissions that form it agree to provide to it." The authority will not have the ability to tax or abate taxes, he said.

Bolen and McDonald asked the county commission to consider approving a resolution to create the new agency in the coming weeks. No action was taken on the resolution by the commission Monday.

In other action from Tuesday's commission meeting, Rex Knight, engineer assistant II, was approved for a 50-centper hour raise. He had just completed his probationary period.

• County Engineer Sam Noble reported that there was only one bid for resurfacing County Road 17/Chilton Road in the Chilton community was $1,487,016.30 from Mobile Asphalt of Theodore. The price was higher than estimated ($1,292,988). Noble is awaiting approval from the Alabama Department of Transportation on whether the Mobile Asphalt bid can be accepted.

• Annual bids are being sent out for bulk items - fuel and pipe, Noble said. The bids are due back Sept. 24.

• The Sheriff's Department was approved to fill vacancies for a deputy and two booking officers.

In addition, Sheriff Bobby Moore asked the commission Monday for a full-time deputy and two part-time security officers for security at the Clarke County Courthouse. The sheriff's request will be considered by the commission's Security Committee, Commission Chairman Joe Hunt said Tuesday.

• The commission approved language for a local legislative act to create an "Employee Recognition Fund." The fund will finance the county holding an annual dinner to honor retiring employees. Funds could also be used for a plaque to honor each employee.

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