Speculative building moving along
By Barry H. Hendrix Contributing Writer

The Thomasville City Council approved Monday the conveyance of 10 acres in the South Industrial Park to the Industrial Development Board (IDB). The ordinance is part of the construction of a $1.4 million, 50,000 square foot spec building to attract economic development.

Once the building is sold, the IDB will pay back the city for the property, said Mayor Sheldon Day. It is the second spec building built in Thomasville.

A letter of guarantee was also approved for payment of a $500,000 loan to the IDB related to the spec building. The city has received an interestfree loan from Alabama Power, also $500,000, for the construction.

A new road along with the building in the industrial park is also being constructed next year, Day said. The groundbreaking for the spec building is expected on Dec. 20.

Business licenses

The council approved changes to the business license ordinance in line with the Municipal Business License Reform Act, passed by the State Legislature in 2006.

The changes had to be made before Jan. 1, 2008 so the council suspended the rules and voted for the ordinance on the first reading.

"Very few of our fees are changing," Day said. "…We basically didn't change any fees except where it would correspond with state law."

The city last made changes to its license fees in 2006, the mayor said. Before that, the were changed in 2003.

Other business

Other items from Monday's meeting include the following:

• The City of Thomasville has received $100,000 from the Clarke-Mobile County Gas District. "We anticipate some more between now and the end of our fiscal year," said Mayor Day. The mayors of Thomasville, Grove Hill and Jackson sit on the board of the district.

Day is also hopeful that the district will know before the end of the year whether it will receive the contract for the new ThyssenKrupp steel plant.

• The "In the Spirits" store on Wilson Avenue downtown was approved for an alcohol license.

• The annual Christmas Stroll will be held Thursday, Dec. 13 from 5 to 7 p.m. The event will feature a live nativity

• Mayor Day announced that construction on the Sonic Drive-In will begin after Christmas and the Hampton Inn in the first quarter of 2008.

• The council will not meet Dec. 24 for the second meeting of the month.

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