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A rail spur leading to the old Metals USA plant in the Thomasville Industrial Park was conveyed to the new owner, Scotch Plywood, by the Thomasville City Council Monday evening.
The $1.5 million spur was constructed with grant funds exclusively to serve Metals USA. However, the plant never got off the ground or employed the number of people required and the company reimbursed the grant funds. The spur was conveyed by the City Council at no cost to Scotch Plywood.
Scotch Plywood had previously purchased the Metals USA building.
Mayor Sheldon Day said the conveyance will enable Scotch Plywood to now ship by rail through the facility.
“It is a good thing for our community,” he said of Scotch being in Thomasville.
Day asked city attorney Edmon McKinley if he had the deed because he wanted to sign it after the meeting since he is going out of town. McKinley said he had it.
Economic development
Day said the situation with the Thomasville Regional Medical Center continues to improve. He has said before and restated Monday that more corporate benefactors are coming forward to help the hospital.
Day is always optimistic about economic development and has said before that interest is higher than it has ever been. He restated that Monday, citing more interest than he has seen in his 27 years as mayor.
He said there is interest in the old hospital site and the adjacent library site, soon to be vacated for new quarters downtown. There is interest in other areas, including for a housing project on the south end of town. There is interest in property adjacent to the Holiday Inn Express.
The new strip center to house a Subway and other retail outlets is moving along across from McDonald’s on Highway 43.
Local businessman and developer Scott Lewis is getting ready to start the previously announced project of renovating the old theater downtown and the old Hille Hotel across from it on West Front Street.
He restated previous comments that a developer is interested in the old Deas Tire building downtown. “He even brought a tape measure” on his last visit, Day said.
Other business
In personnel matters, Lee Davidson was hired as a full-time street department worker and Ben Davis as a police officer. It was agreed to post notice of an opening for an equipment operator for the recreation department.
An incentive agreement with Dozier Oil Company for the new Cuzz’s on Highway 43 South was amended from five years to seven due to the rising cost of the project. No figures were provided as the council approved the change.
Several building permits were approved including one for new signage for Cadence Bank, the successor to Bancorp South which purchased Merchants Bank. The latter merger has been done for some time but the name change is just now taking place locally.
Mayor Day said that school board members Jim Davis and Taylor Williams met with the council during the work session regarding school issues. Day said there had been misinformation, but quickly changed that to a lack of information related to the city’s and city school system’s relationship.
“We want our city health care and city schools and everything to be the best it can be. We are 1,000% for our schools,” Day said. “We are all on the same team working together.”
Councilman Roy Waite was the only city councilman absent Monday.
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