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Eased restrictions on property may bring new businesses to Thomasville The lifting of restrictions on Thomasville property formerly owned by the Clarke County Commission will open the door for a new motel and possibly new restaurants, a developer told commissioners Tuesday. Thomasville businessman Harry Brooks purchased property from the county at the intersection of Highways 5 and 43 with the intention of relocating his Brooks Chevrolet dealership there. However, the Alabama Department of Transportation is planning to redesign the intersection and the changes could adversely affect those plans, Brooks told commissioners recently when he asked for permission to sell some of the property. The county had originally placed restrictions on the property to ensure that it would be developed and not just purchased for speculative purposes. Developer Willard Corley told commissioners Tuesday they need to lift all of the restrictions in order that the property can be developed. Corley said there are plans to build a Hampton Inn behind Burger King and that at least four "major restaurants" have looked at other sites on the property. However, none will commit to build with the current restrictions in place. Commissioners have previously said that their main concern is that the property be developed. They agreed Tuesday to lift the restrictions. Corley told commissioners that site work would start as soon as the property is conveyed and said that work on the Hampton Inn should start in four to six months. Commissioners dealt with a couple of other property issues Tuesday. They accepted a deed from the town of Grove Hill for a tract adjacent to the airport on Highway 84 East where a new county health department will be built. The transaction was approved by the town several months ago but required approval by the Federal Aviation Administration because of the nearby airport. The FFA recently approved the project, county attorney Bruce Wilson explained. They also revised the fouracre tract being sold to Nicholas Gibson in the Clarke County Industrial Park in Grove Hill where Gibson will build an auto body repair business. A set of truck scales is on the property but the county will try to sell them. If they can't be sold, they will remove them within six months, Wilson explained. County Engineer Sam Noble said removing the scales would be a difficult project, requiring a crane to be brought in as well as special trucks to haul the heavy scale sections. He said the best option would be for the county to sell the scales at a good price and let the buyer remove them. Prison money Commissioners executed an agreement with the city of Thomasville to contribute $20,000 to hire a consultant to help solicit a women's prison facility that Thomasville is seeking just outside of its city limits. Thomasville will contribute $20,000 for a total of $40,000 to hire the Franklin Resources Group. Attorney Wilson said that there is no guarantee that the prison will be secured. If it isn't, the county and Thomasville will be out their money. If the prison is secured, that money can be rolled into the project costs and recovered. The county and the city would also be responsible for any "out of pocket" expenses of Franklin's related to the project. Wilson said there is no way to know how much that could be but said it was standard for similar projects. LP road Noble told commissioners that the new Louisiana Pacific access road is just about completed. Commissioner Rhondel Rhone asked if LP could start using the road for some deliveries even though it wasn't formally open and Noble said it could. Turn and crossover lanes at the road's intersection with Highway 43 remain to be built. TVA funds in danger Commissioner Rhone explained that another effort is underway to reduce the money that Clarke County and other dry non-TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) counties receive in lieu of alcohol tax dollars. The county annually receives about $190,000 in TVA money and Rhone said the county does not need to lose that income. A legislative bill is being proposed that would gradually eliminate this TVA funding. Rhone said it is almost certain to come up for a full legislative vote. Commissioners issued a resolution opposing the bill and also agreed to contact local legislators for help on fighting it. Jail vacancy to be filled
Commissioners agreed to let Sheriff Bobby Moore fill a vacancy for a booking officer in the county jail.
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