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Industry considering locating in Jackson
A resolution offering tax incentives and up to $1 million of site preparation services for New Gas Concepts (NGC), Inc. was passed by the Jackson City Council during its regular meeting Thursday, Nov. 29. According to Mayor Richard Long, NGC is considering building a plant to produce wood pellets that would be shipped overseas to be used as fuel by European industries. The company owns Dixie Pellets, LLC, recently built in Selma, which will combine wood by-products with chemicals to produce a long-burning product, similar to charcoal briquettes. The pellets will barged down the Alabama River to the Port of Mobile and exported to European Union electrical utilities and feedstock for power generation. The plan is to build a plant in Jackson, which will utilize the Tombigee River for transporting the pellets produced there to the Port of Mobile. Long said future business opportunities between Dixie Pellets and Boise, as well as other companies in the area that produce wood products, may be a possibility once the plant is up and running. According to NGC's Web site, because Dixie Pellets will utilize renewable wood sources, gasification technology and will minimize the carbon emissions in transportation, its pellets qualify as a "green" energy source in the European Union. Favorable incentives for green power sources make the pellets valuable to buyers in the European Union. Long said if the project gets final approval, NGC has agreed to pay back the $1 million in incentives over a 20- year period. "This is a major industry that will be locating to Jackson and providing up to 113 jobs for Clarke County citizens," he said. "I would like to thank Debra Bolen and all those on the Industrial Development Board (IDB) who have worked with us on this project." The mayor added that the city is currently in the process of pursuing grant monies to help pay for the $1 million incentives package. "Regardless of whether we acquire any grant money for this project, we will still provide the same amount of incentives and site preparation work," he said. Other items approved by the council in connection with the project were: •A contract with Gailbraith & Associates for administrative services; •A contract with Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood for engineering services for site preparation; •A resolution to apply for a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA). Two public hearings related to the incentives package and the application for the ADECA block grant were conducted prior to the regular council meeting. Schools presented checks During Thursday's meeting, the mayor and council presented checks totaling $200,000 to the four public schools in Jackson. Joe M. Gillmore Elementary School, Jackson Intermediate School, Jackson Middle School and Jackson High School each received $50,000 to be used at their discretion for improvements and purchases. "The city is proud to present these funds to the local schools," said Mayor Long. "They do an outstanding job in preparing our young people for the future." The city has designated an additional $50,000 to go toward the construction of a new athletic facility at Jackson High School. Plans for such a facility have been in the works for a couple of years. During the public comments portion of the meeting, Gillmore Elementary School Principal Shannon Odom said, "You don't know how much this means to our schools. It has allowed me to keep up an older school and we thank you for it. Principals from other areas of the state are amazed by the support our local schools receive from our city government." Jackson High School Principal Ken Harbuck echoed Odom's comments. "These funds are much appreciated. I can tell you after moving away and coming back to Jackson, the kids here are better than anywhere," he said. Other business •A new business license ordinance will be considered at the next regular meeting, Dec. 11. •A grant application for $35,000, for construction funds at White Smith Memorial Library was approved. If awarded, the grant will require a $15,000 match from the city. The money will be designated for architecture fees for the facility's expansion design. Some of the previous design work will be taken into consideration as well. •The council was asked to consider making a new appointment to the city of Jackson's IDB and Twin Rivers Board of Directors. Paul Parham recently resigned from the board due to a conflict of interest with the proposed NGC project. Parham's company did work for the Selma Dixie Pellets plant. •Councilman Paul South reported that work on Odom Drive is complete and a total of $21,000 was saved due to the use of in-kind services by the city. "It is a great accomplishment when you can save that much money on a project," he said. •Councilman Robert Marks recognized the local Pee Wee football teams for their participation in the Turkey Day Bowl in Gulf Shores on Thanksgiving. "Although they didn't win much, it was a good experience for those young players who faced teams from a number of other states," he said. Marks also reported that the Little League baseball and softball programs are currently in search of new board members. "I encourage citizens to participate in these programs and support our community," he added. •Councilman Daron Bolen said the work needed to repair a drainage problem, which causes trouble at the residence of Billy Syphrit in the Jackson Heights neighborhood, would cost approximately $28,000. Syphrit, who lives at 106 Hillcrest Avenue, told the council at the Nov. 13 meeting that he has spent thousands of dollars on carpet cleaning and replacement due to the problem. •Councilman Anthony Jackson said it has been a good experience for him to serve on the Clarke County Department of Human Resources' (DHR) Job Task Force Committee. "It has certainly been enlightening," he added. •Councilman Eldridge Jackson Jr. commended the citizens of Jackson for being so generous in giving to the Salvation Army's annual bell ringing program. "I just worked at Wal-Mart as a bell ringer and the people here really give a lot." Councilman South, who represents Jackson on the Salvation Army fund-raising committee, said to date, $4,500 of the $13,000 goal set for Jackson had been raised.
•The mayor, members of the council and Police Chief Charles Burge all touted the open house conducted Nov. 27 at the new police station. Burge estimated that approximately 150 people visited the station, which was open to the public for four hours. "We were really pleased with the response we received," he said. "We, again, thank the mayor and council for such a fine facility."
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