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Long asks commission to help fund industrial prospect Jackson Mayor Richard Long asked the Clarke County Commission Monday to contribute approximately $250,000 in a project to bring a mill prospect (New Gas Concepts (NGC), Inc.) to the city's Industrial Park. The proposed plant would make wood pellets, which would be shipped overseas for fuel use. The city of Jackson has committed to lease the prospect 57 acres in the Industrial Park and four acres at the Jackson port, provide water, fire protection specifications and sewer to the property line at a value of $400,000, fund site prep up to $1 million, and fund the cost of site prep engineering and grant administration at a value of $200,000. Ad valorem taxes will be abated with the exception of educational taxes. NGC will invest $118 million, providing 100 jobs with an average salary of $42,000. They will purchase wood products from area landowners and byproducts from paper mills, sawmills and other manufacturing plants. NGC is expected to buy 600,000 tons of chips-a-year at an estimated cost of $18 million benefiting county landowners. The corporation will also build an access road off Highway 177. The commission voted Tuesday to table their decision to fund the project until the Jan. 15, 2008 meeting. Commissioner Rhondel Rhone said he had spoken to Long concerning the delay. "It's a very good project," Rhone said. "…He (Long) knows we support it….We need time to look at it from a monetary standpoint." Final bill on annex The Clarke County Commission voted Tuesday to pay the final $74,824 bill for the construction of the new courthouse annex. The approval was given pending a final walkthrough by the commissioners and provided that everything is to their satisfaction. Construction of the annex cost approximately $3.56 million. Final inspection is not due until June 2008. The building is under warranty with general contractor J.C. Dukes and Associates of Mobile until June 19, 2008, said County Administrator Lois Morris. The county is making bond payments on $3.17 million through 2034 to pay for the project. Commissioners borrowed about $400,000 over the initial loan for the project but is repaying it through other means that the bond issue. Other business In other action from commission this week, a right of way has been cited to the City of Jackson for a site off Highway 10 for a proposed Hampton Inn in Jackson. The property is owned by two sons of Sam Hughston, Jeffrey Allen Hughston and William Michael Hughston, said county attorney Bruce Wilson. •A four-year lease agreement was approved with property owner Hal Johnson to place a new polling station in the Whatley community. The price to use the property is $250-ayear. Commissioner Rhone praised Johnson's cooperation with the county. •The purchase of two patrol cars from the state bid list and the filling of a vacancy for a booking officer with the sheriff's department was approved. •County Engineer Sam Noble was approved to hire, from within county employees only, for a sign crew leader position. •The commission approved the courthouse being closed on Dec. 24, 25, 31 and Jan. 1 for the holidays. Payment of property taxes will be held-over to Jan. 2, said County Administrator Annie Delores Morris.
•Commissioner Patricia DuBose will serve as commission chairman beginning Jan. 28, 2008.
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