Washington County to get industrial developer
By Ellen Williams SA Reporter

Though no definite actions were taken at the March 25 sewerage meeting at McIntosh City Hall, Judge Charles Singleton gave those in attendance an overview of where the interestgroup is at the present and presented several items he hopes will materialize in the not-too-distant future.

The Washington County Industrial Development Initiative (WCIDI) is a group whose members pay an annual fee in league with the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce. For several years, this partnership has hired an industrial developer, but the Washington County governing body has expressed disappointment that this person has resided outside the county and no measurable progress has come about.

Singleton said that WCIDI will likely hire an industrial developer on April 1, and housing is being made ready for him to live in Chatom. This young man will graduate soon from the University of Mississippi with a degree in Industrial Development and Judge Singleton anticipates that he will assume leadership not only for recruiting industry to Washington County, but will also take the helm of the proposed Washington County Sewerage Authority. He has a background in insurance, having owned his own company and comes from a small town in Mississippi.

The judge called the hiring of the developer " a giant step." And said he will be Washington County's "go-to person." (Unfortunately neither the judge nor the mayor could recall the man's name.) The developer's salary will come out of the membership dues and he will be given a three-year contract.

Industries interested in locating

in Washington County

Judge Singleton mentioned several business/industries who have expressed keen interest in locating in Washington County. One is the group from Tennessee who want to construct a 100 bed motel at the south end of the county. He has also been in discussion with another industry, whose home office is in Scotland, which manufactures stainless steel coated reinforcement rod (rebar) for construction projects such as bridges, etc., and is looking at locating either in Alabama or Pennsylvania. According to Singleton, this company has two priorities: proximity to ThyssenKrupp and a railroad for moving their product. Because the manufactured rod is of several layers coated with stainless, it is supposed to have a 100 year maintenance free life. The United States Department of Transportation has already approved the product for use in the U.S.

A home health company based in Tuscaloosa would like to locate in McIntosh and would hire as many as 25 people. They expressed a desire to bring their company to the area in an effort to help Washington County get a sewerage system.

Sewerage System Progress

The next step in getting the sewerage project begun is the incorporation of the Authority (board of directors). Janey Galbraith of Galbraith and Associates who is the grants writer for the county emphasized, "You have got to get this Authority going. This is a most important step."

Judge Singleton and Commissioner Willie Dixon explained that County Attorney Michael Onderdonk has been working on drawing up papers to incorporate a sewerage board, and is waiting on some paperwork from the state.

When an authority (board) is in place, the next step toward securing funding will be for an industry/ business to commit to coming the south Washington County and express the necessity for sewerage.

Singleton envisions that all of the county will eventually be part of a sewerage system, like the public water systems. He did remind the audience that the people of Washington County are territorial and expects that each community will want its system under the authority of people who live there.

"We've got to do something," the Judge emphasized. "When we get something moving, if we make mistakes, we can go back and fix them. But if we sit here and do nothing, well, you can't fix nothing."

Fire house feud

Mayor Carrol Daugherty told those assembled that he makes no apology for his decision to not allow the McIntosh Fire Station to be used as a voting center. "I made that decision for the betterment of this community and I stand by it," he said.

Judge Singleton stated that he and the mayor are not at war. "I asked the mayor and he said no. So I accept his answer. I have contacted the superintendent of education and he gave us permission to use McIntosh High School gymnasium."

In the other voting centers, community fire houses are used as polling places and they all have a single entrance/exit as does McIntosh.

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