Etowah County Commissioners approve base bid for Little Canoe Creek Mega-Site
Etowah County Commissioners on Tuesday approved a request for a bid on Phase II of the Little Canoe Creek Mega-Site.
Waites Construction, the company currently working on Phase I of the project, had its base bid of a little more than $2 million approved to work on the next phase, which will include expanding the grating pad by 30 acres, totaling the entire project to “at least” 100 acres.
“This project base bid from Waites Construction was $2,063,700,” Chief Administrative Officer Shane Ellison explained, “This is going to be paid for through the grant we received from Norfolk Southern via the Growing Alabama grant program.”
By only awarding the base bid at this time, Ellison said, it gives the county flexibility when it comes to other projects at the site, such as the connecting road that has been approved to make traffic flow easier.
“We have an alternate, which may change in the future, that will be working on the construction of this connecting road,” Ellison added, “They will also do additional land clearing and grating.”
In addition to the new work on the site, commissioners said they have been working on a marketing package with Appalachian Digital Media to help make the site “more marketable.”
This will add to the current advertisement package they are doing with Trade and Industry Development Magazine as a way to get the project some notoriety.
“I was out there with them the other day to take more footage that we can use for a marketing video to go along with our digital advertisements and the website,” Ellison said, “They have also done drone shots for us in the past before the project began. It’s our way to push the project out there.”
“Any kind of media like that we can do, we need to share it whoever we can tell it to,” added Commissioner Tim Ramsey.
Commissioners also approved three county employees to be able to take in paid time off donations. Each employee is said to meet the eligibility requirements under each program’s guidelines.
Mallie Circle also was approved to be vacated in a “Resolution of Assent.” A public hearing was held on the matter, but no comments were made during that time.
The meeting ended in an executive session to discuss pending litigation. The session ultimately resulted in a resolution that would “restrict issuance of licenses with non-conforming businesses” being tabled for the foreseeable future.
Commissioners will not hold their usual work session on May 24 because it’s primary election day; a special called meeting is possible on May 31.
Probate Judge Scott Hassell reminded residents that those who typically vote at the Elliott Community Center will be voting across the street at Dwight Baptist Church, and those who usually vote at the East Gadsden Community Center can do so as things are “back to normal” there.
This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Commissioners approve mega site base bid
