Monday, December 17, 2007

Opelika Northeast Industrial Park acquires acreage

An Opelika Industrial Development Authority (OIDA) request for $545,000 to help acquire 307 acres priced at $1,535,000 for the ever-expanding Opelika Northeast Industrial Park received approval Tuesday during an Opelika City Council meeting.

January 11, 2007

An Opelika Industrial Development Authority (OIDA) request for $545,000 to help acquire 307 acres priced at $1,535,000 for the ever-expanding Opelika Northeast Industrial Park received approval Tuesday during an Opelika City Council meeting.

Already the City of Opelika has secured the main chunk of change through a grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development totaling $990,000. The council voted and approved the balance of $545,000, which will come from the city’s general fund of undesignated-unreserved money.

Tenants of the Opelika Northeast Industrial Park include Wal-Mart Distribution Center, Benteler Automotive, Mando America Corporation, Jo-Ann Distribution Center, Maxforma Plastics and Daewon America, which broke ground in December and represents a $30 million investment with 170 new jobs.

The fully-equipped industrial park is on 1,900 acres in the northern portion of Opelika along Interstate 85. Utility providers of the park include Tallapoosa River Electric Cooperative and Alabama Power Company, Alagasco and South East AL Gas District, Opelika Water Utilities and City of Opelika sanitary sewer.

Economic Development Director Al Cook says the addition of 307 acres will offer more industrial opportunities at the park, which in turn benefits the community at large.

“The addition of this property to our park increases the total acreage to 2,200 acres and will extend the city limits to the Chambers County line,” Cook said. “After the purchase we will have almost three-and-one-half miles of interstate frontage in our park.”

Essentially the purchase of those 307 acres means Lee and Chambers county now have a chance to house an industrial giant should one come calling.
“We were able to get that development grant to help purchase the land because of Congressman Mike Rogers and how he was able to look at the big picture here and see the possibility of two government entities working together,” Cook said. “Our Northeast Industrial Park now will join Chambers County’s industrial park; from mile marker 63 to mile marker 70 it will be one continuous industrial park with part in Lee and part in Chambers. It will be seven miles of industrial property, and that’s a pretty good deal. If something big should come along, we’ll both be more than ready.”

In other council news, Bob Merrill has been appointed as the city’s new Municipal Court Clerk. Merrill replaces long-time city employee Elaine Kirby, who retired in December after more than 30 years of city service. Also during the council meeting, Margie Cannon was appointed to the Opelika Housing Authority Board of Commissioners. Cannon replaces Djaris Hall, who recently passed away.

Meanwhile, street milling will continue today and throughout the weeks ahead as part of the city’s aggressive five-year resurfacing campaign. East Alabama Paving crews will be working at Third Avenue from Fifth Street to 10th Street and 10th Street to 12th Street; Fifth Avenue from 10th Street to Dead End; Sixth Avenue from Eighth Street to Floral Street; Floral Street from Fourth Avenue to Victoria Avenue; Seventh Avenue from Eighth Street to 10th Street; 10th Street from Second Avenue to Past the Y at Renfro; Eighth Avenue from Fifth Street to Eighth Street; Denson Drive from McClure Avenue to India Road; Sixth Avenue from Rocky Brook Road to Past Fourth Street; Preston Street from Fourth Avenue to Etowah Street; Fox Trail from US 431 to Dead End; and Fox Trail within the Public Works compound.

For a complete road resurfacing list, visit the City of Opelika Web site, http://www.opelika.org.