County manager recommends putting OMSP lodge process on hold

The Shelby County Commission received a suggestion to suspend actions on the Oak Mountain State Park Lodge and Conference Center at its Monday, Sept. 14 meeting.

County Manager Alex Dudchock recommended the county suspend examination of the project and not to invest further resources at this time.

“It became evident that the market conditions relative to financing a hotel and conference center project was going to require additional pledge, i.e. collateralization of the project, greater than the revenues generated from the site, either the lodging tax generated from the site or the income generated from the site,” Dudchock said.

The projected hotel and conference center could affect between seven and 10 acres of land in the park. It would include around 175 rooms, 15,000-20,000 square feet of meeting space, a 10,000-square-foot ballroom and around 350 conference spaces.

Examination into the project would include an analysis of environmental conditions, utilities, a grading plan and architectural financing. This step will be delayed until the state partners with the county for financing.

“The only work we will continue doing on this project will be internally performed and not incur any further expenditures,” Dudchock said.

During the work session, Dudchock also recommended changes to the project once the state and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources partners with the county and city.

He suggested reconsidering the entrance, which is currently located on Terrace Drive. The entrance is impractical, Dudchock said, due to the area’s day use and the road conditions. He also requested infrastructure actions to accommodate vehicle, pedestrian and bike traffic be considered.

Commission Chairman Rick Shepherd commended Dudchock and Chad Scroggins for their work with this project.

“Alex didn’t go into this saying 'we’re going to build this, we’ve got to build this.' He has looked at all the different variables and the things that are happening at the park, the investments at the park, where the park is today,” Shepherd said. “He’s invested a lot of his time as well as Chad and several others, they really need to be commended for their work with this.”

Even with the delay on the hotel and conference center project, Dudchock said staff is still hard at work on the Oak Mountain State Park master plan, which includes several other projects.

“The work that we did and due diligence for that [the hotel and conference center] is very small when you consider the work being done on the master plan and the preparation that is now going to the next wave of projects in the park to support its current viability going forward, period,” Dudchock said.

In order to maintain the park’s condition, Dudchock said some projects should take place as soon as possible. This included constructing bike lanes on John Findlay Drive and Terrace Drive as well as implementing safety improvements on State Park Road. He also recommended prioritizing capital improvement projects in day use areas and constructing gate improvements and traffic enhancements at the park entrances.