Ongoing projects in Shelby County
You might be surprised at all the projects going on in Shelby County.
When County Manager Alex Dudchock spoke at the South Shelby Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 2, he shed some light on plans involving water services, the Shelby County Airport, Shelby West Corporate Park and the county’s parks and recreation.
“If you were in Alabaster and Pelham this morning and you woke up, you likely drank water from the Coosa River produced and treated in Shelby County at a 74-year-old plant,” Dudchock said.
This 74-year-old plant needed some updates, Dudchock said. So the county completed a major treatment enhancement at the Talladega/Shelby Water Treatment Plant aligning the granular carbon and chlorine dioxide to address the new EPA standard.
He said he also takes pride in the new renovations to the water services office, which is a modest building. When people walk in to pay their bill, they know their money didn’t go to fund an expensive building.
Shelby County Airport also built a new 16-plane aircraft hangar building, and although they haven’t opened it yet, it’s already booked 100 percent. Dudchock said that’s because they beat everyone on the fuel price per gallon, so people use it for the fuel rate and the grand conference room they built.
“Now I want some available open spaces because we are in the business of economic development and recruitment, and I want your plane there,” Dudchock said. “I want you to first see that you have a free conference room, and we don’t charge you landing fees.”
Hibbett Sports Inc. also constructed a 360,000-square-foot facility on a 59-acre Shelby West Corporate Park. It created 170 new jobs in Shelby County, and the funds made a new park-and-ride lot, with 132 available spaces.
Other projects include a new park in Sterrett, several Oak Mountain State Park projects and 10-year repairs for Cahaba Lily Park, Veterans Park, Heardmont Park, Forest Park, Fun Go Holler Park and Beeswax Creek Park. Projects such as the renovated BMX racecourse, the large equestrian camper area and the pedestrian bridge over the dam spillway on the main lake have already been completed at OMSP.