Shelby County seal
The Shelby County Commission on Monday agreed to become a joint applicant for a grant to study pharmaceutical and bio-pharma needs in the Birmingham metro area.
The resolution approved by the commission read that “to promote regional cooperation and to support the efforts of the Birmingham Business Alliance and 58 INC., the commission finds the application for EDA (Economic Development Administration) funding under the Economic Adjustment Assistance program would serve to implement the issuance of a Healthcare Market Intelligence study, strategy and implementation plan investigating the current state and growth of potential of the bio-life science sector in the greater Birmingham region."
Shelby County Manager Chad Scroggins said the study would help identify weaknesses in the supply chain. "This is a joint deal with all Shelby County, Jefferson County, surrounding counties and those associated with the Birmingham Business Alliance," Scroggins said.
Also on Monday, the commission approved a resolution to allow the county manager and county attorney to procure eminent domain necessary for a water line and other facilities to run a water line under the railroad at the intersection of Shelby County 39 and Shelby County 47 in Chelsea.
Existing facilities for transmission and distribution of potable drinking water for residents of Shelby County are insufficient to meet the growing water demands.
“Part of the project is for that road realignment, and we need to run adjustments to the water line under that,” Scroggins said. CSX has not granted the right away, and by using eminent domain, we can get the access to that right away.”
In his report to the commission, Scroggins announced Tyrus Kidd as the county’s new information technology services manager and said construction has begun on the new County Services Building on U.S. 280. He also said the county is assisting with improvements to Joe Tucker Park in Helena and Abby Wooley Park in Alabaster.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Administration is now offering tests for driver's licenses at its office in Pelham, but people are experiencing long waits, Scroggins said. He suggested getting there early or making an appointment at the district ALEA offices. Testing in the Columbiana office has not started yet.
Naugher, the county's chief financial officer, shared that sales taxes from April were about the same as in April 2019, while rental taxes were down 25% and lodging taxes were down 61%.
The Shelby County Commission on Monday also awarded a $4.2 million contract to Wiregrass Construction for paving and gave contracts to Foley Products for pipe pickup and delivery and Envelopes and Printed Products for letterhead printing and stationery items.
The next Shelby County Commission meeting is set for 6 p.m. on June 22 at the Shelby County Administration Building in Columbiana.
