[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6061571,"mediaKeyId","3281354-4a5a0d4a63f9275ac1257eabca80f83e","parentId",3281354,"title","Covington County weighs $28,138 site assessment under Seeds Act and approves $10,000 economic development reimbursement","audioSeconds",1995,"startMs",195000,"endMs",2190000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3281354-4a5a0d4a63f9275ac1257eabca80f83e&start=195&end=2190","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3281354-4a5a0d4a63f9275ac1257eabca80f83e/thumbnail_195000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6061571/Covington-County/Alabama/Covington-County-weighs-28138-site-assessment-under-Seeds-Act-and-approves-10000-economic-development-reimbursement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6061571-2f8be6b3baff73cc5ca6087d6e56f0bd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771232171&Signature=a~p2bbBi86Q9alCb9Zv-lwFiYQooNPWF2A5gRZY5NbK5lerI6na0HGNxYMV2dUkcl0-GDoP9xUPGGcXYSeVp12Xmf6IYXo38f1Sqpsxc1H0GmdPpqI~rsfJKodTjgcC4~Q7A5YNWgrgkTe8DApIEoaTrMKWF~U7c02rEAZV3ZbAvoHZ-O~jdvrjpRquxkrVuCBm3lErVSvQNSuZ0h61d-nPaWaO~~o~kOiDLipINSxbAtFz1Ztq1TWGyAD5dKfO2IEfxBIlOk4XnYwgGiFB7LyxAJPRjK7I-V6PldE1VVrI6-Ig89DXcwz6Z2nrPu75WJPmk804ZEGJOxeAgw16ZDg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Covington County Alabama","date","2025-05-13T15:35:07Z","article","Covington County commissioners on May 13 approved a $10,000 reimbursement to the county economic development office and discussed paying roughly $28,138 for a feasibility assessment under the state Seeds Act to evaluate a 100‑acre industrial site north of River Falls.

The assessment would determine whether the site—identified by county staff as having rail access and frontage near Highway 55—is feasible for water, sewer and other infrastructure. Jacob, an economic development staff member, told commissioners “the assessment you're talking about is roughly $28,138.50,” and said the state would cover a large share if the site qualified under the Seeds Act program.

The Seeds Act assessment is intended to make rural sites “shovel ready” so they can attract employers. Jacob said the property could ultimately support as many as 40 jobs and described the county’s portion of the assessment as a quarter of the total engineering costs while the state would contribute the remainder.

Commissioners pressed staff on practical obstacles. Commissioner Lena (as identified in the meeting transcript) said access from Highway 55, the need for a right‑of‑way, and the absence of county sewer were major concerns. She noted prior estimates to extend sewage lines to other sites that ran into the millions. Commissioner Holmes said she wanted more time to review county finances and suggested extending the current option on the property for another year: “I will. That'll give us all time to know what's going on,” she said.

Jacob also reported outreach to CSX and the Surface Transportation Board about rail service. He said CSX leases the line to Genesee & Wyoming and that conversations indicated there is interest in restoring or continuing service; he added the Surface Transportation Board had contacted the carrier about service obligations.

Commissioners discussed the total potential cost of taking the project through assessment, option extension and purchase; figures mentioned during the meeting ranged into the low hundreds of thousands of dollars if the county pursued acquisition and full infrastructure work. Several commissioners said county priorities for roads, staffing and current operational needs weighed against large up‑front investments.

After debate, the commission approved the $10,000 reimbursement (motion by Ms. Holmes, second by Mr. McGaughey, unanimously approved) and agreed to seek additional information and potential matching partners for the Seeds Act assessment. The commission asked staff to return with more detail at the next workshop; no final vote to fund the $28,138 assessment was taken at the meeting.

The discussion combined an economic incentive the commission previously approved (a $10,000 line‑item reimbursement to support recruitment) with deliberation over committing a county share to a state assessment that could unlock a larger state purchase contribution.

The commission instructed staff to explore matching funds from local partners, verify ownership and deed conditions for eventual transfer, and return with a clearer cost breakdown and timeline at the next workshop meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","20250513091429","oneSentenceSummary","Covington County commissioners on May 13 approved a $10,000 reimbursement to the county economic development office and discussed paying roughly $28,138 for a feasibility assessment under the state Seeds Act to evaluate a 100‑acre industrial site north of River Falls.","taxTitle","Covington County, Alabama","taxId",13436,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6061558,"Commission starts process to vacate long‑unused road near Rockhole Bridge Road; public notice to follow",155,2713000,2868000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3281354-4a5a0d4a63f9275ac1257eabca80f83e&start=2713&end=2868","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3281354-4a5a0d4a63f9275ac1257eabca80f83e/thumbnail_2713000.jpg","/articles/6061558/Covington-County/Alabama/Commission-starts-process-to-vacate-longunused-road-near-Rockhole-Bridge-Road-public-notice-to-follow","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6061558-25c630046fffe94ba5a44a52ea7bca29/orig.mp4?Expires=1771232171&Signature=Quqs1Lm9utilPxLU7E9eo7HUVYdYP7TzF7pLY9pxIidbodqyIbFa2gyHATjR4gmFGG17bCy2JurjQLMZFMDMDugIJfwsrHoyxQ7QXPlX5Vv1RwzRCn1dcsz~mTn30H~hajMW~cCpW~qeVqzSsY1F2ZP3JUxytvb31wHAsgVddf6EmFa6vtcMD92WZj8RULc8PQc9WPWu92RMlEc8FQMZA0pa~NIv0-BfHGaoCKXnOjUIecIbQaVqMasR6qAqno9~BzCdD~vVfmQ6t8Hh1Yr~6QywMibFagTbNMOMGlPM~Tz~42mw2k0bNag3r1Bs7Kt71TnFn1oPhRy9Uh1VstghCw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Covington County commissioners on May 13 authorized county staff to begin legal proceedings to vacate an old, long‑unused roadway that historically connected Rockhole Bridge Road to Andy Road near Carolina Baptist Church.

County staff said a resident submitted a petition to begin the vacation process and that historical aerial imagery suggests the road has been unused for decades and has trees growing back in the corridor. The county will notify utilities and property owners by mail, arrange required public notice, and schedule a public hearing once statutory timelines are met.

Staff explained that if the road is vacated the land typically reverts to the adjoining property owners based on the historic center line and that the matter will require surveying to establish boundaries. Commissioners voted to proceed with the notification and the vacation process by motion.

The county noted the petition followed the standard procedural steps and that additional legal steps and surveys will follow before any property changes are finalized.","Commissioners accepted a petition to begin legal steps to vacate an old, unused road that connects Rockhole Bridge Road to Andy Road near Carolina Baptist Church and directed staff to publish notices and contact utilities and landowners for a public hearing process.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6061563,"County announces May 16 tax sale: 174 unpaid parcels totaling about $75,000",54,33000,87000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3281354-4a5a0d4a63f9275ac1257eabca80f83e&start=33&end=87","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3281354-4a5a0d4a63f9275ac1257eabca80f83e/thumbnail_33000.jpg","/articles/6061563/Covington-County/Alabama/County-announces-May-16-tax-sale-174-unpaid-parcels-totaling-about-75000","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6061563-fcd89201a63d1f04a11031dbc547729b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771232171&Signature=E7nJzOT1OyHsVYX6SOXcuFU8bFgDCI84M2KGpjFxT-b0ARlDvSTVxI5S0L3y4b1MEUobeFz5aAUXOb5z0ATcRFWsML69cloYU2F~alZ8naL1~8bSrN3YrJCe9D1D-fuxcx3Use7Agp8RxWHaYBieSUreZH8m2THsMRD15zm2K5qChBpi30AJMeQx1Kfoa5s29-J0cYoYMocWAZe8HhESfWJZ-UKTQqBiu3IJUQGvvkkxcfkuxwCa~twt5SBdEtIHu9xSWJ-f4OOXE9jYH2d4di1CDsqyi-~gJ8gKcrDk6N~LWGo9adQ2~A3TAqm0Fy8gSJ6Lx0-RyRrhemlIqX4MwQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County staff told the Covington County Commission on May 13 that a tax sale will be held on Friday, May 16, beginning at 9 a.m., for 174 parcels with unpaid taxes totaling roughly $75,000. The presenter said parcel lists and online auction registration are available on the Covington County website under the online auction page.

The presenter asked commissioners to review the mailed list and to alert staff to any known property owners; staff said they would contact owners and continue outreach in the days before the sale.

No board action other than the announcement was recorded; the presenter encouraged interested parties to sign up online and noted staff were actively pursuing payment for several parcels before the sale.","County staff announced a tax sale scheduled for 9 a.m. on May 16 covering 174 unpaid parcels with a combined unpaid amount of approximately $75,000 and directed interested parties to the county website for auction details.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6061567,"Covington County declares IT and sheriff equipment surplus, authorizes bids for patrol vehicles",232,2198000,2430000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3281354-4a5a0d4a63f9275ac1257eabca80f83e&start=2198&end=2430","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3281354-4a5a0d4a63f9275ac1257eabca80f83e/thumbnail_2198000.jpg","/articles/6061567/Covington-County/Alabama/Covington-County-declares-IT-and-sheriff-equipment-surplus-authorizes-bids-for-patrol-vehicles","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6061567-62d263cec3b4a29ac8e2beb14482e87d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771232171&Signature=mBQiUofhqYtkP-nSakoeFUrOwrdrSZOkVlIYGdiUcgqZnKTRUGax9egFwzJ4huw0RGJP1zk7PLJ-bcY~JN~bd07EFkEyGzDE-SNvZaH20oyduYPnE24aH3QHgYLoAnBYhuHytH51ZLiLR8hSKZmdPLdtNP8wLaVRld2BtoEbBXxXOecJY89H8B7IW1KE8J7wLBT1fISuIo2z3cGyIy6FdumzkaCCbAqWJp6ZPPQKDxgGmXEPLsbz00nRpgvulfsONneXS7mZ4uTNfZMkk30pNqa5kl0VUYUIf-Q6xTZZp57mEnComSbM1IBElTNfhzZdWWQWKFonQExqmsXUhSPiHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its May 13 meeting, the Covington County Commission declared a list of IT items and two older sheriff vehicles surplus and authorized the sheriff’s office to solicit bids to buy three used, fully equipped patrol vehicles for the school resource division.

County staff identified monitors, printers and several older computers as surplus and said items not sold on the government auction site would be destroyed. The commission approved that declaration and the process by motion.

The sheriff told commissioners he wanted to replace three patrol vehicles with slightly used, fully equipped vehicles and to purchase one additional new vehicle, all to be paid from discretionary funds. Commissioners agreed to allow the sheriff to put the used vehicle and the new vehicle purchases out to bid. The commission also declared a 2019 Ford Expedition used by a captain surplus to allow it to be traded in on a replacement vehicle.

The board approved the surplus motions and the bidding authorization by voice votes. No changes to the county budget were recorded during the meeting for these purchases; the sheriff said purchases would be made from discretionary funds.

Sheriff office actions will be followed by surplus postings and the issuance of formal bid packets that will specify vehicle years and equipment requirements, the county said.","The commission declared IT equipment and two sheriff vehicles surplus, approved letting bids for three used, fully equipped patrol cars for the school resource division, and authorized a new vehicle purchase using sheriff discretionary funds.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Covington County weighs $28,138 site assessment under Seeds Act and approves $10,000 economic development reimbursement

Commission starts process to vacate long‑unused road near Rockhole Bridge Road; public notice to follow

County announces May 16 tax sale: 174 unpaid parcels totaling about $75,000

Covington County declares IT and sheriff equipment surplus, authorizes bids for patrol vehicles