County considering purchase of building for more storage
By SHARON KERR Staff Writer

The Jasper County Commissioners' Court met in regular session Monday, March 12, but will reconvene in a closed executive session this Friday, March 16, at 9 a.m. to discuss the possible purchase of the Jasper Gymnastics building at the corner of Austin and Houston Streets.

The building is 10,000 square feet, and is adjacent to a wall of the 3,000 square foot SHARE building slated for demolition. Renovations and new construction could give the county much needed office and storage space.

Duncan Foshee, owner of the building, reported to commissioners that he is ready to expand and is at a point in the schedules that allow a smooth transition for the kids if he and the county can reach an agreement at this time.

County Auditor Dru Miller said the county does have funds available, but the court elected to go into closed sessions to discuss price negotiations.

"We've had a problem with storage in the past and it's only going to get worse," Precinct 1 commissioner Charles Shofner said. "This is a window of opportunity."

The court also voted to update the jasper County Uniform Tax Abatement Plan, and then immediately approved the new Tiger Truck for the tax relief for their new business.

For homes and businesses seeking flood relief, the court approved Terry McFall of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to seek grants for debris cleanup and head wall and wing wall construction for erosion control and to aid drainage in the county.

McFall said the funds are part of an emergency watershed program, and that the assistance is based on the October and December floods in Jasper.

He said it will be up to the commissioners to designate the priorities. The grants for debris cleanup would be a 25/75 matching grant, the wing walls would be 100 percent covered.

David Waxman said the county could possibly turn $350,000 into $1.4 million utilizing provisions in the second round of CDBG funds and the 25/75 matching grants programs.

Waxman also told the court he had just received word that $487,000 was en route to Jasper coffers as a result of the all day wrangling between the Office of Rural Community Affairs (ORCA) representatives and members of county government three weeks ago, and help from U.S. congressman Kevin Brady's office.