The economic engine for the City of Adel, which seemed to sputter to a near stop about eight years ago with the National Great Recession, is roaring back to life.
Instead of plant closings, the City has enjoyed the opening of a Walmart Supercenter that employs more than 200 people and pending announcements about the openings of small businesses, restaurants in particular.
Large new industries are also eyeing Adel. The project in which a facility will manufacture wood pellets, particularly for power producers in Europe, is still a go, with the possibility of a new owner.
City Manager John Flythe told the Mayor and Council recently that a tentative industrial prospect identified due to economic development strategy only as “Project Midnight” is looking at Adel.
Flythe noted that the entire City of Adel consumes approximately 22 megawatts of power. This one customer would use 10 to 12 megawatts. They have an extremely high load factor and will be running an estimated 95 percent of the time. “What this means for us is they will have steady usage, with peaks or valleys,” Flythe said. “Historically, we have tried to give incentives in that the more they use, the less the power cost. While we do have an extra-large rate class, this customer would exceed this usage.”
Flythe asked for the Council’s authority to offer a rate for an XX-Large power user. The Council voted unanimously to approve the city manager’s request.
Discussing other improvements in the City of Adel with the Adel News, Flythe spoke about the Alabama Street paving project for the new Walmart and plans for Phase I of the bypass road from Highway 37 to Highway 76. He anticipates that the project will begin in 2017 and be completed by early 2018. Phase II of the bypass road would run from 76 to I-75 Exit 37. That project will be underway in the more distant future.
An enormous project that has been ongoing in recent months for Adel was the extension of a natural gas line north of the City along Highway 41 through Sparks and on to Lenox. “The main line has been completed,” Flythe said. “We are now extending an additional line from that to a (business) customer.” Some meters will need to be installed, too, for the project to be completed.
The natural gas extension has involved 53,377 linear feet of a 6-inch gas line and 12,610 feet of a 4-inch gas line, for a total of 11.6 miles. Flythe noted that the PVC lines were purchased from JM of Adel, the largest PVC pipe manufacturer in North America. The pipe was bought at a savings passed on to the City of Adel, Flythe said.
The City plans to also extend its natural gas system on a line south of town on Highway 41 to the area of the South Cook Industrial Park. The line will initially serve a chicken house operation, but would be available for other industries that open in that area.
The Adel Mayor/Council recently approved Resolution #16-01, declaring the City’s intent to enter into a financing agreement for the extension of the natural gas distribution system. The agreement will be with the Municipal Gas Authority of Georgia (MGAG) for an amount up to $1.5 million.
City officials also presented the Council with an estimated proposal of $185,000 to extend gas south on Highway 41. Initially, the extension would serve the group of chicken houses and would be an 11- year payback period. However, added value would be that this is in the industrial area, so it would also serve as capacity building.
City Manager John Flythe said the financing will support extending the City’s natural gas lines north to the Lenox area – with a six-year payback or less - and south to the new industrial park area. The 11- year payback period could become less as customers other than the chicken houses tie into the natural gas system, Flythe said.
Kevin Dao of Colquitt County has purchased land east of 41 from Dr. Russell Acree for the chicken houses. Currently, eight houses have been built and the owner plans to add eight more with existing acreage, Flythe said. The chicken houses and a doublewide mobile home for residency on the site don’t require a zoning hearing because they are already permitted under the Agricultural Use zoning for the land, said Zoning Administrator Chris Davis. The chicken house property is actually adjacent to Adel Industrial Development Authority property. The owner has an option on more property to add another eight chicken houses.
Under the zoning ordinance, 10 acres are required per chicken house, so a minimum of 240 acres would be needed for 24 of the structures.
Other projects of note discussed by Flythe: A planned speculative building marketed to new industry on the west side of Adel and a planned multi-unit housing development for which construction could begin in late August or early September on North Cleveland Avenue.
As far as improvements for the City of Adel departments, Flythe said the City plans to use 2016 SPLOST funds to purchase a new fire truck that would cost in the range of $600,000. The City also will be pursuing a grant to assist in funding body cameras for police officers.
Adel and Cook County benefit from a very good economic and leadership team, and the future of the community looks bright, Flythe said
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