TALLADEGA COUNTY — A work session discussing what to do with the Coosa River Annex Storage property turned heated Monday afternoon between the County Commission, the Talladega County Board of Education and the Cheaha Trail Riders.Representatives from the three groups came together to discuss the 2,832-acre property, located in the Brecon area adjacent to the northern border of the Talladega city limits, and the commission’s earlier decision to convey the property to the school board for an outdoor classroom area, an environmental education center and several career/tech training classes.
“I felt like the county Board of Education had more resources to utilize that property,” District 4 Commissioner Jimmy Roberson said of his vote to convey the property to the School System.
The original dispute arose after the Cheaha Trail Riders, a non-profit group that develops Off Highway Trails and recreational parks, including the Kentuck Park in the Talladega National Forest and Minooka Park in Chilton County, said they felt they were passed over at the Aug. 13 meeting when Roberson moved the property item from the discussion portion of the meeting to the action portion of the meeting.
The Trail Riders expressed an interest in creating ATV riding trails, along with areas for fishing, horseback riding, camping, 4-H events and Boy Scout and Girl Scout events, among other community-friendly facilities.
The commission voted in favor of the School System, with three approvals from Roberson, District 2 Commissioner Tony Haynes and District 3 Commissioner Kelvin Cunningham, and two abstentions from District 5 Commissioner John Carter and District 1 Commissioner Ed Lackey.
In a brief overview of the events, Roberson said he believed it was already supposed to be an action item and it was “evidently a mistake” to be listed under discussion items. Still, he said Monday’s meeting was to allow all the parties involved to say their peace.
Danny Hubbard, director of public relations for the Cheaha Trail Riders, said the park proposal will bring at a minimum $4 million into the area, just from the ATV tracks alone and through travelers making their way to the Talladega area. He said other parks throughout the country are bringing in thousands of guests every year.
“We’re preparing a park that would bring revenues in here,” he said. “Four million dollars is a minimum as the park matures.”
Hubbard said the park would be operated by volunteers in the early stages and then be run by employees who would be paid by park revenues.
Bobby Ray Holmes, owner of Holmestead Enterprises, said Polaris, Kawasaki and Honda have already committed money to the project and Glen Myers, government liaison for the group, said the park would receive federal and state monies.
“I’ve had the pleasure of serving on this commission for 16 years and I’ve never gotten one phone call complaining about not having anywhere to ride ATVs,” Roberson said.
Holmes reiterated that the trail riders were not asking the county to commit “one penny to the project.”
“If you will sign a contract guaranteeing $4 million in that first year, I’ll change my vote,” Roberson said.
“As a non-profit agency, I’m not going to sign any contract guaranteeing that,” Hubbard said.
“Well you don’t need to give me a document you can’t back up,” Roberson said.
“Studies and facts are all we can give you,” Hubbard said. “… Our whole goal is to bring revenues into the county.”
Charlie Gaines, attorney for the school board, gave the commissioners another run down of the School System’s plans for the property, which includes fishing, limited hunting, outdoor classrooms, camping, hiking, bird watching and career/tech education courses.
“The forest needs to be restored,” said school board member Johnny Ponder. “We can teach these kids how to do that.”
Since the property is deeded specifically for parks and recreational use, Bill Huie, program manager for the Southeast Region of the Federal Lands to Parks Program, said “third parties are authorized to provide recreational facilities and services on behalf of Talladega County through concession agreements. These agreements can be for most any type of recreational activity or support service and examples of concession agreements would be to manage a golf course or campground or operate a hunting program or even a trail riding program.”
Huie said the school board’s proposition could be eligible if the outdoor facility was available to both students and the general public, but he is awaiting documentation to prove the system’s ability to develop the property.
Gaines said the system was just trying to receive approval from the County Commission before moving forward. And now that they have, Huie can expect to receive documentation from the school board.
In order for the board to take over the property, Huie also said the land would have to be conveyed back to the U.S. government and then there would be no guarantee it would go to the Board of Education because the federal government gets first choice and then next priority goes to the homeless. He said the easiest way for the board to take over the property is to operate it under the county’s ownership.
Lackey said to be clear that the county wasn’t “giving the property to anybody,” it would have to be acquired. He added that possibly turning a large tract of land like the 2,800 acres back over to the federal government was “the most stupidest thing that (he’d) ever seen.”
County attorney Barry Vaughn said if the commission changes its mind or if the school board cannot legally take control of the land, the commission is fully capable of resending its decision in favor of the school board since there has been no contractual agreement.
Haynes said he wasn’t “rescinding anything until (he) heard their answers” and Roberson agreed.
Hubbard asked if the commission was specifically averse to ATVs or would the proposal seem more applicable if the school board is turned down.
“I’m open to any suggestion,” Roberson said.
Carter asked if the two could find a way to work together. Hubbard said that would be fine with them, but Ponder said that would not work within the School System’s management plan.
