The Alabama Attorney General’s Office has declined to issue an opinion on deeding the Brecon Annex Property to a board created by the state legislature earlier this year. Talladega County Commissioner Jimmy Roberson had requested the opinion.

The letter, dated July 6, says “This office received your letter in which you requested an opinion regarding whether the Coosa River Valley Recreation Board, created (by state act), may accept the conveyance of property and maintain the property that was deeded to the Talladega County Commission from the U.S. Department of the Interior through a quitclaim deed. The Attorney General’s Office is authorized to issue opinions to public officials and public bodies that relate to the present performance of a duty to be performed by that official or public body, and may not issue opinions on moot questions or questions that are currently in litigation. This office has been informed that the U.S. Department of the Interior, through the National Park Service, has begun a reversion process that requires the Talladega County Commission to return the property to the federal government or transfer the property to the city of Lincoln as approved by the National Park Service. Based upon this information, your questions are moot, and this office cannot provide you with an opinion.

Bill Huie, who oversees the national Lands to Parks Program, could not be reached for comment Friday.

The only requirement for developing the property, which was initially part of a munitions works commissioned by the federal government during World War II, is that it be used for a public park. The County Commission had originally planned to give the property to the County Board of Education for an outdoor classroom and timber revenue. When this plan was not approved, the commission did not come up with another plan.

The park service then solicited proposals, and received three: Lincoln’s and one from the city of Talladega and the International Motor Sports Hall of Fame. Lincoln’s proposal won the day, but the Talladega City Council asked the Commission to withhold transfer of the deed while they appealed that decision.

Huie encouraged Talladega to seek out partnerships to develop the property but said the decision to award it to Lincoln was final. The commission was told to transfer the deed or face litigation.

At this point, the state legislature got involved and created a board consisting representatives of all the various interested parties to govern and maintain the property. At the same time, a grassroots movement in Talladega began lobbying for a national veteran’s park on the site.