“The park will now become a reality,” said Mayor Lew Watson following the council’s special called meeting at City Hall.
He said the Talladega City Council is expected to approve a similar resolution at a special called meeting today.
“I am definitely pleased that this project is moving forward,” Watson said.
He said that five years from now the park could thrive.
“I think it could become one of the major tourist attractions in Alabama,” Watson said.
The resolution the council unanimously passed Wednesday morning authorizes the park board to submit an application for the incorporation of the park authority.
Talladega and Lincoln councils will appoint members of the authority, which will oversee the park.
Under the agreement, Joseph Cooper of Lincoln will serve as the director for the park authority.
Once the park authority is set up, Watson said, the Talladega County Commission will deed the 2, 836-acre former military site to the authority.
Officials recently received a $50,000 Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant, to help develop the Brecon recreational area.
Watson said he believes the new park will create new jobs and pump money into the local economy and businesses.
“I believe Talladega will benefit more from this project; it’s closer,” said Lincoln Councilman Kurt Kuykendall. “This should bring business to all of Talladega County.”
Watson said that once the Public Park Authority is incorporated, Talladega and Lincoln councils will appoint its five members.
He said Lincoln will have three representatives and Talladega will have two for the first four years. The next four years Talladega will have three members and Lincoln will have two, switching back and forth every four years.
“I anticipate the property would be deeded from the County Commission after the authority is set up,” Watson said.
He said money received from timber sales will help fund the development of the park.
Trees need thinning out in certain areas of the park, and the revenue produced from timber sales will provide the authority money for matching grants.
The recreation area could offer trails for motorized vehicles, mountain bikes, horses and hiking. A camping area is also planned.
Watson said there are small ponds on the federal land, but a larger lake could be developed for fishing and boating.
According to officials, the land, known as the Annex Property, was acquired by the U.S. Army in 1941. Three years ago, the property was transferred to the Talladega County Commission under the National Park Service’s Federal Lands to Park Program.
In June, the commission approved a resolution supporting the efforts of the cities of Talladega and Lincoln to develop the recreation area, and the U.S. Department of Interior also checked off on the plan, Watson said.
Section 11-47-217
Boards of directors of authorities.
(a) Each authority shall have a board of directors composed of the number of directors provided in the certificate of incorporation, as most recently amended. Unless provided to the contrary in its certificate of incorporation, all powers of the authority shall be exercised, and the authority shall be governed by the board or pursuant to its authorization. Subject to the provisions of subdivision (8) of Section 11-47-215, the board shall consist of directors who have the qualifications and are elected or appointed for certain terms of office as shall be specified in the certificate of incorporation of the authority. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the original directors are appointed by the incorporators, the original directors shall be identified in the proposed form of the certificate of incorporation submitted to the governing body of each of the authorizing subdivisions together with the application for authority to incorporate.
So who is applying for authority from 2 Cities? Without out the county commission making a resolution?
(c) Each director shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses actually incurred in the performance of his or her duties.
Section 11-47-210
Definitions.
When used in this article, unless the context plainly indicates otherwise, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:
(1) APPLICANT. An individual who files a written application with the governing body of any county or municipality in accordance with Section 11-47-214. Who is this mysterious person or persons? I'll bet it's the people w/ a million dollars Mayor York was so pee'd about not getting that money for the city of Talladega. They never did say in the PUBLIC meeting who that was ??????? Follow the money !!!!!!
(2) AUTHORITY. A public corporation organized under this article for the purposes, with the powers, and subject to the restrictions set forth in this article.
(3) AUTHORIZING COUNTY. With respect to an authority, any county which has a governing body that has made findings and determinations of facts pertaining to the organization of the authority in accordance with Section 11-47-214.
(4) AUTHORIZING MUNICIPALITY. With respect to an authority, any municipality which has a governing body that has made findings and determinations of facts pertaining to the organization of the authority in accordance with Section 11-47-214.