Industrial Development Board – Master’s Footwork Shows No Usable Property

The Jefferson County Industrial Development Board met on Friday morning, January 24, 2014 in the Jefferson County Health Department bottom floor. According to information provided by Garret Wagley, Director of Economic Development for the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce and ad hoc Industrial Development Board Member, the focus of the meeting was IDB owned property and potential property. Chairman of the Board, Larry Masters, presented the IDB with a list of current IDB property, which consisted largely of air shafts (19 of 21 IDB owned properties). Of the two remaining properties, one is null as of December 31st and one is adjacent to the Jefferson County Health Department and is unusable due to terrain.

Wagley stated that the IDB discussed undeveloped property, around 26 acres on Sunrise Ridge in the Industrial Park, as well as some adjacent acreage. He presented the Board with information previously compiled by TVA and Barge Waggoner to illustrated desirable qualities in potential industrial property.

New Business for the IDB included instructing Wagley to investigate the costs associated with signage at the entrance to the current Industrial Park, at the request of a business owner in the park.

The Industrial Development Board has been seeking a direction regarding the need for IDB owned space for potential industry, as well as weighing the Jefferson County Commission’s expectations regarding potential purchases. Members of the IBD and Wagley toured and considered existing industrial buildings, however, according to Wagley, options were limited and currently vacant buildings did not meet the needs of the Board.