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The Morgan County Economic Development Association has hired Ralph Edwards as project manager to oversee construction of the Morgan Center Business Park.
“His years of experience in project management and real estate will allow us to move forward with the development,” EDA President Jeremy Nails said in a written statement.
The proposed park will be on Byrd Road in Hartselle.
In September, the Morgan County Industrial Park and Economic Development Cooperative District board issued $16.7 million in bonds for construction and to purchase 166 acres.
Hartselle Mayor Dwight Tankersley serves on the cooperative district board.
He didn’t have a date on bidding the project, but said he expects construction to start before summer.
“We don’t have a final design, but the project is moving rapidly,” Tankersley said.
For almost three months, Hartselle Utilities has been working to extend sewer to the project.
“This is a great project for all of Morgan County,” Tankersley said.
County and municipal leaders started talking about the park in January 2005 because they knew the debt on Mallard Fox Creek Industrial Park would be paid in 2007.
During those meetings, elected officials agreed to continue to pledge part of their Tennessee Valley Authority in-lieu-of tax payments to fund the project.
Unlike Mallard Fox Creek, which is on Tennessee River in Decatur, the new park will focus on aerospace, biotech and defense industries in Huntsville.
The property for the business center park is on both sides of Interstate 65 near Thompson Road.
Edwards has a bachelor’s degree in construction technology and building science from the University of Southern Mississippi. He has worked for major construction companies.
He has been a Decatur Senior Kiwanis Club member for 15 years and resides in Decatur with his wife and two children.
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