Following a public hearing on Tuesday, the county commission approved the development agreement between the county, the City of Riverside, the Industrial Development Board of St. Clair County and NuFab Rebar, LLC.

The chairman was granted authorization to execut all necessary documents related to the agreement.

County attorney Bill Weathington said that according to the agreement the county will be responsible for providing the Industrial Development Board with $120,000 to purchase the Sherman property, and NuFab Rebar, LLC will purchase the Calhoun property for building the new facility.

“This is exciting for Riverside to be merging those two pieces of property,” County Commission Chairman Stan Batemon said.

The City of Riverside agrees to assist in the development by obtaining the necessary permits and applications and engage in training the workforce necessary to run operations.

NuFab Rebar, LLC plans to invest $6.9 million in the project.  Over the next three years, this new development will create 50 new jobs, and with plans to expand, the company hopes to create more than 70 jobs over the next five years.

The county will be reimbursed for the $120,000 they loan to the Industrial Development Board after transfer of property to NuFab Rebar, LLC.

“This is probably the most economically feasible project the county has entered into in recent years because [the money] will paid back,” Weathington said.

Work on the project is expected to begin in June.

In other actions Tuesday, the county commission:

—Approved the acceptance of the Alabama Department of Public Health Grant in the amount of $15,000.  The grant money will be used to meet the needs of the St. Clair EMA.

—Approved the request of St. Clair County Sheriff Terry Surles to sell a 2008 Crown Victoria patrol car and safety equipment to the Town of Steele for $4,600.  Some of the money will be applied to pistol permits and the rest will be placed in the county’s general fund.

—Approved the request of Judge Alan Furr to reimburse the Day Program $2,0274.78 for drug testing supplies.  The money will be paid from the Juvenile Court Services Fund.

—Approved the request of Sheriff Terry Surles to declare five patrol vehicles and two seized vehicles as surplus items to be sold on GovDeals.com.

—Approved the request of County Engineer Dan Dahlke to post the vacant Road Superintendent position.

—Approved the county’s participation in the 2012 Weather Preparedness Tax Holiday July 6-8.