New possibilities for economic growth and development are on the horizon for Pell City.

During the city council meeting Thursday night, the St. Clair Economic Development Council (EDC) asked Pell City to consider an agreement between the city, county and developer, Brent Federick for the renovation of the vacant Food World building.

Federick, a developer out of Carthage, Miss., who would buy the Food World property is expected to spend more than half a million dollars in exterior renovations for three new businesses to go in the old Food World building.  Federick has experience in completing these types of development projects in other cities.

According to the EDC, the proposal provides the developer will be reimbursed with fifty percent of the non-educational sales taxes from the three businesses located in the building.  The city and the county would share fifty percent of the non-educational sales taxes with the developer over a period of five years.  The amount of tax money the developer receives is capped at the amount spent on exterior renovations.  Documentation accounting for the money spent on the project will be required.

Mayor Bill Hereford said, “The council seems to be in agreement that this is a good idea.   This is yet another indication that we are coming out of economic recession and economic growth continues to thrive.”

The council agreed that the city’s participation in the agreement depends on whether or not support is obtained from the county commission for the project.

In other actions the council:

—Authorized an amendment to the city’s agreement with South West Water Company, setting a contract termination date for March 31.  The city will officially take over the water department after that date.

—Approved a memorandum of understanding concerning the St. Clair County Outdoor Warning Siren System, allowing the city to take over the city’s 11 warning systems.

—Approved $14,900 to replace three air units at the Senior Center.

—Accepted a bid for $32,911 made by Pinnacle Network for E-Citation equipment for police cars.

—Accepted a bid for $28,763.93 made by Allcomm Wireless for the radio project for the fire, street and police departments.

—Rejected a bid for library equipment and approved soliciting new bids.

—Rejected two bids for equipping the city’s new police cars and approved soliciting new bids.

—Approved and adopted the 2012 St. Clair County Emergency Operations Plan.

—Approved the city’s participation in the statewide Sales Tax Holiday the first weekend in August.

—Approved an on premise retail liquor license application for the new Kickers Sports Grill.

—Appointed Councilman James McGowan as the voting delegate and appointed Councilwoman Dot Wood as the first alternate for the Annual Convention of the Alabama League of Municipalities, May 19-22 in Birmingham.

—Announced a public hearing in City Hall for Thursday, March 15 at 9 a.m. to discuss water and sewer regulation changes.