THE SELMA TIMES-JOURNAL

County commissioners aren’t sure what to do about a road for Dixie Pellets.

The county has about $500,000 to help build access to the new plant, but a cost estimate from engineers was $1.5 million.

The plant’s parent company, New Gas Concepts, produces alternative fuel products and plans to hire 106 employees, with an average salary of $40,000 a year.

International Paper has allowed contractors to use one of their roads as they work to prepare the old Alabama State Docks facility for Dixie Pellets.

The county applied for a grant recently from the Alabama Industrial Access Authority but didn’t receive it. Ballard said he’ll ask the authority to reconsider.

Meanwhile, commissioners on Monday approved installation of Dixie Pellet’s water tower, which will cost the industry $113,000.

Dixie Pellets is scheduled to open in July.