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The City of Andalusia on Tuesday officially accepted a donation of property located in the area of the future Heritage Park.

The property was donated by the Andalusia and Conecuh Railroad Company, a subsidiary of PowerSouth Energy Cooperative.

The 2.25 acres is situated in the area of S. Cotton and Tisdale streets, just across Tisdale from where Heritage Park is planned to be constructed. The Covington County Historical Society Museum is on the property and that lease will be maintained, according to officials.

“This is great because it will provide additional opportunity for what we do [with the park],” said Mayor Earl Johnson.

The council voted unanimously to accept the donated property.

In other city business involving PowerSouth, the council voted to apply for a loan through the company’s business development program to build a new spec building in the industrial park. The city’s last spec building was purchased by Covington Casket Company.

According to City Clerk John Thompson, the funds available through the program would pay about half the cost of the construction, which is estimated at about $2 million.

The building will be built at 60,000 square feet with expansion possible if needed. The plan is to construct the spec building near the old entrance to the industrial park.

The PowerSouth loan program provides funds with no interest for four years. The city’s utilities board will apply for the loan with the city providing financial backing.

“We have plenty of land there, but no buildings. The last building was constructed using this very same program. If we are going entertain prospects, we need to have a building for them to come see,” Thompson said.

Other items discussed by the council during the Tuesday, May 2, meeting included:

• approving the purchase of computers and other technology equipment for the Andalusia Police Department. The project will cost about $67,000 and will be paid with CARES Act (COVID) funds.
• approving abatements for three properties located on Tanglewood Drive (weed), Dillard Street (weed) and S. Three Notch (junk and litter).
• presenting a first reading of an ordinance that would declare surplus a parcel of property at the Andalusia Industrial Park. With the first reading, the council could approve the measure at its next meeting.
• approving a donation of $1,500 to the Alabama High School Rodeo Association. The group will host a rodeo at Covington Arena June 1-4.