That letter put the company s interest in the site in writing, and asked for the GAA s help in seeking releases from the FAA to develop the property, and with rezoning through the City of Gadsden.
In the latest letter, Glover wrote, We plan this action (going to the FAA) based on consultation with the Authority s consultant, who advised that we may submit the request without Authority action. As you ll recall from our June 16 letter, we are also seeking permission to rezone the 88 acre parcel currently owned by the Authority, he wrote. We respectfully request any necessary public meetings be held as soon as possible so the Authority may consider any offers on both the land saw or lease and the rezoning of the land.
A final decision on a preliminary injunction sought by opponents of the proposed Pilgrim s Pride rendering plant on Gadsden Airport Authority property will come next week, following a second day of testimony on Thursday.
Dynamic Collision, a body shop located on Steele Station Road near the proposed site adjacent to the Northeast Alabama Regional Airport, and close to a dozen other local residents and entities who were added as plaintiffs, are suing the City of the Gadsden and the Gadsden Airport Authority.
They claim locating the Pilgrim s Pride plant on the property would violate zoning regulations and are seeking to block it.
A preliminary hearing was held before Judge George Day in the case of Dynamic Collision vs. the City of Gadsden and the Gadsden Airport Authority. It focused on 16 subpoenas filed by the plaintiff who is challenging the proposed plant on GAA property on Steele Station Road, contending it would violate current zoning regulations against various city, airport and industrial development officials, Pilgrim s Pride itself and representatives of an engineering firm.
The subpoenas requested that the parties provide documents regarding communications between them and Pilgrim’s Pride to the court, and be present during a hearing scheduled for next Monday.
Pilgrim s Pride argued this would require them to also present documents involving the company s “trade secrets” and pertaining to technological designs and other equipment, setting up the potential for competitors to steal their ideas.
The Gadsden City Council went into executive session during its pre-council meeting on Tuesday to discuss the “authorizing of engagement” for a legal firm.
The council was in executive session for roughly an hour to talk about hiring Ford, Howard and Cornett, P.C. of Gadsden.
Council President Cynthia Toles said after the council returned to open session and before its regular meeting that the issue had simply been “presented” and no immediate action would be taken.
No specifics were discussed, but the city in the past week has suffered legal setbacks in Etowah County Circuit Court in its effort to quash attempts to stop legal challenges to a proposed Pilgrim’s Pride animal parts rendering plant on Gadsden Airport Authority property on Steele Station Road.
Attorney: Pilgrim s Pride soliciting bids for August construction start
Lawyers for Dynamic Collision filed a motion Thursday seeking an expedited ruling and hearing on a preliminary injunction request as part of a zoning challenge at the proposed site for a Pilgrim s Pride rendering plant.
Attorney Joshua Sullivan s motion asserts that a ruling is needed quickly because Pilgrim s Pride solicited bids for construction on the proposed plant, for a starting date in August.
Circuit Judge George Day responded quickly, setting a hearing for 2:30 p.m. May 10.
Day in his order setting the hearing said Dynamic Collision, the plaintiff, had sought a declaratory judgment and a permanent injunction something that should be entered, if needed, after a final hearing. The order says the court has taken the arguments under advisement and expects to make a ruling soon, along with other motions discussed in a hearing earlier this month.