Gadsden Airport Authority hears from local group, Pilgrim s on plans gadsdentimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from gadsdentimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The Gadsden Times
If you think the sale of Gadsden Airport Authority property to Pilgrim’s Pride for an animal parts rendering plant is a can of “worms,” I think there are financial questions regarding the Northeast Alabama Regional Airport that could make that controversy look mild in comparison.
The rendering plant controversy should be the catalyst for a renewed request to the State of Alabama for a forensic financial audit of the books of the Gadsden airport, dating back to the $6 million bond issue in 2003. That audit is the subject for a future commentary.
Pilgrim’s Pride has offered to buy or lease 88 acres of Gadsden airport property to build the rendering plant. The company has offered the GAA $1.1 million as an outright purchase, or would take out a 30-year lease at $55,000 annually.
The Gadsden Airport Authority will update the status of rendering plant litigation and schedule another meeting this one to hear proposals from potential buyers or leasers of the contested tract when it meets Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. at The Venue.
The authority is involved in litigation related to Pilgrim Pride s expressed interest in buying or leasing about 88 acres of land owned by the GAA on Steele Station Road. Pilgrim s Pride wants to build a rendering plant to make animal food ingredients.
The GAA currently has two informal offers on the table to buy or lease the property. One is from Pilgrim s for construction of the rendering plant. The second is from a group that opposes the plant.