By Staff
The County Commission Wednesday did the right thing when the voted to help the Town of FLomaton provide matching funds for the widening of Hwy. 113 from Hwy. 31 to I-65 north of Flomaton.
The project drew Gov. Bob Riley's interest when it was presented as a possible hurricane evacuation route shortly after Hurricane Ivan. Earlier this year, Flomaton Mayor Dewey Bondurant Jr. and other Flomaton leaders got a committment of $20 million from the state for the project IF they could come up with a $5 million match.
They've found $4 million worth of help in Florida, leaving a need for $1 million. The Town of Flomaton has agreed to borrow the monies, but needed the county's help securing the debt.
The commission will annually total the sales taxes received within a mile of the I-65 and Hwy. 113 interchange. A percentage of those dollars will be committed to retiring Flomaton's debt.
The deal could still fall through, but at least the county is sending a strong message to Montgomery: We're willing to work together for progress.
It was the right thing to do, and we salute them for making a decision that won't be popular in all quarters.