On Monday, March 17, the Limestone County Commission unanimously approved an agreement with Morell Engineering, Inc., and the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) for construction, engineering and inspection services on roadway improvements on Airport Road and the construction of a new roadway to benefit Project Fox at Pryor Field Regional Airport. 

Airport Director Adam Fox told The News Courier that Project Fox aimed to create a substantial maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility on the southeast side of Pryor Field. Fox explained that the development of the more than 80 acres at Pryor Field will be dependent on the construction of this new access road.

“This access road is one of the crucial steps for us to have the site red dirt ready,” Fox told The News Courier. “You have to have access, you have to have utilities and you have to have a fully functional taxiway. We are around 75 percent complete with the new taxiway, which was about a $3.5 million project. We are also several weeks into a sewer project to support the area as well. The last key cog to this successful development is the access road.”

Fox said that with all the companies interested in the southeast development, once the project is completed Pryor Field is estimated to create more than 300 new jobs in Limestone County. 

“In the near future we will have another long term ground lease signed by a company that is looking at a 35,000 square foot facility on that side of the airport,” Fox said. “We are in the age of economic development here at Pryor Field Regional Airport. The Pryor Field Airport Authority has been instrumental in allowing this success to happen, and we are eager to grow and create aviation and aerospace jobs here in Limestone County. We are the front door to all major economic developments in North Alabama, and we look forward to continuing that into the future.”

At their previous meeting on Friday, March 7, members of the Limestone County Commission awarded a $595,005.95 bid to Grayson Carter and Son Contracting, Inc., for Project Fox. Commission Chairman Collin Daly spoke about the immense impact Pryor Field has on North Alabama’s growth.

“We are very fortunate to be the holding entity of Pryor Field — but it is vital for the city of Athens, the city of Decatur, Morgan County and Limestone County,” Daly said. “It’s an asset that most counties don’t have, and it brings in well-paying jobs to our communities. Pryor Field also provides educational experiences to places like Calhoun Community College, so it plays a vital role in higher education as well.”

In other business the commission:

— Approved a resolution and a letter agreement for the 2025 ATRIP-II project

— Approved a work release program employer agreement with the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC)

— Appointed Austin Pike and Kristi Valls to the Department of Human Resources (DHR) Board until March 17, 2031

— Awarded a $617,350 bid to Premier Structures, Inc., for the construction of a recycling building.

— Awarded a $28,890.90 bid to GRESCO for pole hardware

— Approved the hire of Mayela Salgado as Commission Clerk

— Approved the hire of Alexandra Boyd as Nutrition Program Supervisor

— Approved the hire of Ethan Wilson as a Solid Waste Driver

— Approved various merit increases for county employees