Solar farm tax abatement request to commission fails

County commissioners allow topic to die with lack of motion

The Covington County Commission discussed a potential tax abatement for Origis Energy during a regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, but the item died from lack of a motion.

At a workshop held on March 6, officials with Origis requested for the commission to grant an abatement of all state and local non-educational property taxes including sales tax related to construction costs of the proposed project.

Covington County resident Blaine Wilson addressed the commission in opposition to Origis’ tax abatement request.

“I am not against a man or woman being able to do whatever he or she chooses to do with property they own,” Wilson said. “What I am against is propping up the individual wealth of one family and the Miami, Florida Green Energy Mafia on the backs of the hard-working men and women — the taxpayers of this county — in the form of 50 percent tax abatements.”

Chairman Michael Smith acknowledged the commission for the time they spent looking into the matter.

“These commissioners have worked tirelessly in the last two to three weeks trying to determine what would be best regarding what has been presented to them. I know they have had numerous conversations, not necessarily among themselves, but with people from outside agencies to get as much knowledge as they can,” Smith said.

In other business:

• Sheriff Blake Turman recognized deputy sergeant Houston Gilbert and dispatchers Leslie Jernigan, Jayla Baxter, and Lindsey Johnson for their response to an emergency call in Red Level earlier this month.
• Sheriff Turman presented a proclamation recognizing E-911 director Frank Shaffer and deputy director Chelsey Yates for progress since they began their roles in July 2024.
• Revenue Commissioner Chuck Patterson thanked county residents for their efforts in paying 2024 property taxes.
• The commission rescinded a prior motion for the establishment of a CATS bus parking lot next to the jail after an alternate solution was found.
• The commission approved declaring five buses from the CATS fleet as surplus. The vehicles, a 2010 Ford Starcraft Starlite, 2016 Ford Cutaway V, 2018 Ford Econoline, and two 2019 Ford Econolines will be sold online through GovDeals.
• The commission approved awarding a bid for a boiler and installation project at the jail to Al Hill’s Boiler Sales and Repair, Inc., of Theodore, Alabama, which was the lone bidder with a bid of $301,675.60.
• The commission approved declaring several pews from the Covington County Jail chapel as surplus. Sheriff Turman will determine the method of disposal.
• The commission approved renovations to the current security desk at the Covington County Courthouse by S&H Cabinet of Opp, including a quartz countertop.
• The commission approved the hiring of Phillip Anderson as the county’s new maintenance director.
• The commission approved the hiring of John Perrette for a temporary full-time position at the Covington Center Arena lasting six months.
• County Engineer Lynn Ralls reported progress on the Horn Hill Bridge project and said components for the bridge are currently being delivered.

To read a previous article from Origis’ original request to the commission, click here.

The commission will hold its next workshop Thursday, April 3, at 9 a.m. The next meeting of the Covington County Commission will be held on Tuesday, April 8, at 9 a.m. The public is invited to attend both.