By BRAD GASKINS / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA – Shelby County is considering the purchase of up to 20 acres of land adjacent to its existing chert pit off County Road 109.

The highway department uses chert to pave roads and has for the last several months looked for a new source of chert, which it uses to pave roads.

The Shelby County Commission passed a resolution during its meeting Monday morning authorizing County Attorney Butch Ellis and County Engineer Randy Cole to negotiate the purchase. Commissioners would have to give approval prior to closing on any deal.

According to the resolution, “the acquisition of land adjacent to the existing chert pit would allow for more material to be excavated from the original site, as well as from the newly acquired property.”

According to the resolution, “adjacent property owners have indicated a willingness to sell property to the county” to mine chert.

Within the last couple months, the county had been looking at 27 acres of land near the intersection of Shelby County 26 and Camp Branch Road. That property is located in Alabaster and owned by the Carmeuse Lime Company.

Speaking to commissioners, Cole did not indicate if the county is still interested in that property.