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COLUMBIANA – Alex Dudchock served as Shelby County manager for more than 25 years, and he and his accomplishments were recognized by the Shelby County Commission at its meeting on Monday, March 9.

The Commission approved a resolution “in recognition of extraordinary service and leadership.”

“This is a special day,” Dudchock said while standing next to his wife, Natalie. “I have not looked at it as a job; God has blessed me with a calling.

“The county’s future is still in front of it.”

The resolution noted that Dudchock:

• Ensured a fiscally responsible government while developing innovative programs, directing targeted investments and fostering enduring partnerships.
• Wrote the legislatively approved Civil Service Act in 1992.
• Led five major public water system projects, including a new water treatment plant and distribution system on the Coosa River.
• Worked tirelessly on more than 300 new public facility investments or upgrades; 11 major highway, bridge and intersection improvements; and 105 hangars at the Shelby County Airport.
• Consistently listened to the needs of residents, businesses and area agencies to improve the quality of life in Shelby County by creating sustainable programs and public facilities.
• Improved and expanded parks and recreational opportunities, one of Shelby County’s best assets, by leveraging local tourism dollars and grant programs of more than $8 million new and renovated projects.
• Developed unprecedented partnerships and collaborations with municipalities, state agencies and local leaders to create a community with a shared vision of excellence.

The Commission also approved an incentive package for Therachem Research Medilab, a company in Chelsea that wishes to build a new facility in the city.

Chelsea and the state of Alabama have already approved incentives for the project, which is expected to create 20 new full-time jobs and represent an investment of about $5.2 million by Therachem.

Shelby County’s incentives will include a grant of up to 1 percent of net new payroll per year, not to exceed $14,000 and payable in five annual installments; and abatement of all noneducational state and county real and personal property taxes for a period of 10 years.

The Shelby County Economic and Industrial Development Authority and 58 INC. previously recommended the incentives for the Commission’s review.

“This is exactly the kind of business we want in Chelsea,” 58 INC. Managing Director Yvonne Murray told the Commission during her presentation about the incentives.

In other business, the Commission:

• Heard from five people in favor, and five people opposed, of a project proposed by a private developer to build a toll bridge over the Coosa River. Commission Chairman Elwyn Bearden said the Commission could vote on whether to grant a license for the project at its next meeting, on March 23.
• Awarded a bid for alignment safety check for autos and light trucks to the lowest responsive bidder, Howard Tire.
• Reappointed Susan Fulmer to the Harrison Regional Library Board.