Thinking big

ROGERSVILLE - Increases in businesses and demands for housing are some of the big issues this small Lauderdale town has faced in recent months.

Since Rogersville introduces travelers into Lauderdale County on U.S. 72 West, Mayor Harold Chandler said it's up to the town to make a positive impact.

"We're hoping to annex the property on Elk River into the town, which would give us the (designation of) 'gateway to Lauderdale County,' " Chandler said.

Town officials are looking into possibly annexing property within a five-mile radius outside its city limits.

"Those that live on the outskirts of town aren't getting the services the town could offer," Chandler said.

Rogersville officials also hope to entice Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) employees at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville to look further than Madison County as they relocate to Alabama.

The Missile Defense Agency's relocation of about 2,250 jobs to Redstone Arsenal has already begun to take place, with people moving to the Shoals and Tennessee Valley area from Washington, D.C., and Virginia.

"At the end of last year, people were starting to come in and talk about the fact that they were relocating because of BRAC," Chandler said.

The town is anticipating a major growth in the next few years, Chandler said, from its current population of almost 1,200 to an estimated 5,000.

Rogersville receives nearly three inquiries per week about the town; most are from those moving because of BRAC, Chandler said.

Rogersville Chamber of Commerce vice president and local business owner Frank Patterson said the Shoals has an opportunity to benefit from the fallout of BRAC, especially with transplanted families looking to live outside the Huntsville area.

"The impact is enormous if we work together," Patterson said.

In order to accommodate not only those relocating with BRAC but also anyone moving to the town, Chandler said one of the first issues Rogersville has had to discuss is housing.

Subdivisions are already being plotted and filled with utilities all across the town, especially on Lauderdale 91 and bordering the river. Subdivision developments include Deer Ridge, Lambs Ferry Hills, Ramblewood Shores, Hollandderry Acres, Rane Bay Shores and Octavia Estates. Several of the developments have homes already in them with the newer homes ranging in price from $100,000 to $300,000 or more.

"They're selling as fast as they build them," Chandler said.

Many of the developments are within close proximity to the river and are on the outskirts of the town's borders, but, if the annexation passes, they may soon be part of the town's limits.

Devi Harvill, a real estate agent for AAA Realty and Auction in Rogersville, said there has been a tremendous boon in home sales in the town within the past few years.

"There's nothing, now, in Rogersville under $100,000. It used to be that there were 600- to 700-square-foot log cabins on the river, but now they're coming in and building 3,500- to 4,000-square-foot contemporary homes."

Harvill said she's received several inquiries from a variety of people relocating to the area, including professionals, retirees and families just looking for a place to settle down.

"It's very desirable to people for many reasons. The town is continuing to grow," she said.

In addition to new growth, there has been a town-wide effort to revitalize its historical downtown area. With its new antique-fashioned charcoal-colored lighting fixtures lining Lee Street and bricked storefronts, visitors and residents may feel like they've stepped back in time into a quaint southern retreat.

Wesley Sinyard, owner of Southern Reflections Photography on Lee Street in downtown Rogersville, helped coordinate the recent downtown renovation project.

"We're trying to make it appealing to be downtown and appealing to the eye," Sinyard said. "There're too many towns that have let themselves go and die. I think it's getting more community-oriented here, and people enjoy the old downtown district."

To help with the revitalization of downtown, Rogersville applied for and received approval for a grant from the department of transportation, which the town hopes to receive in 2008, that is funded by the federal government.

The Transportation Enhancement Project's total price is $305,900. The town will pay 20 percent, and the DOT is paying 80 percent of the grant.

With the money, Chandler said the city hopes to improve the downtown area and equip it with more lighting fixtures and better sidewalks.

Also, as a part of the town's revamping efforts, it has added businesses, medical facilities and services.

The businesses most recently added include Fred's, Advance Auto Parts, Dollar General and, coming soon, is a Listerhill Credit Union and Cafe Savanna.

Matt Adams, co-owner of Adams Auto Body Inc. on U.S. 72 in Rogersville, has been in business for 10 years, and has been in Rogersville for two of those years.

"Our business has doubled because of our location on 72," Adams said. "One of the reasons why we moved down here is because we felt like the town would grow."

With all of the recent growth in business, the sales tax revenue for the city has already seen an increase.

From October 2005 until September 2006, the sales tax revenue was a total of approximately $594,300, and from October 2006 until the middle of June 2007, the sales tax revenue was already at approximately $427,400, which goes into the town's general fund for its operating budget.

Rogersville Court Clerk Angie Roberson said the city brings in an average of approximately $40,000 per month.

"With the extra money, the town uses it for improvements, sidewalk projects, paving and matching grants," Roberson said.

For medical-related needs, the town has two family practitioners, a dentist, two optometrists and will soon have another family practitioner, dentist, podiatrist and a physical therapist.

"If we have the doctors here, (residents will) use their hometown doctors more than having to go out of town," Chandler said.

The town has also discussed the need for a nursing home, but nothing has solidified as of yet.

Chandler said the city has lobbied for a satellite courthouse for Lauderdale County within Rogersville city limits, which would help residents on the eastern side of the county.

"I've spoken (license commissioner) to Mickey Haddock, and all of the Lauderdale County commissioners. They seem to think it's a joke and people can get on the computer to order their tags, but the elderly here won't do it over the computers," Chandler said.

To alleviate having to go to the Lauderdale Courthouse in Florence, those who live on the eastern side of the county, should have a closer venue to conduct business, Chandler said.

"They're saying they can't afford it. I've been in this battle for four or five years," he said.

In combating the problem, Chandler said the town has brainstormed a plan to bring a satellite courthouse to Rogersville in the town's plans to build a new town hall within the next year. Chandler said he wants to provide a place inside the new structure where residents can purchase and renew tags and pay taxes.

With the growth of Rogersville, Chandler said it is an inevitable issue that should be addressed.

In addition to attracting residents, town officials are also looking to fill its 92-acre industrial park, which is equipped with utilities and water from Rogersville Water Works.

Currently, businesses in the park include Springfield Premium Natural Water Inc., Howard's Motor Sports and Tri-Star Manufacturing.

"It's pretty much wide open to sub-contractors that will be doing work for BRAC," Patterson said. "There's going to be a need for sub-contractors, and they'll be looking for a good location because it's close proximity to I-65."

The city is looking to attract subcontractors that include construction companies, warehousing, distribution and light manufacturing.

Chandler said the recently approved half-cent sales tax that will be earmarked for economic development in the Shoals area will help Rogersville as it pursues new industry.

"It's probably one of the biggest moves of all time," Chandler said. "When it comes time for a company to come here, it will save small towns like us from spending a lot of money out of pocket to bring in businesses."

Chandler said the town hopes to continue to partner with others across the Shoals to help the area prosper.

"They're going to find that we have the friendliest people. My goal is to be to where people in the town have access to whatever they need," he said.

Kenda Williams can be reached at 740-5720 or kenda.williams@timesdaily.com.