By By Michael S. Hill
Advance Staff Writer
Atmore Mayor Rodney Owens and Masland Carpets Director of Operations Bill Hamilton announced at the July 10 Atmore City Council meeting that Masland is planning to expand its present location.
Hamilton said Masland wants to increase its physical plant in Atmore to be able to accomodate the high rate of growth the company has experienced in recent years.
Owens noted at the council meeting that Masland's expansion options are limited because of the property restrictions neighboring businesses present.
Owens said closing the road would be a "lengthy legal process," the first step of which was taken at the council meeting. The council passed a resolution to hold a public hearing on Aug. 14 for the ordinance that, if passed, would allow the city to close a portion of Carpet Drive and Masland to begin expansion across the street.
Owens said property owners using Carpet Drive shouldn't worry about enduring reduced access to their lots.
Hamilton said Masland has already begun expanding on its present site.
As a sidebar to Masland's expansion, the question has arisen of what is to become of the city's spec building that sits on the land Hamilton wants to build on.
Owens said the spec building had been an obstacle to the Masland company's plans to grow, but now Atmore and Masland executives have worked the problem out.
Hamilton said Masland's rapid growth has been especially evident here in Atmore, and that future growth will continue to benefit Atmore.
Owens said Masland's proposed expansion is good news for the city of Atmore.
Owens said the expansion is to progress in phases.
Hamilton said his company's committment to expand has been met with enthusiasm on Atmore's part.