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LaFAYETTE — County Attorney Skip McCoy announced during Monday night’s commission meeting that the County Courthouse in LaFayette and the annex in Lanett would remain closed to the public through May 15. The courts will be reopening late this month. Chambers County District Court could reopen by May 20 and Circuit Court by May 26.

In business at the Monday afternoon session, the commission approved a tax abatement for Ajin USA, located in the Chambers County Industrial Park in Cusseta. The plant will be getting $13.5 million in molding and assembly equipment needed for the production of parts for new Hyundai vehicles in 2021. At least five new employees will need to be hired when this goes into production. Ajin currently has 540 team members, making it one of the county’s largest employers.

The taxes owed to public schools in Chambers County will be exempted from the abatement. Under Alabama law, taxes owed to schools cannot be included in an abatement.

The abatement is good for three years and could save the company an estimated $55,000 each year. Chambers County gains by having a company located that employs more than 500 people, most of them county residents.

County Engineer Josh Harvill reported that his department is making progress in recovering from road damage sustained in flooding that took place in February. Some damaged pipes had been replaced on county roads and more work projects will be taken care of in the coming days.

A current pipe replacement project is taking place on County Road 53 near Abanda.

“With good weather, we will be back to normal soon,” he said.

Jones commended the department heads on having done good work through a very difficult period.

He also commended Harvill on having been named the vice-president for the southeast region for a highway engineers association.

“We are glad to have you here in Chambers County,” he said.

“I’m glad to be here,” Harvill replied.