The sale of portions of Rex Lumber Brookhaven’s sawmill to awood treatment company was finalized earlier this week, anotherstep in the long process to bring lost forestry jobs back toLincoln County.

Great Southern Wood Preserving, Inc., announced Wednesday theclosure of a deal to purchase the old Phillips lumberyard andtreating plant from Rex Lumber Brookhaven, facilities theAlabama-based company needs to produce its popular YellaWoodpressure-treated lumber. The press release reaffirmed the company’sintentions to hire 15-20 employees and begin shipping treatedlumber from Brookhaven by Feb. 1 – less than two weeks away.

“We’re planning to hit the ground running,” GSWP President andCEO Jimmy Rane said in the press release. “We are delighted to bemoving into the Brookhaven community.”

The Brookhaven facility would be GSWP’s 11th wood treatmentplant.

GSWP announced its expansion intentions in early December, butquestions have surfaced regarding the company’s request for a wellon the property. Brookhaven ordinances prevent businesses fromtapping into the city’s aquifer, and aldermen have been working ona solution to protect the city’s water supply and simultaneouslymake room for the new company.

The same quandary over water wells exists for Rex LumberBrookhaven. Aldermen pledged Tuesday to work quickly toward asolution, with ideas mentioned in the past as allowing old wells onthe property to be restarted or offering a reduced rate forhigh-volume water users.

Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce Executive VicePresident Cliff Brumfield said the finalization of the sale is”great news” for Lincoln County.

“City leaders are working hard to formulate a solution thatworks for everybody,” he said.