BAY MINETTE, Ala. — All mineral interests have been sent to the state Department of Federal Affairs and a deed has been recorded for the site of the Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery.

Gathering mineral rights has been a stumbling block for the Baldwin County Commission for more than a year. The rights are required for the county to receive $7 million in federal funds to construct the cemetery on county-owned land situated on State Road 225 across from Historic Blakeley State Park.

The site will be the resting place for tens of thousands of veterans.

An architectural and engineering firm has been selected to perform environmental and historical assessments and create a site plan. Construction should begin this year.

Baldwin County Commission chairman Frank Burt said Tuesday that the Veterans Administration will present site plans when completed.

County attorney David Connor said more than $200,000 had been set aside to purchase mineral rights based on appraised value after condemnation proceedings were complete.

“The property owners all donated the rights,” Connor said. “No one accepted a dime.”

The 103-acre tract will be designed to accommodate veteran burials for 75 years, according to Spanish Fort Viet Nam veteran and veteran advocate Barry Booth.

Booth earlier said there are about 70,000 veterans in south Alabama, but the cemetery will be open to veterans nationwide and eligible family members, which includes spouses and dependent children of veterans.

The county will donate the property to the state. Federal monies will be used to develop the tract and the state will maintain it.