MAGNOLIA SPRINGS — The new Family Dollar location in Magnolia Springs was supposed to have opened months ago, but according to Magnolia Springs Mayor Charles Houser, the first customer won’t be able to check out the store until sometime in January.

            “According to the developer, they came in at the last minute and said they need to push it off another month,” Houser said.

            Houser is not pleased the construction has taken so long.

            “I let my displeasure be known because this thing has drug out,” he said. “We have missed three months of revenue. We have missed Christmas, which would have been a big budget month, and now we have traffic congestion.”

            Before the building can be handed over to Family Dollar, roadwork required by ALDOT has to be completed. The roadwork is currently underway adding a turning lane and making other improvements required.

            Deputy Wayne Grady spoke with one of the construction workers, who told him the work would probably be done before Christmas. Construction is being delayed because a culvert has not been delivered yet, but it is expected to be in late this week or early next week.