Commission to hold special meeting Tuesday
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Commission to hold special meeting Tuesday
By Christa Jennings
The County Commission adjourned its 2-part meeting this month last Tuesday, with still no action taken regarding the Rockford Senior Center after much discussion.
The commission initially met June 8 and recessed that meeting until June 15, as previously reported. After reconvening last Tuesday, the commission further discussed three agenda items and adjourned its regular monthly meeting.
There were no Town of Rockford representatives or others present for the reconvened meeting to discuss more details regarding the Rockford Senior Center.
With the other representatives not present, after some discussion the commission agreed to have County Administrator Amy Gilliland contact all involved to get dates and times of when they could meet and set up a special meeting for that subject.
The commission suggested they include Rockford Mayor Scott White, the engineer, contractor, East Alabama Regional Planning and development Commission, ADECA, and others involved in the center and grant for the meeting.
On Wednesday it was reported that the special meeting with White, all parties concerned and the commission to further discuss the center will be held at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 29.
Also during the reconvened meeting, the commission discussed the potential approval of a rural EMS equipment grant. The commission reviewed cost estimates and proposed items to purchase with the grant funds.
The grant would require a 25% match from the county. Taken into consideration and discussion was an estimated $225,000 for a fully equipped ambulance to be housed at Rockford for the county and an estimate of $150,000 for an EMS vehicle for Kellyton Fire and Rescue.
Goodwater fire Chief Elmore Unbehant was in attendance for the meeting and explained that Goodwater did not “need” a new vehicle because it had just recently gotten a new one, but that the department would be happy to get an ambulance if the county could afford it.
After much discussion, the commission unanimously approved applying for the grant for the two vehicles with the county matching the cost of the grant up to $93,750. This includes a match of up to $56,250 for the Rockford ambulance and up to $37,500 for the vehicle for Kellyton.
In other business at its June meeting, the commission:
- Unanimously approved a new contract with Certified Payments to be effective October 1 for credit/debit card property tax collections, which is a new vendor change that does not affect the budget.
- Unanimously approved DFC 22 – Insolvents, Errors and Taxes in Litigation for 2020 as required by the Code of Alabama and done annually.
- Approved by a majority vote for Mae Dunham, county maintenance employee, to receive a key to the courthouse. Commissioner Randall Dunham abstained from voting on the matter.
- Unanimously approved closing the courthouse on Monday, July 5, to observe the July 4 holiday, which falls on a Sunday.
- Unanimously approved a proclamation for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
- Discussed conditions of the Department of Human Resources’ building, including mold, window caulking and more, with the commission agreeing to have Maintenance Supervisor Todd Brown look into it.
- Unanimously approved a 1-year contract for removal of scrap and electronics from the electronic bin at the landfill at no cost to the county.
The commission also briefly discussed electing a new commission chairperson. However, with it being the first official meeting for new Commissioner Lamar Daugherty, he said that he does not yet fully understand what the chairperson does.
Daugherty said that he thinks Vice Chair Bertha K. McElrath has done a great job filling in as chair. He added that he would like to “graciously ask” to table the matter so that he can look into it further and gain a better understanding of the duties and responsibilities of the chairperson.
The commission unanimously approved tabling the matter until its July meeting.
In public comments, the commission also heard from Burt Coffman regarding the Equality Volunteer Fire department’s extension on County Road 20 with a request asking the county to consider helping clear the property, as well as heard from Leslie Hardy of the Goodwater area with concerns about the lack of an animal shelter in the county and asking the commission to consider and look into it. No action was taken on either item during this month’s meeting.
The next regularly scheduled monthly meeting of the Coosa County Commission, following Tuesday’s special meeting, will be held at 9:30 a.m. July 13.
