County Commission conducts standard business
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By Christa Jennings
Senior Staff Writer
The Coosa County Commission held a relatively uneventful and short meeting this month, discussing a few items and unanimously approving the majority of agenda action items.
The commission unanimously approved closing the County Courthouse on Monday, July 3, for the Independence Day holiday. This means the courthouse will be closed both Monday and Tuesday, July 3-4, in observance of the holiday.
Regarding appointments, the commission unanimously approved appointing Melvin Palmer as the District 5 representative to the county’s E-911 Board and Kenneth Sinclair as the District 5 representative for the Department of Human Resources’ Board.
The commission also approved submitting a letter of support for the PASS, or Preservation of Alabama’s Significant Sites, grant program.
The Alabama Historical Commission received $6 million in funding from the Alabama Legislature for the new grant program. The PASS grant program will assist in the preservation and repair of historic sites in Alabama.
According to the Alabama Historical Commission, preference will be given to any structure constructed for government or public purpose prior to 1840 that is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and that is owned by a local city, town, or county government or non-profit organization, or any structure built before 1965 that is eligible for or listed in the National Register of Historic Places and that significantly contributed to the Civil Rights Movement.
Local and county governments, as well as non-profit organizations, are eligible to apply for the PASS program. There is no maximum grant amount, and funds will be given to “brick and mortar” projects for the physical preservation of historic sites.
For those interested in applying, the application period for the PASS grant ends July 10. To learn more about the PASS program or apply, visit ahc.alabama.gov/Resources/grants.aspx.
In other business, the County Commission also unanimously approved:
- For Chair Bertha K. McElrath to sign the American Rescue Plan Act Resolution for the Sheriff’s Office to acquire vehicles.
- A proclamation for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
- Allocating insurance funds from wrecks into the Sheriff’s Office budget under Line 560.
- For Chair McElrath to sign a resolution for expenditures of American Rescue Plan Act Local and Tribal funds for government purposes.
- The annual approval of insolvents, errors, litigations, and unsold tax liens for 2022 in assessments.
One item was removed from the meeting agenda, which was the closure of Kerry Lane in Goodwater, which was discussed at length in the May meeting.
Another agenda item died for the lack of a motion. That was in regards to a request for special appropriation to the Lake Martin Area United Way for the Day of Action to be held at Central Elementary School Coosa County on July 14, with volunteers also needed for that day.
However, since appropriations are only dispersed at the beginning of the fiscal year, the commission allowed that matter to die on the floor and instead offered to help the Lake Martin Area United Way personally by making a donation of time or supplies needed.
In other business, the commission heard from Cindy Ragland with the National Trails Foundation about the possibility of the National Forest Service moving its boundary into Coosa County and the potential for future revenue. She discussed the possibility of opening up more trails in Coosa County, and the matter may be discussed further at next month’s meeting.
The commission also heard from Janna Roberts, senior vice president of retail banking with First Community Bank of Central Alabama, regarding the county’s financial institution needs.
The commission, as a government entity, cannot use a credit union, which is what First Bank will become, because it is not FDIC Certified or insured. Roberts briefly discussed the potential for a deposit machine being put in the courthouse for the county to use, but that will be discussed further at a later date.
The next regularly scheduled monthly meeting of the Coosa County Commission will be held at 9 a.m. July 11.