Commission handles standard business, purchases Goodwater armory
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By Christa Jennings
Senior Staff Writer
The last two meetings of the County Commission saw mostly discussion and standard action with shorter meetings than usual.
All commissioners were present for both meetings, with all action items seeing unanimous approval.
In its March meeting, the Commission approved awarding the County Road 63 project for full depth reclamation and surface treatment bid to Central Alabama Asphalt & Construction Co. LLC. in the amount of $934,379.44, which was the lowest bid received with four other bids being more than $1 million.
Additionally the Commission approved to contract with OffenderWatch for mailing notifications regarding sex offenders in the county. This will be paid from the Sheriff’s Office discretionary funds with a one-time fee of $270 for a 12-month subscription.
Also during its March meeting the Commission approved Jason Thornton’s request to apply for an alcohol license for Kelly’s Crossroads Investments LLC.; the purchase of a carport cover for the county ambulance, with Commissioner Ronnie Joiner saying he would look for one to purchase; the county levies for alcohol licensing as is done annually, with no changes made; for Chair Lamar Daugherty to sign the Cares Act CDBG-CV Budget/Financial Report and Request of Payment; for Daugherty and County Administrator Amy Gilliland to to sign the resolution from ADECA-CDBG to disallow and de-obligate funds; and to remove and surplus five items from the Commission office, to include two obsolete computers, a non-functional 10-key calculator and two filing cabinets with warped drawers and missing handles.
The Commission also heard from Denise Walls, executive director of Lake Martin Area Economic Development Alliance, providing updates on Two Rivers Lumber and Westwater Resources in the industrial park in Kellyton, stating that both projects are moving along as planned.
Also in discussion, the Commission heard a presentation from Janna Roberts with First Community Bank in Wetumpka to discuss loan options and what the bank could help the county with, John Goff with the Alabama Forestry Commission regarding the possibility of AFC owning the CCC road leading to Flagg Mountain and EMA Director Sheldon Hutcherson discussing an allotment or storm appropriation for clean-up from storms and emergency responses to volunteer fire departments, which the Commission will revisit and discuss at budget time and look into funding sources.
The Commission also reviewed legislative reports provided by Chair Daugherty on behalf of the Association of County Commissions of Alabama.
During its February meeting, following discussion from a previous meeting, the Commission unanimously approved purchasing the armory building in Goodwater at a price of $200,000. During the meeting Daugherty said that he saw it as being a win/win for everyone, with the county being offered the opportunity to purchase the building after the Town of Goodwater declined.
The Commission also approved awarding the bridge replacement project on County Road 75 over Ray Creek to H & L Construction Inc., which was the lowest bidder with a total bid amount of $479,339.25.
During that meeting the commission also approved removing from the Commission office inventory Epson dot matrix printer as surplus; removing a garbage disposal from the jail inventory as surplus; reappointing Byron King to the Stewartville Water Authority for a 6-year term; signing a letter of support for Coosa Valley Medical Center’s application to adjust the State Health Plan to add five geriatric beds and create 20 new adult psychiatric beds in Sylacauga, which is the closest one to Coosa County as Russell Medical Center does not offer those; a contract with Royal Office Equipment for an additional printer for the Sheriff’s Office, with the $1,700 price plus contract fees coming from the Sheriff’s Office budget.
During the February meeting the Commission also heard from Jason Wilson in District 4 regarding potholes and road concerns with County Road 24 and Real Island Road.
Additionally the Commission heard from Cindy Atkinson regarding updates to AltaPointe Health Services and EMA Assistant Director Les Sellers regarding updates on EMA projects.
Sellers mentioned opportunities for appropriations for fiscal year 2026 through Sen. Katie Britt’s office. In discussion he said that in a previous meeting Robin Brooks had mentioned the intersection of U.S. Highway 280 and County Road 49 being a dangerous intersection and said that it was something that could be considered for the 2026 appropriations. He said that he would like to talk to the commissioners further about options and considerations for those appropriations.
Sellers also spoke on the county’s Hazard Mitigation Plan and risk assessment, providing copies to the commissioners. He also provided a QR code to the public input survey for the county’s Hazard Mitigation Plan update, and the survey can be accessed online at www.surveymonkey.com/r/PPMBDZH.
The survey is intended to collect public input about natural hazards that impact Coosa County and its residents, with information provided being used to help improve public/private coordination, mitigation and risk reduction efforts in the county.
Participation in the survey is voluntary and anonymous, and none of the information provided will be attributed to the survey respondent directly.
The next regularly scheduled monthly meeting of the Coosa County Commission will be held at 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 8.
