County Commission plans public hearings, more
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By Christa Jennings
Senior Staff Writer
Following action taken at last Tuesday’s County Commission meeting, the county will be holding two public hearings and a bid opening, all to be held Tuesday evening.
During the meeting, with all commissioners present, the Commission approved with a 4-1 vote for Chair Lamar Daugherty and County Administrator Amy Gilliland to sign the resolution to de-obligate the remaining $11,998.14 CDBG COVID CV-NC-20-033 grant equipment funds, with Commissioner Bertha K. McElrath opposing the motion.
The Commission went on to unanimously approved Daugherty signing all closeout forms for the CDBG CV-NC-20-03 grant.
In later discussion after the meeting, Gilliland explained that this de-obligation was for funds that were never obligated. It was the balance of the grant, but the funds had to be de-obligated so that the county would not try to use the funds for anything else or other projects.
Following that action taken, the Commission approved setting a date and time for the public hearing to close out the CDBG CV-NC-20-03 grant. That public hearing has been set for Tuesday, May 27, at 6 p.m.
Additionally, the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting originally included an item to approve razing the building located beside the County Courthouse, also referred to as the old Extension building.
However, in discussion it was stated that at the advice of county attorney John K. Johnson, the Commission would change it to be approving setting a public hearing for the matter rather than approve action on the building so that it could be done openly and allow the public to voice any concerns.
During discussion, District 4 County Commissioner Ronnie Joiner asked about the utilities that are being paid on the building since it has been closed, and it was stated that the utilities are $800 per month for the vacant building. Joiner said that is $800 per month, or $9,600 per year, that is being “thrown away” while the building is “just sitting there.”
Following discussion, the Commission unanimously approved setting the public hearing to discuss razing the building for 6:30 p.m. May 27, to follow the other public hearing.
Additionally, an item was added to the agenda for bidding out limestone for the Highway Department. The Commission unanimously approved accepting bids for limestone, with those bids to be open at 7:30 p.m. May 27.
As such, that leaves the Commission’s next scheduled meetings to be held Tuesday with the public hearing to close out the CDBG CV-NC-20-03 grant at 6 p.m., the public hearing to discuss razing the building next to the courthouse at 6:30 p.m., and opening bids for limestone at 7:30 p.m.
In other business, during last week’s Commission meeting commissioners heard from Sheriff Michael Howell regarding a new agreement related to housing inmates.
The Autauga Housing Agreement is to allow the Coosa County Jail to house and feed inmates from Autauga County Jail. The agreement reads that the “Autauga County Metro Jail is in need of assistance to provide adequate jail facilities for the housing, safekeeping and subsistence for persons who have, through due process of law, become prisoners of Autauga County, and Autauga is willing to pay for such facilities and services.”
Per the agreement, Autauga will be responsible for paying for all medications and medical treatment expenses incurred for its inmates, upon notice of charges by a medical provider, as well as provide transportation to and from medical facilities or doctors upon request from Coosa Sheriff’s Office personnel.
Autauga will pay $30 per inmate per day, to be paid to the County Commission. The money will go to cover clothing, food and customary and routine medical expense, with Sheriff Howell and the Commission adding into the agreement that the money will also go toward maintenance of the county jail.
The compensation does not include “extraordinary cost for medical care,” such as cost of hospital, emergency room, security, outside specialist, or special medications, which “are not customarily dispensed at the jail to local detainees.”
The Commission unanimously approved for Howell and Chair Daugherty to sign the Autauga Housing Agreement, contingent upon attorney Johnson reviewing changes to the original agreement.
The Commission also unanimously approved Daugherty signing the Landfill Agreement between Coosa County and J & J Construction. Per the one-year agreement, J & J Construction will load and remove all scrap metal and electronics delivered and stockpiled at the county landfill.
In other business, the Commission unanimously approved and adopted a resolution presented and read by District 3 Commissioner Brandon Davis to honor Rev. Bruce W. Henderson Jr. as the new pastor of New Home Missionary Baptist Church.
In part, the resolution reads, “We, the members of the Coosa County Commission, hereby welcome Rev. Bruce W. Henderson Jr. as the pastor and extend our prayers, blessings and unwavering support to him and his family as they embark on this new chapter in ministry. May God continue to bless and guide him in all that he does for the glory of His name.”
The Commission also reviewed four bids received for a 2-bay covered garage for the county ambulance and rescue vehicle. The Commission had previously approved the purchase of a canopy, but after reviewing and discussion it was decided that the ambulance needed an enclosed garage.
After reviewing the bids received, the Commission unanimously approved a bid from Harris Storage Solutions Inc. in Sylacauga to install the garage at a cost of $19,395.04, minus a 10% discount.
The Commission also unanimously approved entering into a user agreement with Biometrica, which is used for law enforcement purposes, with Talladega County and some surrounding agencies using the Biometrica interface, as well.
The agreement allows Biometrica direct access to the Coosa County Sheriff’s Office’s booking, warrant and sex offender data, as well as governing the terms and conditions of the Sheriff’s Office’s direct access to Biometrica’s UmbrA database via a web-based user interface.
The agreement further states that in order to facilitate real-time data access and to support the Sheriff’s Office in its investigative efforts, the Sheriff’s Office will provide Biometrica’s systems continued direct access to real-time booking, warrant and sex offender data with charge and subject details, “including image data, demographic data and other relevant identifiers.”
In other business, the County Commission:
- Unanimously approved electing Commissioner Ronnie Joiner as the county representative to serve on the East Alabama Board.
- Unanimously approved Safe Guard replacing the fire alarm system inside the jail using capital improvement funds, with the current system having been there 20-plus years and needing to be updated.
- Unanimously approved Chair Daugherty signing the Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday resolution, with the sales tax holiday being July 18-20.
- Unanimously approved removing a Konica Minolta Magi color 4750 EN printer located in the Sheriff’s Office from the inventory and surplussing it.
- Discussed road issues on Gooden Lane in District 2.
- Discussed the Hazard Mitigation Plan for Coosa County as presented by EMA Assistant Director Les Sellers.
During staff reports, County Engineer Tad Eason reported that the Highway Department would be starting on the County Road 63 project the next day and that plans are to start on the bridge on County Road 75 the day after Memorial Day.
Following Tuesday’s public hearings and bid opening, the next regularly scheduled monthly meeting of the Coosa County Commission will be held at 9 a.m. June 10.
