Commission approves new Transportation Plan, more
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By Christa Jennings
Senior Staff Writer
During a relatively short meeting this month, the County Commission saw discussion on some matters and approved six agenda items during a 30-minute meeting.
The Commission unanimously approved the fiscal year 2026 County Transportation Plan presented by county engineer Tad Eason, which includes seven projects throughout the county.
Those projects include 0.37 miles on Firehouse Road with resurfacing and striping from U.S. Highway 280 to County Road 50, 0.98 miles of County Road 108 for full-depth reclamation and surface treatment from County Road 40 to 0.61 miles north of State Highway 22, 0.33 miles of Rustling Pines Lane with full-depth reclamation and surface treatment from County Road 150 to the dead end, 1.65 miles of County Road 54 for full-depth reclamation and surface treatment from Alabama Highway 259 to the Tallapoosa County Line, 3.62 miles of County Road 19 for full-depth reclamation and surface treatment from 0.92 miles north of County Road 459 to the dead end, 0.67 miles of County Road 56 for full-depth reclamation and surface treatment from County Road 29 to 0.67 miles east of County Road 29, and 0.73 miles of Prater Road for full-depth reclamation and surface treatment from County Road 56 to 0.73 miles north of County Road 56.
The Transportation Plan projects are part of the annual Alabama Rebuild program with the projects utilizing a combination of County Rebuild Alabama funds and Federal Aid Exchange funds, as well as money from the county’s 4-cent fund for equipment.
Also related to the Highway Department, the Commission unanimously approved sending annual bid forms for steel pipe, limestone, granite, liquid asphalt, gasoline/diesel fuel, and cement. Bids will be opened at the September 9 Commission meeting.
In other business, the Commission unanimously approved removing a side-by-side from the Sheriff’s Office inventory and giving it to the EMA Department, as requested by Sheriff Michael Howell.
As reported in March, the 2025 Can-Am side-by-side was recovered at a hunting camp in Union Springs after allegedly being stolen and had its vehicle identification number scratched off. The side-by-side was recovered and became Sheriff’s Office property following the arrest of Jeremy Dennis of Mountain Brook on insurance fraud and forgery charges.
Also during the Commission meeting, commissioners unanimously approved removing K-9 Archie from insurance and retiring him to K-9 handler Shane Payton.
Sheriff Howell explained that Payton had been Archie’s handler for two years, but that Payton had recently resigned and gone to work at another agency.
He said that K-9 Archie has two or three years of work left in him, but that if the Sheriff’s Office kept him then they would have to pay to re-certify him with another deputy, which he said would cost approximately the same as it would for a younger dog. He added that Archie would be retired completely and would not work for another agency, but would be placed with Payton.
In other action items, the Commission also unanimously approved the 2026 Severe Weather Preparedness Tax Holiday Resolution for February and removing an Epson projector from the Sheriff’s Office inventory and surplussing it.
The Commission also discussed proposed future uses for the old armory building along Alabama Highway 9 near Goodwater. Chair Lamar Daugherty stated that the Commission took possession of the building a couple of months ago, and while the county cannot make money off of it for three years, he said they can utilize it.
Daugherty mentioned some options and ideas, but also asked department heads about their ideas and time frames.
Judge of Probate Richard Dean said that he would get a plan together. Howell said he would like some office space there for a part-time presence, as well as space to house some equipment currently housed in the old agriculture building in Rockford.
EMA Director Sheldon Hutcherson also mentioned using some storage space and having the facility serve as an emergency operations center.
Commissioner Bertha McElrath also mentioned the possibility of moving the county’s Extension Office to the site.
Daugherty mentioned potential court uses and said there are “a lot of possibilities” for utilizing the space.
Judge Dean asked about the county trying to market the facility and use it for industry. Daugherty said they are looking at that for “down the road” and that Denise Walls, executive director of the Lake Martin Economic Development Alliance, is also working on that.
Also during the meeting commissioners heard from Horseshoe Bend Regional Library Director Stephanie Brasher Godsy regarding an appropriation request to the Horseshoe Bend Regional Library. She spoke to the Commission during its meeting and also has a letter that will be presented at the Commission’s budget hearing.
The Commission also heard presentations from EMA Assistant Director Les Sellers regarding the HazMit project planning and a progress report on the Floodplan Ordinance development update.
During staff reports, County Administrator Amy Gilliland announced her intent to resign at the end of October.
Also during staff reports, EMS Director Hollie Osbourn reported that the Coosa County Ambulance had received 358 calls and made 222 transports through July 31, stating it was a “pretty good year.” She said they have three full-time paramedics, but are still looking for one more paramedic.
The next regularly scheduled monthly meeting of the Coosa County Commission will be held at 9 a.m. September 9.
