Commission changes voting location, reviews Rebuild Ala. Annual report
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By Christa Jennings
Senior Staff Writer
As reported last week, the regular monthly County Commission meeting held January 13 saw much discussion with only about 30 minutes spent on action items, though the Commission approved nearly all remaining agenda items during that time.
Relating to elections, the Commission unanimously approved changing the Mt. Olive voting facility to Station 3, located at 31 Coosa County Road 123, in the Mt. Olive community. Commissioner Bertha K. McElrath, who represents that district, stated that the change was suggested because of safety concerns with the previous voting location.
In approving the change of polling location, the Commission approved an accompanying lease and adopted a resolution to that effect.
Also during the meeting the Commission reviewed the fiscal year 2025 Coosa County Rebuild Alabama Annual Report, which reflected the status of projects as of October 1.
The report reflected 11 total projects, including County roads 55, 74, 12, 29, 48, 84, 511, 63, and 70; Oat Road; and Hancell Road.
The report indicates that the total miles addressed for the fiscal year are 31.27, with a total of $1,100,552.49 of Rebuild Alabama funds expended for the fiscal year.
During the regular January meeting the Commission also approved setting a date for a public hearing regarding vacating an unnamed public road. The Commission then held a special called meeting Tuesday afternoon and changed the date and time of the public hearing to be at 8:30 a.m. March 10 in the commissioners’ courtroom of the County Courthouse.
Following the public hearing, the proposed vacation of the road is then scheduled to be addressed by the Commission during its regular meeting the same day.
In other business during the January 13 meeting, the Commission:
- Tabled a request for a $1,500 appropriation to Volunteer Connections of Central Alabama Inc. until its next meeting.
- Approved the 2026 holiday schedule, reflecting 15 holidays.
- Approved a proclamation recognizing January 2026 as Human Trafficking Prevention Month.
- Approved removing and destroying a ThinkStation computer tower from the Sheriff’s Office inventory.
- Approved creating one full-time transport position and removing the two part-time transport positions for the Sheriff’s Office, as a part-time transport employee retired, and the remaining part-time employee can be transferred to the one full-time position.
- Approved an agreement for housing municipal prisoners from Goodwater in the Coosa County Jail at a charge of $20 per day, with $15 going to the Sheriff’s Office and $5 to the County Commission. This is the same agreement the Town of Rockford has.
- Approved draft legislation regarding pay for elected officials as written for publication, with the legislation sponsored by Rep. Ben Robbins.
- Approved publishing the legislation once a week for four consecutive weeks in the local newspaper, so that the legislation is in the paper for the public to view.
Also during the meeting, regarding action on approving the consent agenda, the consent agenda was approved with a 3-1 vote, with Commissioner McElrath opposing the motion. She did not state a reason for opposing it.
The Commission had also approved adding to the agenda approval for the Commission to review an employee contract.
For that item, the Commission entered into executive session, stating that it should take about 30 minutes. Instead the executive session lasted nearly an hour, with no action taken or discussion on the matter once the Commission reconvened in regular session.
The audio recording of the County Commission meeting is available to subscribers at www.thecoosacountynews.com.
The next regularly scheduled monthly meeting of the County Commission will be held at 9 a.m. February 10.
