COMMISSION MEETING – August 8, 2005

A regular meeting of the Cullman County Commission was held on Monday, August 8, 2005, at 10:00 a.m., in the County Commission Office Conference Room. Present were Chairman Wiley Kitchens, Commissioner Doug Williams, and Commissioner Stanley Yarbrough. Chairman Kitchens called the meeting to order and welcomed the visitors. Attorney, Dan Willingham gave the invocation and Chairman Kitchens led the pledge of allegiance.

APPROVE MINUTES OF JULY 25, 2005 MEETING

Commissioner Yarbrough made the motion to approve minutes of the July 25, 2005 meeting as recorded. Commissioner Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

APPROVE APPROPRIATIONS, EXPENDITURES, REQUISITIONS, TRAVEL EXPENSE, ETC.

Commissioner Yarbrough made the motion to approve appropriations, expenditures, requisitions, travel expense, etc. Commissioner Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

APPROVE ALL JOURNAL ENTRIES TO BE POSTED

Commissioner Yarbrough made the motion to approve all journal entries to be posted. Commissioner Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

COMMISSION ON AGING AWARD

Commission on Aging Director Randall Shedd presented to the Commission a National Mature Media Award received by his department for the publication of the Cullman County Retiree and Senior News.

BID NO. 817 – MOTOR OIL

County Engineer Philip Widner stated no bids were received for motor oil. After speaking to vendors because of the fluctuating fuel and oil price no bids were sent. I believe after some changes in the wording of the bid we can send them back out for rebid.

Commissioner Yarbrough made the motion to rebid Bid No. 817. Commissioner Williams seconded and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

BID NO. 818 SHERIFF’S PATROL CAR

Terry Morgan with the Sheriff’s Department stated at the first of every fiscal year we send out bids to purchase patrol cars. Eckrenrod is the low bidder.

Commissioner Williams made the motion to accept Bid No. 818. Commissioner Yarbrough seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

CONSIDER APPROVAL OF PRELIMINARY PLAT FOR PARKVIEW SUBDIVISION

County Engineer Philip Widner stated Parkview Subdivision is located off County Road 386 adjacent to Smith Lake Park. Mr. Mike Nelson the Developer has presented a preliminary plat of his plans in this area. I recommend approval of the preliminary plat for Parkview Subdivision.

Commissioner Yarbrough made the motion to accept the preliminary plat. Commissioner Williams seconded and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

MOTION TO FILE GRANT APPLICATION FOR POTENTIAL ATV PARK

Sammie Danford with the Economic Development Office stated she needed a motion and a resolution to file an application with the Alabama Department of Community and Economic Affairs. This application is for approximately $380,000.00 at an 80/20 match. The potential ATV Park is located on the west side of Cullman.

Commissioner Yarbrough made the motion to file a grant application for ATV Park. Commissioner Williams seconded and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

CARTS

Without any discussion Commissioner Williams made the motion to table this item. Commissioner Yarbrough seconded, and upon a vote the motion carried unanimously.

PARK AND REC.

Chairman Kitchens read a letter from him submitting a request to the Commission for the County Commission consider taking control of the all parks and related facilities, and the park system be placed under the control of the Chairman of the Cullman County Commission.

Attorney Perry Knight, for the Park and Rec. Board ask if this is taking the parks over or with holding the funding.

Chairman Kitchens replied this is taking the park system over completely and with holding the funding. The county will establish a Park Department.

Perry Knight asks what will be the work of the Park Board.

Chairman Kitchens replied the Commission has no control over the Park Board. Whatever their function is entirely up to them. The Park Board will not be the manger of the County facilities.

Commissioner Yarbrough ask to table this matter for further review and ask for an audit of the Park System to show where the money is being spend and how much is being collected.

Commissioner Williams had questions about the employees of the Park Board and concerns pertaining to their insurance.

Commissioner Yarbrough asks Mr. Willingham to look into having an audit performed.

Commissioner Williams ask to table this item until they had more time to have some questions answered.

COUNTY ENGINEER

Chairman Kitchens stated this item is going to be tabled until some wording is changed in the agreement.

PUBLIC MEETING AUGUST 11, 2005 AT 7:00 P.M. WEST POINT TOWN HALL

Chairman Kitchens announced the Commissioners will be having a Public Meeting Thursday, August 11, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. at the West Point Town Hall.

NEXT REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING AUGUST 22, 2005 AT 10:00 A.M.

Chairman Kitchens announced the next regular Commission Meeting will be August 22, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. in the Commission Office Conference Room.

CONSIDER VACATING A PORTION OF COUNTY ROAD 96

Philip Widner, County Engineer stated Mr. Brian Robinson with Castle Rock Development and Todd Hardman with St. John and Associates are here to ask the Commission to consider vacating a portion of County Road 96 adjacent to Big Bridge Marina. Commissioner Yarbrough and I have met with the people and feel it’s the general consensus of the community to vacate this portion of roadway. Mr. Robinson has a signed petition from property owners except for some that are out of town but have indicated they are in agreement. Mr. Robinson and St. John and Associates would like to bring this before the Commission to authorize the County Attorney to start proceedings to vacate this portion of County Road 96.

Attorney Willingham stated there’s a Resolution in place that the County will need to post this so many days prior to closing the road.

Mr. Robinson the Developer state the petition only requires the adjacent property owner’s signature and we’re the only property owners adjacent however, we have tried to get people that are affected by this to sign the petition and have been successful in doing so.

Commissioner Yarbrough made the motion to start the procedures for vacating this portion of County Road 96. Commissioner Williams seconded and upon a voice vote, the motion passed unanimously.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Mary Henry – Read a statement pertaining to the Commission on Aging and CARTS asking the Commission to consider not separating these two departments.

ADJOURN

Commissioner Williams made the motion to recess the meeting until Friday, August 12, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. Commissioner Yarbrough seconded and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

______________________________ ______________________________ ____________________________

Wiley Kitchens, Chairman Doug Williams, Commissioner Stanley Yarbrough, Commissioner