COMMISSION MEETING

January 9, 2007

CALL TO ORDER AND WELCOME

A regular meeting of the Cullman County Commission was held Tuesday, January 9, 2007 at 10:00 a.m., in the County Commission Office Conference Room, Chairman Kitchens called the meeting to order and welcomed all visitors.

CALL OF ROLL TO ESTABLISH QUORUM, INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Present were Chairman Wiley Kitchens, Commissioner Doug Williams, Commissioner Wayne Willingham and Attorney Dan Willingham. Attorney Willingham gave the invocation and Commissioner Williams lead the pledge of allegiance.

APPROVE MINUTES, APPROPRIATIONS, EXPENDITURES, REQUISITIONS, TRAVEL EXPENSE AND ALL JOURNAL ENTRIES TO BE POSTED

Commissioner Willingham made the motion to approve minutes, appropriations, expenditures, requisitions, travel expense and all journal entries to be posted. Commission Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Diane Green with PALS addressed the commission concerning allocations from County Funds for cleaning up illegal dumps. Also, support from the commission on the Self Gov. Act.

NEW BUSINESS

Consider the surplus of two vehicles – Sheriff’s Department

Terry Morgan with the Sheriff’s Department stated the 1999 Ford Crown Vic is not repairable. This vehicle will be used for parts at Mullins Body Shop. The 1998 Jeep Cherokee will be transferred to EMS for their use.

Commissioner Williams made the motion to surplus the vehicles from the Sheriff’s Department. Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

Resolution No. 2007-03 - Consider amending resolution concerning abatement granted to Topre International (April 11, 2005)

Cal with the City Economic Development Office state the county passed a resolution in April of 2005 for a 98,000 sq. ft. expansion of the Topre facilities located on County Road 222. The estimated expansion was $15,000,000.00 investment. Their finalizing the investment at this time and it looks to be like $23,000,000.00 that was spent. We are asking the commission to admen the $15,000,000.00 to include the $23,000,000.00 that was spent.

Commissioner Willingham made the motion to admen this resolution. Commissioner Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

Resolution No. 2007-04 - Consider Tax Abatement for Topre International, Inc. for expansion of its facility

Cal stated Topre is considering a new expansion to expand their automotive parts that is manufactured. This is a $15,000,000.00 expansion of this facility to include new machinery and equipment. Between the two expansions Topre will be adding approximately 110 jobs. This covers no educational taxes.

Commissioner Willingham made the motion to except the abatement for Topre International Inc. expansion. Commissioner Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

Consider acceptance of County Road 51 extension

Mr. Willingham, County Attorney stated he had met with the developer on this project which is located at the end of County Road 51. The developer is asking the county to accept into the county maintenance system that portion of 51. All the work has been completed, but we have received no descriptions. We would need those descriptions before a vote could take place. The developer will be constructing condominiums at the end of County Road 51. Anyone developing condominiums will still have to comply with the county’s regulations for interior construction of roads. Even if the developer is wanting these roads to remain private, at some point and time in the future someone will want the county to take these roads into the maintenance system, and this way you will know the roads have been build properly.

Commissioner Willingham made the motion to table this item. Commission Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

Industrial Development Board Appointment – Commissioner Willingham

Commissioner Willingham made the motion to appoint Grant Crider to the Industrial Development Board. Commissioner Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

Industrial Development Board Appointment – Commissioner Williams

Commissioner Williams made the motion to reappoint Mr. Greg Barksdale to the Industrial Development Board. Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

Industrial Development Board Appointment- Commissioner Williams

Commissioner Williams made the motion to appoint Mr. Raymond Williams to the Industrial Development Board replacing Mr. Dodge Davis. Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

Authorize Chairman to negotiate lease with the Board of Education (Health Department Bldg.)

Mr. Willingham stated he had met with Mr. Hank Allen, Superintendent of Cullman County Schools. The County Board of Education is looking at this building to use as storage and other educational needs. PALS are currently using one of the offices, which will pose no problems with the Board of Education. I told them it would be their responsibility for complete maintenance of the facility and keeping it insured. I gave them a rough draft proposed document of a contract to look over. It would take action of the commission.

Commissioner Williams made the motion that once the draft is completed to allow the chairman to sign and go into the agreement with the Board of Education. Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

Consider the surplus of various office equipment

Commissioner Willingham made the motion to surplus the office equipment on the attached list. Commissioner Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

Authorize the Chairman to sign architectural agreement – Carts

Mr. Willingham state Jock Leonard with Leonard Design has done work on the CARTS building earlier. Services have been paid ($7500.00). There is not good documentation and what I would like to do is for the commission to pass a resolution to ratify that services have been completed and payment made.

Commissioner Willingham made the motion to accept the architectural agreement. Commissioner Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

Consider Awarding Bid No. 870 – Van AOA

Chairman Kitchens stated only one (1) bid was received and that was from Eckenrod Ford in the amount of $18,075.80.

Commissioner Willingham made the motion to accept the bid. Commissioner Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

Consider Awarding Bid No. 871 – Grader Blades

Mr. Fred Penn, County Engineer stated due to problems with the specs sent out, I recommend rejecting this bid and re-bidding.

Commissioner Williams made the motion to re-bid the grader blades. Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

Consider Awarding Bid No. 872 – Traffic Striping

Mr. Penn stated J.C. Cheek Contractors was the low bidder, they currently have the traffic striping bid. I recommend awarding the bid to J. C. Cheek Contractors.

Commissioner Willingham made the motion to award the bid to J.C. Cheek Contractors. Commissioner Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

Consider Awarding Bid No. 873 – Concrete

Mr. Penn made the recommendation to award the bid to the low bidder DCA Ready Mix.

Commissioner Willingham made the motion to award the bid to DCA Ready Mix. Commissioner Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

Consider Awarding Bid No. 874 – Concrete Pipe

Mr. Penn stated Sherman Dixie Concrete was the low bidder and they are local, I recommend awarding the bid to Sherman Dixie Concrete.

Commissioner Willingham made the motion to award the bid to Sherman Dixie Concrete. Commissioner Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

Consider Awarding Bid No. 875 – Guardrail

Mr. Penn stated Alabama Guardrail was the only bidder and they currently have the county’s bid. I recommend awarding the bid to Alabama Guardrail.

Commissioner Willingham made the motion to award the bid to Alabama Guardrail. Commissioner Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

Consider Awarding Bid No. 876 – Batteries

Mr. Penn stated he recommend awarding the bid to Stewarts Auto Supply who was the only bidder and currently supplies the county with batteries.

Commissioner Williams made the motion to accept the low bidder. Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

Consider Awarding Bid No. 877 – Undercarriage for Cat Track Loader

Mr. Penn stated the only bidder was Thompson Tractor and they are a Caterpillar dealer. I recommend awarding the bid to Thompson.

Commissioner Williams made the motion to award the bid to Thompson Tractor. Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

Consider a $1,000.00 donation to the Grandview Community Center

Commissioner Willingham made the motion to give Grandview Community Center $1,000.00. Commissioner Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

Consider a $1,000.00 donation to the Simco Community Center

Commissioner Williams made the motion to give Simco Community Center $1,000.00. Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

Resolution No. 2007-01 – Project No. 07-RT-55-001 (Grant amount $449,976 - ORV Park)

Commissioner Williams made the motion to allow the Chairman to sign the contract. Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

OLD BUSINESS

NEXT REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2007

Chairman Kitchens announced the next regular commission meeting will be Tuesday, January 23, 2007 at 10:00 am in the Commission Office Conference Room.

ADJOURN

Commissioner Doug Williams made the motion to adjourn. Commissioner Willingham seconded.

______________________________ ______________________________ ____________________________ Wiley Kitchens, Chairman Doug Williams, Commissioner Wayne Willingham, Commissioner