COMMISSION MEETING
March 27, 2007

CALL TO ORDER AND WELCOME
A regular meeting of the Cullman County Commission was held Tuesday, March 27, 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 Dan 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. Commissioner Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

PUBLIC HEARING – COUNTY ROAD 799
Attorney Willingham stated the Robertson Family and the Black Family have property along County Road 799 and have request the County Commission to vacate a portion of this road. Described as follows:
All of County Road 799 which begins at the West intersection of Blountsville Highway (County Road 783) and continuing due west to the end of said County Road 799 and being .32 miles, more or less.
There were no public comments.

PUBLIC COMMENTS
No Public Comments.

PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITION
Cullman Caring for Kids – Javon Daniels
Mr. Javon Daniels, Director of Cullman Caring for Kids presented a Proclamation to the Commission asking them to recognize April 2007, as Child Abuse Prevention month. Also, thanked them for their support in the Cullman Caring for Kids Program.

Brooks Place – Susan Hauk
Ms. Susan Hauk, Director at Brooks Place, stated Brooks Place is celebrating a ten (10) year anniversary this year. Ms. Hauk thanked the Commission for their support.

EMA – Recognition
Phyllis Little, Director of the EMA Office presented Commissioner Williams with a certificate of appreciation to the Alabama Funeral Directors Association from Gov. Bob Riley and State EMA Director

NEW BUSINESS

Consider awarding Bid No. 885 – Pest Control
Mr. Teichmiller, County Administrator stated this is Pest Control for various county buildings. There were two vendors that bid. I recommend awarding the bid to Melton Pest Control.
Commissioner Williams made a motion to award the bid to Melton Pest Control. Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

Consider awarding Bid No. 886 – Termite Control
Mr. Teichmiller stated this is Termite Control for county buildings. Only one bid was received, that was Cooks Pest Control. I recommend award the bid to Cooks Pest Control.
Commissioner Williams made the motion to award the bid to Cooks Pest Control. Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

Consider awarding Bid No. 887 – Used Mini Van
Commissioner Williams stated he had done some research on this bid thru the state bid system. The county can actually purchase a new van off the state bid cheaper that purchasing a used van. I make the motion to reject this bid and go to the state bid and purchase a new van. Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

Consider Preliminary Plat for Parker Addition to Lakeview North located in District 3 off County Road 1402
Fred Penn, County Engineer stated this is a short road about 350 feet long with a cul-de-sac located at the end. We recommend approval of the preliminary plat.
Commissioner Williams made the motion to accept the preliminary plat. Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

Consider granting a design speed variance for Cedar Ridge Subdivision located in District 2 off County Road 351
Mr.  Penn stated they had received the preliminary plat and looked over it, we are asking for a design speed variance of 15 mph.
Commissioner Willingham made the motion to adopt the design speed variance of 15 mph. Commissioner Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

Consider granting a design speed variance for Cedar Cove Subdivision located in District 2 off County Road 330
Mr. Penn stated we have received the preliminary plat after looking over the plat, we recommend a design speed variance of 15 mph.
Commissioner Willingham made the motion to adopt the design speed variance of 15 mph. Commissioner Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

Consider removal of 15 ft. U & D Easement thru lot #34 in Pinebrook Estates Subdivision, Addition No. 1, located in District 4 on County Roads 658 & 669
Mr. Penn stated this is an older subdivision, when they did the subdivision this was actually a ditch that went through the lot and cut it in half. Since that time the ditch has been field in and the drainage has went to the county road. Someone wants to build a house on this lot. We recommend that once the proper paper work has been submitted this drainage ditch be done away.
Commissioner Williams made the motion to grant the release of the easement. Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

FY 2007EMPG Cooperative Agreement
Phyllis Little, EMA Director stated this is the annual Cooperative Agreement the county signs with the state and FEMA for funding to keep operations going. In 2007 we have and increase of $3,069.00 for a total of $37,897.00. I ask the commission to authorize the Chairman and EMA Director to sign off on the agreement.
Commissioner Williams made the motion to authorize the Chairman and EMA Director to sign the agreement. Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

Coroner – Salary Increase
Gary Murphree, Cullman County Coroner said if you notice on the budge item no.111 is salary, that no what we’re talking about, we are talking about the legislative expense item no. 112. This amount was set at $1,000.00 per year paid out at $83.00 per month backing 1980. This is to supplement the coroners pay it also helps defer some expenses that are not included in the budget. The legislatures are asking the commission for a proclamation from the commission to past legislation to increase this amount.
Commissioner Williams ask if this would be state funded or county funded. Mr. Murphree stated it would be county funded. Increase would be a $500.00 a month increase. Commission Williams stated he was not clear on this being an expense account and going to salary.
 Commissioner Williams made the motion to ask the County Attorney to draft a letter to the Legislature to look at an increase. Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

Consider acceptance of County Road 713 into County maintenance system
Fred Penn stated this road is located on the East side of the county. It meets all the requirements set forth by the county to bring it into the maintenance system. I recommend accepting this road into the County maintenance system.
Commissioner Williams made the motion to accept County Road 713 into the maintenance system. Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

Consider establishing a 4-Way stop @ intersection of County Road 1117 and County Road 1043
Mr. Penn this road actually is the road that goes down to the covered bridge. I recommend putting a 4-way stop at this intersection.
Commissioner Willingham made the motion to put a 4-way stop at this intersection. Commissioner Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously,

Resolution No. 2007-15 – Vacating County Road 799
Commissioner Williams made the motion to vacate County Road 799. Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

Resolution No. 2007-16 – Lower speed limit on County Road 548
Commissioner Williams made the motion to lower the speed limit to 35 mph. Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote motion carried unanimously.

Resolution No. 2007-17 – Lower speed limit on County Road 1245
Commissioner Willingham made the motion of lower the speed limit to 25 mph. Commissioner Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

Consider agreement for paving County Road
County Attorney Dan Willingham stated this is a county road that goes down to the Lions Club boat launch. The developers in that area have agreed to donate $25,000.00 each to pave this road. The county can not make this a priority to pave.
Commissioner Willingham made the motion to except the donation to pave this road. Commissioner Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

Consider Plat for Waterford Condominiums in District 2 on County Road 96
Mr. Penn stated this is at big bridge it does not require acceptance of any road, but does have to be signed off on contingent that the signatures comes back on the plat.
Commissioner Willingham made the motion to allow the engineer to sign off on contingent on all the requirements. Commissioner Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

Attorney to draft letter for the Commissioners to participate in the State Retirement System
Commissioner Williams stated the request came to him from some commissioners in the past. Right now the commissioners don’t have a place where they can put retirement funds into. The retirement system has opened the doors saying that if the commission passes a resolution and legislation saying this could happen, it would not cost the anything it will come out of the salary of the commissioners. It will give them opportunity to participate in the Retirement System of Alabama.
Commissioner Williams made the motion to ask the attorney to draft a letter and resolution to the legislatures. Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

Consider accepting County Road 71 into the county maintenance system
Attorney Willingham stated the residents on county road 71 have paved this road, it meets the county’s requirements and I recommend taking this road into the county maintenance system.
Commissioner Willingham made the motion to accept county road 71 into the maintenance. Commissioner Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.

OLD BUSINESS

Pay Scale
Attorney Willingham gave the commission and update on the county pay scale. I have a drafted copy to give to the commission to look at and hopefully have it on the agenda for the next commission meeting.

NEXT REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2007
Chairman Kitchens announced the next county commission meeting will be Tuesday, April 10, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. in the County Commission Office Conference Room.

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

______________________________            _____________________________         __________________________
Wiley Kitchens, Chairman                                 J. Douglas Williams                                       Wayne Willingham
                                                                        Associate Commissioner                                Associate Commissioner