COMMISSION MEETING
February 26, 2008
CALL TO ORDER AND WELCOME
A regular meeting of the Cullman County Commission was held Tuesday, February 26, 2008 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 Wayne Willingham, Commissioner Doug Williams. Attorney Matt Carter was absent. County Engineer Fred Penn 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 Williams made the motion to approve. Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
No Public Comments
NEW BUSINESS
Authorize the Chairman to an sign agreement with the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts for audit
Commissioner Williams made the motion to authorize Chairman Kitchens to sign an agreement with the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts. Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.
Consider extending Bid No.882 Elevator Maintenance for one (1) year
Gary Teichmiller, County Administrator, said Bagby Elevator Company has requested to extend the Elevator Maintenance Bid for one year at the current bid price. He made the recommendation to extend the bid for one year.
Commissioner Williams made the motion to extend Bid No. 882 for Elevator Maintenance for one (1) year to Bagby Elevator Company, Inc. Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.
Authorize the Chairman to sign and enter into an agreement with CLA Architecture, Inc.
Tonya Sears, Director of the Juvenile Detention Center, asked the Commission to allow the Juvenile Detention Center to enter into an agreement with CLA Architect Miles Creel. The Juvenile Detention Center is looking at going long term. At this time we are asking to go through the planning phase which will include the architecture plans, all the construction documents and everything and putting it out to bid to see if the construction cost will come in under what has been anticipated. Commissioner Williams made the motion to allow the Chairman to sign the agreement. Commissioner Willingham seconded.
Brenda Howell with the Detention Center said right now the center is a 72 hour Detention Center. Ms. Howell feels that it being underutilized because young people cannot be held any longer. When we go over the 72 hours, we still have to drive out of the county for those children. Cullman is centrally located for counties like Walker, Winston, Blount and Marshall Counties. So many areas around us would like to use the Cullman Center, but since it is not long term they continue to opt for other facilities such as Shelby County and Tennessee Valley. The County will better utilized if the facility can be made a long term facility. Right now we think we can do that and not cost a great deal of money; at the worse case, we could break even in five years and then start making money for the county. A long term facility would better utilize the facilities already in place.
Miles Creel with CLA Architects said his proposal is for the Commission to take this first step basically, to see what the construction market is. Right now is the first time in several years there has been a dip in the cost of construction. The county will be way ahead by taking a look at the market. This will be a modification and addition to the current detention center.
The motion and second having been made, upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.
Authorize the Chairman to sign extended warranty with Centurion Wireless Security Systems
Mr. Teichmiller, County Administrator, stated this is for the wireless security system that is in place in the courthouse. He recommended authorizing the Chairman to sign the agreement with Centurion Wireless Security Systems. This extended warranty is for one (1) year. Commissioner Willingham made the motion to sign the extended warranty. Commissioner Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.
Board Appointment Regional Housing Authority – Commission
Chairman Kitchens stated the Commission received a letter from the Regional Housing Authority requesting Mrs. Wilhelmina Parris to be reappointed to the board for another five (5) years.
Commissioner Williams made the motion to re-appoint Mrs. Parris to the Regional Housing Authority Board. Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.
Board Appointment Walter Water Authority – Chairman Kitchens
Chairman Kitchens stated the Commission received a letter from the Walter Water Authority requesting to fill the unexpired term of Johnny Bennefield as director on the Walter Water Authority Board with Terri Bennefield. Chairman Kitchens made the motion to appoint Terri Bennefield to the Walter Water Authority Board for a term to expire March 1, 2009.
Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.
Consider changes to voting locations – Probate Judge
Probate Judge Leah Lust presented to the Commission proposals for changes in voting locations. Arkadelphia Community Center is the name and location where the polling place used to be at Arkadelphia. For sometime the polling has been located at the Fire Department. At this location she is asking for a name change to Arkadelphia Fire Department.
Judge Lust stated the Welti Fire Station has some major issues. There is no heat and no air conditioning. A couple of elections ago they was a giant gopher rat in the wall. She is requesting the voting location be moved to Mount Zion Fellowship Hall. The church has agreed to the fellowship hall being used as a voting location.
Judge Lust requested that East Point Community Center Boxes 35-1 and 35-2 be combined as East Point Community Center 35.
Courthouse Basement Precinct has presented problems for sometime due to space and access. The request was made to move to the Commission Office Conference Room and combine the Cullman County Office Building Box 17 and make one precinct in the basement to one box, Box 14.
Judge Lust requested that the three boxes at the Civic Center, Cullman Civic Center Box 11, Cullman Civic Center Box 12 and Cullman Civic Center 13 be combined into one box, Cullman Civic Center Box 11. These changes were promoted by registered voters as well as election workers and the community.
Commissioner Williams asked if there is a process through the Justice Department to make these changes. Probate Judge Lust stated that first the commission must approve a resolution requesting the changes. At that time, Monica Kugler will take that paperwork to Washington D.C. where it will be walked through. Hopefully these changes can be in place for the June 3 primary.
Commissioner Williams stated several residents had contact him concerning the site at Welti being moved. He believes the citizens of the community need to given the opportunity to voice their opinion in a public hearing before a decision is made to move the voting location.
Probate Judge Lust stated that combining boxes will save money in the combining of boxes and suggested approving the other changes and tabling a decision on Welti until a public hearing can be held.
Commissioner Willingham made the motion to go ahead and make the changes on all the voting locations requested, with the exception of Welti location, and hold a Public Hearing prior to the next commission meeting March 11. Commissioner Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried.
Set current 2008 tax levy – Revenue Department
Revenue Commissioner Kay D. Smith said this is the Tax Levy that must be re-approved each February. It does not add any new tax structure or tax law; it only re-approves the existing tax structure. Commissioner Williams made the motion to set the current 2008 tax levy at the same rate as 2007. Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.
Consider rescinding Bid No.937 – Batteries
Fred Penn, County Engineer, recommended that the Commission rescind the battery bid and re-bid due to problems with the vendor. Commissioner Willingham made the motion to rescind and re-bid the battery bid. Commissioner Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.
Consider awarding Bid No. 943 – Paving
Mr. Penn stated only one bid was received. He recommended awarding Bid No. 943 for Paving to Charles E. Watts, Inc.
Commissioner Williams made the motion to award Bid No. 943 to Charles E. Watts. Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.
Consider awarding Bid No. 944 – Striping
Mr. Penn stated two (2) bids were received and recommended awarding the striping bid to J. C. Cheek Contractors, Inc.
Commissioner Williams made the motion to award Bid No. 944 to J. C. Cheek Contractors. Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.
Consider the surplus of one 1999 Ford Crown Vic – Sheriff’s Department
Commissioner Willingham made the motion to surplus one 1999 Ford Crown Vic. Vin # 2FAFP71W7XX129954. Commissioner Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.
Authorize the Chairman to sign an OHV Agreement
Chairman Kitchens said this is a $575,000.00 grant.
Commissioner Williams made the motion to authorize the chairman to sign the agreement. Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS
No old Business
NEXT REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2008
Chairman Kitchens announced the next regular Commission Meeting will be Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 10:00 am in the Commission Office Conference Room.
ADJOURN
Commissioner Willingham made the motion to adjourn. Commissioner Williams seconded.
_____________________________ _____________________________ __________________________
Wiley Kitchens, Chairman J. Douglas Williams Wayne Willingham
Associate Commissioner Associate Commissioner