CULLMAN COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING
February 9, 2010
CALL TO ORDER AND WELCOME
Chairman James Graves called the Commission Meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. and welcomed the visitors.
CALL OF ROLL TO ESTABLISH QUORUM, INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Charlotte Slatton, County Clerk, called the roll; present were Chairman James Graves, Commissioner Wayne Willingham, Commissioner Doug Williams and County Attorney Dan Willingham. The invocation was given by Dan Willingham and Commissioner Doug Williams led the Pledge of Allegiance
APPROVE MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 25, 2010 MINUTES, APPROVE APPROPRIATIONS, EXPENDITURES, REQUISITIONS, TRAVEL EXPENSES; AND APPROVE ALL JOURNAL ENTRIES TO BE POSTED.
Commissioner Wayne Willingham made the motion to approve the January 25, 2010 minutes, approve appropriations, expenditures, requisitions, travel expenses and approve all journal entries to be posted. Commissioner Doug Williams seconded the motion, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were no public comments.
NEW BUSINESS
Consider approval of the catastrophic inmate medical insurance
Gary Teichmiller, County Administrator, stated the catastrophic inmate insurance will reimburse the County for inmates who are transferred from Cullman Regional Medical Center (CRMC) to other facilities and expenses exceed $10,000. Commissioner Williams made a motion to approve the insurance. Commissioner Willingham seconded. The motion passed on a unanimous voice vote.
Set the tax levy for 2010
Attorney Willingham stated that state law requires the tax levy to be set annually at the first commission meeting in February. This does not add any additional taxes, only keeps the existing taxes in place. Commissioner Williams made a motion to set the tax levy at the current rates. Commissioner Willingham seconded. Upon a unanimous voice vote the motion passed.
Resolution 2010-23 – Funding of Senior Citizen Centers
Chairman Graves read aloud the resolution concerning the funding of senior citizen centers. Commissioner Willingham made a motion to approve the resolution as read. Commissioner Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion passed unanimously.
Authorize the Chairman to sign for funding from the Department of Forensic Sciences
Chairman Graves explained the State funded $250,000 for the statewide transport of bodies for autopsy. The ACCA has recommended the money be distributed directly to the counties. He stated that only the district attorney can request a body be sent for autopsy. Commissioner Williams stated if the county accepts the funding and transport cost exceed the state’s funding allocation, the county will be responsible for any additional charges. However, there is a bill in the house that may provide additional funding. Commissioner Williams made a motion to authorize the Chairman to sign for the funding from the Department of Forensic Sciences. Commissioner Willingham seconded. The motion passed on a unanimous voice vote.
Declare surplus one (1) acre± land located at 406 County Road 1214
Dan Willingham, County Attorney, stated the property located at 406 County Road 1214 was donated to the County by Park Community Federal Credit Union. There were some property line issues they did not want to address. Therefore the County has no economic investment in the property and due to the location the County has no use for the property. It is his understanding there were previously improvements on the property but these have been removed. He recommended it be declared surplus and bids accepted. He advised when the property is deeded it be by statutory warranty deed. Commissioner Willingham made a motion to surplus the property and to accept sealed bids. Commissioner Williams seconded and the motion passed on a unanimous voice vote.
Public Hearing – Resolution 2010-24-Vacating a portion of County Road 1601
Attorney Willingham stated the portion of County Road 1601 to be vacated is involved in the development of the Royal Technologies site. There were no public comments. Commissioner Williams stated the road will be moved slightly to the east and used as an employee entrance to the plant. The relocation will also move traffic away from a church which adjoins the property. David Bussman, manager of the water department, stated there is a 3” waterline that services the church. The public hearing was closed. Commissioner Williams made a motion to vacate the portion of County Road 1601. Commissioner Willingham seconded. The motion passed on a unanimous voice vote.
Consider awarding Bid No. 1031 – Fireworks for 4th of July at Smith Lake Park
John Sellers, Park Director, stated three bids were received with two meeting the specifications. The bid from Premier Pyrotechnics, which has a four year history with the County, far exceeded the other bidder in the scope of their production. He recommended awarding the bid. Commissioner Willingham made a motion to award the $17,000.00 bid for fireworks to Premier Pyrotechnics. Commissioner Williams seconded and the motion passed on a unanimous voice vote.
Chairman Graves announced the fireworks show will take place on July 3 at Smith Lake Park. Since the 4th falls on a Sunday, it is felt there will be better attendance with a Saturday night show.
Consider awarding Bid No. 1032 – Hauling Aggregate
Fred Penn, County Engineer, stated two bids were received; one bid is incomplete and the other bid has added stipulations of a fuel cost adjustment. Attorney Willingham recommended, since neither bid meets the specifications, the bids be rejected. Commissioner Williams made a motion to reject all bids. Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion passed unanimously.
Resolution 2010-25 – Water System Improvement Bonds
Commissioner Williams stated $11,000,000 is needed for capital improvements to the County’s water system in order to meet ADEM’s 2012 guideline for disinfection byproducts. Attorney Willingham explained the resolution does not authorize the issuance of bonds, only the determination of the structure of the offering, preparation and review of financing documents and distribution of a preliminary official statement. Final approval and authorization will be brought before the Commission once the preliminary determinations are made. Commissioner Williams made a motion to seek bond funding for the water system improvements. Commissioner Willingham seconded.
Chairman Graves stated he was confused. His understanding is the proposed larger pipeline would increase the amount of disinfection byproducts in the water. The engineer has told him the larger line is for getting water to that area of the county but it will not lower the disinfection byproducts levels. He stated in a meeting with the City of Cullman, where the independent water systems were present, it was announced they are performing a three month test of the addition of chemicals that may lower the levels 10%-15%. The cost would be $600,000 per year. However, this would not be enough to bring the County into ADEM compliance.
The City is also looking at the possibility of installing a Miex water treatment system that would lower the levels 40%-45%. At a cost of $14,000,000, this would bring the entire county into compliance. The independent water systems agreed this would be the best route, with the cost being rolled into the bond issue for the Duck River Dam project. This would also allow the cost to be shared by all county water systems, not just the County Water Department customers.
Chairman Graves also stated that the borrowing of $11,000,000 will necessitate another rate increase.
Chairman Graves stated it is his understanding that new pipelines are not the only project to be funded by the bond issue; $4,000,000 is proposed for two wells. He asked David Bussman, water department manager, and Chris Cousins, an engineer working with the water department, if they are currently drilling wells on the Blount County line. They confirmed that test wells have been dug. He stated in recent conversations with the Blount County water department, wells they have dug in the area have produced water that had an odor and bad taste. He questioned why $4,000,000 needs to be spent on wells if the County is looking at other water sources.
Mr. Cousins stated there are five projects in the Water Department’s master plan: 1) waterlines on County Road 222 in the area of Topre; 2) new lines along Hwy 69 and County Road 222; 3) work on Stout’s Mountain and 4) and the development of two ground water sources.
The motion passed with Commissioners Williams and Willingham voting aye and Chairman Graves voting against.
Chairman Graves announced the next meeting of NARCOG will be February 24, 2010 at the Decatur office of NARCOG.
NEXT REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING MONDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2010
Chairman Graves announced the next regular Commission Meeting will be Monday, February 22, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. in the Commission Office Conference Room.
ADJOURN THE MEETING
Chairman Graves asked if there was further business to consider and there was none. Chairman Graves adjourned the meeting at 10:37 a.m.
_________________________ _____________________________ __________________________
James D. Graves, Chairman J. Douglas Williams Wayne Willingham
Associate Commissioner Associate Commissioner