Morgan County Commission has accepted an invitation from the North Central Alabama Regional Council of Governments (NARCOG) to come back into the organization with 50 percent of the votes on its board of directors.

The move was made by passage of two resolutions at an adjourned meeting of the commission on Jan. 24. The first resolution authorized Chairman Ray Long to execute any and all documents pertaining to the Morgan County Commission becoming a member of the organization. The second one authorized the appointment of seven members to serve on a 14-member board.

The appointees consist of Chairman Long, District 4 Commissioner Greg Abercrombie, Decatur Mayor Don Kyle and Priceville Mayor Melvin Duran for four-year terms and District 3 Commissioner Randy Vest, Hartselle Mayor Don Hall and Decatur citizen Larry Waye for two-year terms.

Four of the 14 board members will represent Cullman County and three will represent Lawrence County.

NARCOG’s directors representing Cullman and Lawrence Counties approved the change at a called meeting on Jan. 18.

“It’s a win-win for all three counties,” said Long. “We’re all back on the same page and

share a common goal to rebuild the organization so that it will serve the best interests of all of the people it represents.”

“My goal is to keep politics out and move quickly to complete a reorganization process,” Long pointed out. “One of the first things we need to do is appoint a bylaws committee and hire an outside firm to conduct a search for a permanent director.

“Those items will be on the agenda of our first meting Wed., Mar. 30, at 9 a.m.,” he added.

Morgan County Commission severed its membership with NARCOG about a year ago and sought membership in the Top of Alabama Council of Governments based in Huntsville. Even thought its membership was approved by TARCOG, Governor Robert Bentley’s approval was put on hold while he sought bring the three parties together, allowing Morgan County to be represent based on its population.

In the meantime, Morgan County secured conditional membership with NARCOG in September to keep federal funds flowing into its aging program.

The commission acted on other matters as follows:

•Approved payment of $350 to RLI Surety/S.S. Nesbitt & Co. for a one-year public official surety bond for Helen Hill, deputy commissioner of licenses.

•Approved payment of $150 to EIA, Environmental Industry Association for 2013 membership dues for Ricky Brooks, Environmental Services director.

•Approved payment of $325 to CTAA, Community Transportation Association of America for 2013 membership dues for Debra Rains, Morgan County director of Transportation.

•Approved payment of $75 to the Alabama Association of Boards of Registrars for 2013 membership does for Adonis Bailey, Kate Terry and Louise Brown, members of the Morgan County Board of Registrars.

•Approved payment of $23,100 to GBW Architects for professional fees for the design of the new jail annex.

•Approved payment of $172 to Traveler’s Insurance for a deductible on a claim for Dentariuous L. Jackson, Sheriff’s Department.

•Approved payment of $500 to the Association of County Engineers of Alabama for 2013 membership dues for County Engineer Greg Bodley and Brian Blanks and Mike Kelley, assistant engineers.

•Approved payment of $50 to the Alabama Association of Floodplain Managers for 2013 membership dues for Greg Bodley, Morgan County engineer.

•Approved payment of $4,686 to Harris, Caddell & Shanks P.C. for legal services provided in Dec. 2012.

•Approved payment of $175 to Old Republic Surety group for a surety bond for Ed Sims, license inspector, effective Mar. 1, 2013, to Mar. 1, 2014.

•Authorized District 1 Commissioner Jeff Clark to fill the vacant position of equipment operator 2, Grade 6, $14.83-$19.34.

•Authorized District 3 Commissioner Don Stisher to fill the vacant position of equipment operator 3, Grade 7, $16,05-$20,94.

•Authorized District 2 Commissioner Randy Vest to fill the vacant position of groundskeeper, Grade 4, $12.40-$16.19.

•Authorized Animal Control Director Claudia Ray to hire a part-time worker at $8.19 per hours with no benefits, to work at the Morgan County Animal Shelter.

•Approved payments of $2,980 to The Decatur Daily for advertising in the Morgan County Chamber Director and $633 to the Decatur Daily for advertising in the 2013 Opportunity Edition.

•Approved a request from Daryl Bolding, Maintenance Department, to participate in the Morgan County Employee Self-Improvement and Educational Program during the spring semester.

•Approved a resolution requesting that North Park (39.78 acres) be annexed into the Town of Priceville and authorized the chairman to submit and sign the necessary paperwork.

•Authorized the chairman to initiate action with respect to the refunding of general obligation warrants, Series 2013.

•Authorized the refunding of sales taxes totaling $682,22 for the month of September 2012 to Tri Nova, Inc.

•Authorized the chairman to execute the Cooperative Grant Agreement #OCBS from the Alabama Department of Homeland Security for federal funding in the mount of $2,833 for the Morgan County Emergency Management Agency, effective Feb. 7, through Feb. 29, 2012.

•Authorized the chairman to execute the Financial Settlement Services Addendum with GovDeals.

Authorized the chairman to execute and extend the district office lease with the U.S. House of Representatives Mo Brooks to lease office space at the Morgan County Courthouse with no monthly fee through Jan. 2, 2015.

•Authorized the chairman to execute an agreement with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management pertaining to the disposal of various types of scrap equipment.

•Authorized the chairman to advertise for bids and/or purchase off the state bid list a new automobile for the Maintenance Department.

•Authorized the chairman to advertise for bids and/or purchase off the state low bid list a new automobile for the District #2 foreman.