Meeting schedule unchanged
A newly reorganized Morgan County Commission met in regular session for the first time Nov. 10, with incoming Commission Chairman Ray Long presiding and Commissioner Randy Vest representing District 2.
The five-member governing body agreed to continue conducting regular business meetings on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 9 a.m., with a work session preceding the business session.
The only change noted in the order of business was the way each district commissioner voted on an action item after it was motioned and seconded. Each was asked to respond to Chief Administrator Belinda Ealey with either a “yes” or “no” after the chairman called for a vote. Previously, the chairman polled each member for his vote and their answer was recorded by the administrator.
In a related matter, the commission appointed Vest to replace his predecessor, Ken Livingston as a member of the North Central Alabama Regional Council of Governments (NARCOG) board of directors.
On the recommendation of Chief County Engineer Greg Bodley, the commission lowered the maximum speed limit on two county roads. A 35mph limit was placed on Herring Road in District 1 and a 20 mph limit was placed on James K. Drive in District 2.
The commission acted on other matters as follows:
• Approved a low bid of $18.80 per employee per month from Cintas Uniform Supply to furnish rental uniforms for all county departments. Two other bids were received as follows: $21.21 from Unifirst Corp. and $23.06 from Aramark Uniform Services.
• Authorized the chairman to execute an agreement for project funds between Morgan County and the North Alabama Highway Safety Office in the amounts of $1,200 and $11,000 for reimbursement to the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office for overtime law enforcement work done from Oct. 20 to March 31, 2011.
• Approve d payment of $4,702.50 to Harris, Caddell & Shanks, P.C. for legal services provided for October.
• Approved the employment of a part-time clerk and part-time drug screen technician at Grade 2, Step 1 pay grades for Morgan County Community Corrections on the recommendation of the Morgan County Community Corrections and Court Services Board.
• Re-appointed Jan Howell to the Mental Health Center of North Central Alabama Board of Directors for six-year term.
• Approved a certificate to subdivide and/or consolidate for the George Wilburn Roberts Estate on Ironman Road in District 2.
• Authorized the chairman to execute three separate Assistance Allocation Agreements from the Alabama Department of Homeland Security in the amounts of $79,333, $30,130 and $24,200, for the Morgan County Emergency Management Agency, effective Sept. 13 through July 31, 2012.
• Authorized the chairman to execute a service contra ct agreement between the Morgan County Commission and the City of Decatur for a $150,000 annual appropriation by the city to the Morgan County Area Transportation System.
• Authorized the chairman to execute a service contract agreement between the Morgan County Commission and the City of Decatur for a $26,791 annual appropriation by the city to the Morgan County Emergency Management System.
• Approved an expenditure of $3,700 for a wireless telephone system for an office building currently being renovated in Hartselle for the Morgan County Parks and Recreation Department.
