Rescue squad gets commission’s help

Morgan County Commission approved a $4,000 budget amendment for the Morgan County Rescue Squad at its regular meeting on Feb. 8 and went on record in favor of helping the organization get a fee-based source of funding.
The $4,000 additional appropriation will help the squad with a hydraulic lift it uses at Decatur Boat Harbor to keep its new rescue boat out of the water when not in service. It will be funded out of district road and bridge funds.
Addressing the need for another permanent source of funding, District 3 Commissioner Don Stisher requested County Attorney Bill Shinn to prepare a resolution requesting the help of the county’s legislative delegation. The request would be for a local act giving the county’s voters an opportunity to approve a rescue squad fee as a part of the boat registration fee.
“They don’t have funding like the rural fire departments in the county,” said District 1 Commissioner Jeff Clark. “They pretty much have to depend on fundraisers or whatever they can get from the county or city of Decatur.  Yet they provide a valuable service anytime there’s an emergency on the water where professional rescue assistance is needed.”
“I think a nominal fee added to the boat registration fee is a good idea and I’d support it,” said Commission Chairman Ray Long.
The commission acted on other matters as follows:
• Adopted a resolution declaring March 28-April 2 as “Spring Clean-up” in Morgan County.
• Authorized a transfer of $13,596 from the health insurance line item to the motor vehicles line item in the Morgan County coroner’s budget. This will allow Coroner Jeff Chunn to finance a vehicle over the next three years.
• Authorized an additional full-time case manager for Morgan County Community Corrections at a pay rate of $13.22 to $17.24 per hour. This position was previously approved and recommended by the Morgan County Community Corrections and Court Services Board, based on increased caseload.
• Amended the Morgan County Community Corrections budget by $40,000 to fund a new full-time case manager’s position, funded by Morgan County Community Corrections Surplus Account.
• Approve payment of $50 to the Alabama Association of Drug Court Professionals for annual membership dues for Kim Thurston and Tammy Jolley of the Morgan County Community Corrections Department.
• Approved payment of $100 to the Alabama Sheriff’s Reserve Association for annual membership dues for the Morgan County Sheriff’s Reserve Unit.
• Approved payment of $350 to Old Republic Surety for a surety bond renewal for Helen Hill, Morgan County Deputy Commissioner of License.
• Approved payment of $1,440 to Peck-Glasgow Agency for a surety bond for Ana Franklin, Morgan County sheriff.
• Approved payment of $175 to Old Republic Surety for a surety bond renewal for Edward Sims, Morgan County Sales Tax Office inspector.
• Approved payment of $50 to S.S. Nesbitt & Co. for a notary bond renewal for Marsha Keeney of the Morgan County Commission Office.
• Approved payment of $1,072 to Rankin, Shelton & Hunter for a sanitation services renewal bond for the Town of Priceville.
• Authorized payments from the Tourism, Recreation & Convention Fund as follows: Village Profile (Decatur–Morgan County Chamber of Commerce map), $2,085; Morgan County FFA/4H Steer Show, $1,000; and Morgan County Sheriff’s Rodeo, $325.
• Approved a certificate to subdivide for Bobby D. Abercrombie, Criscoe Circle, District 4. District 4 Commissioner Greg Abercrombie abstained from voting.
• Authorized the chairman to terminate a Memorandum of Understanding between the commission and North Alabama Workers’ Care and Parkway Medical Center as a result of the program’s ending at Parkway.
• Approved Occupational Health Group as the commission’s new provider of pre-employment physicals, pre-employment drug screens, random drug testing and post-accident care for the county.
• Authorized the chairman to execute a HAVA grant application from the Alabama Secretary of State in the amount of $150,309.77. The money will be used to upgrade the county’s voting precincts.
• Approved payment of $5,494.50 to Harris, Caddell & Shanks P. Ç. for legal services provided during the month of January, 2011.