Commission approves 3 safe room grants
Morgan County Commission approved three Hazardous Mitigation Grants totaling $284,887 for the construction of four additional community safe rooms at its regular meeting Feb. 22.
The grants will be used to finance three-fourths of the cost of constructing safe rooms at the Punkin Center Volunteer Fire Department, Danville Volunteer Fire Department #1 and 3-M in Decatur. The amounts of the grants are: Punkin Center, $69,568; Danville, $81,757; and 3-M, $133,562. Of these amounts, 25 percent will be met by a contribution of in-kind services with no cost incurred by the county. The grants have a life of three years, beginning Feb. 1, 2010.
Johnny Cantrell, operations officer for the Morgan County Emergency Management Agency said MCEMA coordinated applications for the grants, which are funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
“The program has been in place for about five years and has already assisted the communities of Danville, Somerville and Trinity in building safe rooms,” Cantrell stated. “The Danville shelter has attracted twice the number of people it was designed to accommodate. That’s why application was made for another shelter capable of taking care of 96 people.
He added that the grant program is open to any community that desires a safe shelter and is prepared to go through the application process.
The commission acted on other matters as follows:
• Authorized the chairman to execute a lease of a rent-free office space in the courthouse for U.S. Representative Robert Aderholt.
• Authorized payments out of the Tourism, Recreation & Convention Fund as follows: Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, $1,500 and Hospice of the Valley Supportive Support Group, $250.
• Approved the payment of checks totaling $5,148,628.25 for the month of December, 2010.
• Declared as surplus a 2003 Ford Crown Victoria assigned to the Morgan County coroner and authorized it to be sold on govdeals.com, with proceeds to be returned to the coroner’s general budget.
• Authorized the chairman to execute a supplemental agreement with Cullman County Water Commission in the amount of $30,455 for utility relocation costs pertaining to a county road project.
• Approved payment of $5,225 to CDW-G for anti-virus software for three years for the Morgan County Data Processing Department.
• Approved payment of $13,487.50 to Teklinks for Ironport Internet monitoring and reporting software for the Data Processing Department.
• Authorized a refund of sales tax totaling $699.04 to Jack’s Restaurant Inc.
• Appointed Geoff Halbrooks to a 6-year term on the North East Morgan County Water and Sewer Board, effective Mar. 31, 2011, through Mar. 1, 2017.
• Reappointed David Hayes to a 6-year term on the West Morgan/East Lawrence Water and Sewer Authority, effective Mar. 1, 2011, through Mar. 1, 3 2017.
• Authorized the chairman to transfer $27,000 from the Morgan County E-911 budget to the Morgan County dispatch budget.
• Aurhorized the chairman to advertise for bids for the construction of a new parking lot adjacent to the Morgan County Courthouse, with funding to come from the Capital Improvement Fund.
• Authorized the chairman to declare as surplus 61 used ball field lights at West Park on condition that they are donated to Brindlee Mountain Community Center and South Park. • Authorized the chairman to retain the legal services of Attorney Larry Madison of Hartselle as legal representative for the Morgan County Commission’s Board of Appeals. He will take the place of County Attorney Bill Shinn who recused himself from the hearing.
• Approved payment of $700 to S.S. Nesbitt & Co. for a surety bond renewal for Carol Long, Deputy chief administrative officer.
• Approved payment of $75 from the Alabama Association of Registrars for annual membership dues of Adonis Bailey. Ernestine Elliott and Kate Terry, members of the Morgan County Board of Registrars.
• Approved payment of $100 to S.S. Nesbitt & Co. for notary bonds for Debra Rains and Sue Eckles of Morgan County Transportation Services.
• Approved payment of $175 to the International Association of Assessing Officers for annual renewal membership dues of Amanda Scott, Morgan County Revenue Commissioner.
• The Mar. 8, 2011, commission meeting was rescheduled for Thursday, Mar. 10, at 9 a.m.
