County to collect taxes for Hartselle
The Morgan County Sales Tax Office, headed by Ed Sims, will become the tax collector for the city of Hartselle, effective Aug. 1.
A resolution approved unanimously by the Morgan County Commission on Tuesday paved the way for the change. It authorizes the Sales Tax Office to collect Hartselle’s sales, use, lodging, rental, tobacco products and gasoline taxes for an annual fee of $41,000, payable in monthly installments of $3,416.67.
The contract also states that the compensation the county receives for tax collection will not exceed 10 percent for the 12-month period.
“This is going to be a good move for both the county and Hartselle,” said Ray Long, commission chairman. “Our Sales Tax Office is already collecting a one-cent county-wide sales tax and has the capacity to handle more work. At the same time they were exploring options to make a change.”
Hartselle City Clerk/Controller Rita Lee said the city is using Revenue Discovery Services to collect its taxes and began looking to make a change when it’s rates were increased.
“We’re going to save some money up front and the county will provide auditing at no additional cost,” she said. “It will be more convenient for our businesses, too. They’ll only have to fine one return each month.”
Mayor Dwight Tankersley said this was a win-win situation for the city and county.
“The county is already collecting sales taxes,” Tankersley said. “They’re already audited. It just makes sense to do this.”
The commission acted on other matters as follows:
• Recognized several rising high school seniors who represented Morgan County at Boys State and Girls State in Montgomery recently. Introducing themselves as delegates were Caleb Faulkner and Isaac Robinson, Hartselle High School; John Carnell, Austin High; Daniel Gilliam, Christopher Vought and Sara Bedsolz, Decatur High School; and Raven Knowlton. Danville High.
• Authorized Debra Rains, director of Morgan County Area Transportation Systems, to fill a mechanic position vacancy at grade Systems, to fill a mechanic position vacancy at grade 6, pay rate $14.40 to $18.78 per hour. The position was vacated May 31.
• Authorized the chairman to execute an employment contract with David Williams for the Morgan County Office of License Inspector at a pay rate of $10 per hour, effective June 14.
• Authorized the chairman to execute the amended FY 2011 Title III Aging Contract, which was originally approved Sept. 28, 2010. The amended contract has removed items that are no longer required by the State Department of Senior Services of the Administration on Aging.
• Approved payment of $25,000 to Trident Insurance Services for legal services regarding claims filed against the Morgan County Commission by Phillip and Sylvia Peppers.
• Approved certificates to subdivide and/or consolidate for Leonard and Annelle Brown, Hoyt Henry Road, District 4 and William Stephen Douthit and William Stephen and Glenda Douthit, Lawrence Cove Road, District 3.
• Approved payment of $67,704 to Cullman County Water Department covering the cost of relocating a water line on Wilhite Road for District 3 road project MCP 52-123-08, payable out of district 3 funds. The money will be reimbursed by the State Department of Transportation on completion of the project.
• Authorized the chairman to execute a letter of support on behalf of the Morgan County Community Corrections Program.
• Authorized payment of a $400 travel advance for meals to Bob Newman and Dewayne Childers, D.A.R.E. officers with the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office. They will be attending the 24th International D.A.R.E. Conference in Nashville, Tenn., July 26-28.
• Authorized the chairman to execute Insolvents, Errors ad Taxes in Litigation for 2010 and uncollected insolvents, errors and Taxes in Litigation for previous years as prepared by Amanda G. Scott, Morgan County Revenue Commissioner.
• Authorized an extension of leave without pay for Environmental Services employee Zachary Free, with return date to work June 23 as requested by Ricky Brooks, director of Morgan County Environmental Services.
• Approved payment of $6,583.50 to Harris, Caddell & Shanks P.C. for legal services provided in May 2011.
• Declared 74 complete and six incomplete DV40 metal four-stall voting booths from the inventory of the Morgan County probate Office as surplus equipment and agreed to advertise them for sale on govdeals.com., with the proceeds to be returned to the Probate Office.
• Authorized District 4 Commissioner Greg Abercrombie to hire two part-time workers with a Class A or B drivers license as a requirement.
Brent Maze contributed to this report.
