10:00 AM. Houston County Commission Administrative Meeting

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
Date: Jan 05 2017 10:33 AM

HOUSTON COUNTY:    10:00 AM.   The Houston County Commission met in their first meeting since December 16, 2016. There are 5 items on the agenda.

Commissioner Culver introduced Chris Judah as the "new employee" and on his first day had a tornado.

Culver said received a letter from Houston County School System thanking them for all the help "we" provided during the storms. Culver directed County Engineer to pass on to the employees of Houston County Road and Bridge.

Culver said this month's county magazine is a article with a Houston County machinery with county logo and the safety. Culver said how safety can relate to savings and raises. The Houston County Safety Director Kelly (?) said they originally had stock photos but she and the County Engineer took photos. She said the county sanitation recognized and was proud of it. She said they are setting the bar for the rest.

Commissioner Culver said he spoke to the new commissioners before the legislative conference. A lot of the commissioner wanted to know how Houston County did it and he gave them Kelly's number. Culver said he appreciated the county association for recognizing it.

Houston County EMA Director Chris Judah said thanks for the initiation. Judah said thinks went well, a isolated event. Judah said he does not think anything could have been different to save the lives. Said thanks to Barkley and Ashley, Commissioner Sinquefield. That Southern Junction and Rehobeth Fire came together. What was unfortunately a recovery was a well oiled machine and wants to thank everyone for their support. Judah hopes all can come better acquainted and work together. The EOC came together. The City of Dothan was impacted. Judah said THANKS for all, thanks for the opportunity, give him a call. Any questions he will be glad to find the answer.

Culver sai the cooperation and all came together really well. Culver said that you will find that is the way we are. That in everything we do you will find we are really strong community. Culver said you got a good taste the first day. Culver said the Road and Bridge will be available and the Sheriff Department is great and the commissioners do not worry about overtime.

Judah praised the Sheriff and Captain. Culver said you will find that is the way we are. Culver also said thanks to Governor Bentley for taking time to come which he did not have to do. Culver said maybe the next few weeks maybe will be quieter.

Commissioner Battles said thanks to all who showed up but also Battles said thanks to all who stayed out of the way. Thanks for those who did not get there and get in the way and let the people who needed to be there be there.

Culver said they put out a Twitter and Facebook.

Culver said he was "actually out of town" but he was in constant contact. Culver said he was sending out Facebook and Twitter. Said people did not need to be out sight seeing and in the way.

Culver thanked Commissioner Sinquefield for being out there until 4 AM.

The commission then moved to the agenda. One item was the financial statement. Dempsey said we are sound financially and where we are going with the debt.

The Commission discussed a request to approve revenue and expenditure for Communication Center Console. Dempsey said they understood the equipment wuld be purchased for 911 but Houston County received a check for the expenditure. This is a transfer of money from one place to another.

Culver said Captain Rafferty that things are moving along on the communications system. Rafferty said with this the consoles would be ordered and installed later. All was paid for by 911. The new radio system is awaiting federal approval on tower site. Rafferty said all handhelds and mobile are in, inventoried, and programming is beginning and installation. When the system is installed the Sheriff Department will be ready. Just waiting on the tower approval from FAA, then other site wore by the Engineering firm then bidding. The process has been slow but moving. Commissioner Shoupe asked a date to go live, Rafferty said hopefully in the next couple of weeks we will have an answer. The next biggest hold up will be historical approval and it could take up to six months. We are their mercy, the engineering study will tell what specs for tower. At mercy of FAA and Historical.

Culver said we do not have to wait on tower. Rafferty said equipment installed but need the towers. Culver said could we move forward all other tower sites even if no approval for the one tower site. Rafferty said that is dependent on how to do the bid process. Culver said it could be bid depending on the one site. Culver said he hated the entire project held up waiting on the federal government. Rafferty said he will follow up on FAA.

Culver also said all volunteer radios are in house and will be ready to distribute. Culver directed EMA Director to get with Bill Dempsey to inveTory, but no reason to distribute until they work.

Approval of the 2016 - 2017 county flooring contract. Sean Curtis said they are bidding out a contract of the by hour by man and use for any project. It can be a three year contract and will save time in writing bids and waiting bids. The courthouse project will be under this. It "should" save money but would save time.

A reason to approve 2016 - 2017 painting contractor and the same as the flooring contractor. Shoupe asked we have never done flooring or painting and asked if we have always bid out. They said yes. The current contractor is doing the courthouse and do good work.

Request to sell surplus wrecked vehicle to Alfa Insurance for $ 5,550.14 for a 2010 Crown Victoria. Barkley Kirkland said this was a insurance settlement where the other person was responsible.

Awarded bids for sign making material, sign faces, herbicide, MC70 prime and hot plant mix 424 to the lower bids meeting specs. Barkley Kirkland said this will be compared to state bid. The hto mix is one vendor.

Commissioner Sinquefield asked if possible for citizens who have debris on property to put on the right of way to be picked up. Commissioner Culver said he intended to bring that up. Barkley Kirkland asked if limbs or building debris.

Kirkland said a barn on Highway 95 blew in the highway and they pushed out of way assuming the home owner had insurance.

Commissioner Culver told the Mayor " we would be picked limbs and that kind of stuff". Commissioner Shoupe asked "countywide" and Culver said "no". Only those affected by the storm and they will have like two weeks. Culver said a lot of stuff  in Rehobeth area. Said if took longer than two weeks and it is storm damage will work with them. The other stuff needs to be regular routine stuff.

Commissioner Culver said add as a agenda item "limb pick up". Barkley Kirkland said they can produce a map where them storm damage is. Culver said if in Rehobeth and someone in the state park called.

Commissioner Sinquefield asked clarification, limbs and debris. Commissioner Harvey said they might have some other stuff. Barkley Kirkland said they would have to separate and Commissioner Culver said do what they have always done. Commissioner Battles said for two weeks.

Barkley Kirkland said four roads closed. Two roads will require cross drains. At the height of it there were 30 roads closed and the next morning only 6 so Road and Bridge worked hard.

Commissioner Battles asked about Blackmon Road and Kirkland said next spring. Kirkland said they are going to patch and open area near fairgrounds next week and open it. The paving bid will not be until next spring.

At 10:00 AM the meeting was called to order and at 10:33 AM the meeting was adjourned.

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