By Marla Jones, Reporter

DEKALB COUNTY, Ala. — (Video Below) The DeKalb County Commission held their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, September 11.

The Commission discussed the Boozer Bridge Land Agreement between the Commission and the City of Rainsville. In exchange for backfill and approach work for the Boozer Bridge Project, the City of Rainsville would deed two to three acres of property on Star Road for a fenced in property to be used by the work crews of the DeKalb County Road Department.

Since the initial agreement between the County and the City of Rainsville, funding through ATRIP had expired.

DeKalb County Attorney Charles Mooney stated that he had spoken with Nikki Scott, Rainsville City Attorney, several times and that the City had agreed to transfer the land. Mooney asked Ben Luther, DeKalb County Engineer, if he had any changes that needed to be made.

Luther stated that the original contract that had been agreed upon by both parties would need some changes in wording regarding the funding that is referenced in the contract.

“We have agreed in principle to provide that for the city,” said Luther. “If, and when, the funding becomes available.”

“To my knowledge, the funding [for Boozer Bridge] is not available any longer [through ATRIP],” Luther continued.

After much discussion and concern, Commissioner DeWitt Jackson reported that the Chavies Bridge Project (which was funded by ATRIP) came in at a higher cost than anticipated and due to that, all ATRIP funds were exhausted for the Boozer Bridge Project.

The Commission then voted to table the discussion until the contract could be amended for wording.

Southern Torch reached out Rainsville Councilmember Ricky Byrum, who is the liaison for the Street Department in Rainsville and said that he and the Mayor were actively working on new funding for the Boozer Bridge Project.

In Other Business:

• CED Mental Health Director Shelia Hurley addressed the Commission thanking them for all their help in the past and updated them on upcoming activities including Recovery in the Park on September 29 at Geraldine Town Park. Hurley also reported the need for a new facility due to growth across the county. CED Mental Health staffs a full-time nurse practitioner and a full-time counselor to deal with various problems like youth issues and substance abuse.
• Personnel changes were discussed for the Probate Office, Housekeeping, and the DeKalb County Jail
• DeKalb County Administrator Matt Sharp gave a budget update which includes cost of living raises for employees
• Emily McCamy of the Council on Aging requested that B&B Reporting do background checks for the agency. She also asked for travel approval and gave an update on the 45th anniversary of the Senior Center which will be held on October 26.
• Anthony Clifton, DeKalb County EMA Director, recognized Deputy Director Michael Posey for graduating from the the month long Emergency Management Professionals Program at the National Training Academy in Maryland. He was one of 40 across the nation, one of just two in our region to complete the program.

The next meeting of the DeKalb County Commission will be held on Tuesday, September 25 at 10am in the DeKalb County Activities Building.