By Marla Jones, Managing Editor • marla@southerntorch.com
DeKALB COUNTY, Ala. — The DeKalb County Commission held their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday. All Commissioners were present with the exception of District 2 Commissioner Chris Kuykendall.
County Engineer Ben Luther presented the preliminary plat for Mentone Mountain Escape, which will be on County Road 641 on the north side of Hwy 117. Luther advised the Commission that all adjoining property owners had been notified and that he would like to bring before the Commission for approval and to accept the proposed plat. The Commission approved the plat for development.
Luther went on to update the Commission regarding the Rebuild Alabama Bid. The new gas tax rate is currently six cents per year that will help fund paving for Alabama roads. On January 15, the bids were open for the CountyTransportation Plan on three different types of treatments. One bid was received from Charles E. Watts, Inc. in the amount of $1,458,359.52. The bid was within 4% of what was estimated. The contract was approved.
According to Luther, DeKalb County received High-Risk Rural Road Funding from the federal government which will upgrade signage on County Road 89 from the top of Hwy 35 to the entrance of DeSoto Parkway, in the amount of $42,417.00. The amount will require a 10% match for the County. Dekalb also was one of 231 applicants that received $250,000 from the Rebuild Alabama Grant Award. This award will help in the paving of CR 51 in the Collinsville area.
DeKalb County Administrator, Matt G. Sharp asked the Commission for approval to surplus several county vehicles, including two Council on Aging vans which was approved by the Commission. Sharp went on to request the posting of a job vacated by Connie Bell’s retirement. The open position will be posted for 14 days.
David Smith of the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office brought before the board three resignations: Sam Young, Corrections Officer, Seth Green, Deputy and Misty Williams, part-time nurse.
Smith requested that Megan Diamond be hired as a full-time LPN position and that Wendy Wright be transferred from a part-time clerk to a full-time clerk with the Sheriffs Department.
The next meeting of the DeKalb County Commission will be held on February 11, beginning at 10 a.m. in the Activities Building.
