Use Tax Funds Upgrades - Southern Torch

By Marla Jones, Managing Editor • marla@southerntorch.com

DeKALB COUNTY, Ala. — The DeKalb County Commission held their regularly scheduled meeting on July 14.

DeKalb County Engineer Ben Luther addressed the Commission on behalf of Road Superintendent, Tom Broyles who was on vacation. After flooding on Easter Sunday, the Road Department had eleven roads that received major damage. Seven locations have been reopened, with one of those temporarily repaired and will receive more work in the future. Three county roads remain closed: CR 44, CR 33, and CR 641. The County has not received official documentation but it has been reported that there will be federal assistance that will pay for these repairs.

Luther gave a paving update for the Road Department. There are two roads in District 1 that have not yet been paved according to the County Transportation plan as part of Rebuild Alabama funding. This paving may take place as soon as this week.

Luther also asked for four different Speed Limit Resolutions: CR 1004 changed to 25mph, CR781 reduced to 25 mph, CR 776 to 40mph and CR 667 to 25mph. The Commission approved all of the speed resolutions.

Three damage claims were approved and sent to the insurance carrier. A claim was made due to a busted time, a busted windshield from brush cutter, and a cut tire from the edge of the pavement.

Chief Deputy Brad Gregg of the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office informed the Commission that Andrea Woodall had successfully applied for the COPS Grant. This will enable the Office to hire four new deputies. The Department of Justice and the Commission will pay for these additional officers with a 75/25 split. This will help pay for salaries and benefits. There were only eleven grants awarded in the State and only six hundred awarded across the nation. This grant will pay for the first three years and it will be the County’s responsibility for the fourth year. The estimated cost will be $488,750, with the county paying $162,000.

The Sheriff’s Office requested approval to send three officers to death investigation training, which was approved.

The Commission approved the following transfers and hires for the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office: accepted the retirement of Alfred Rigistad and hired him back as a part-time deputy on an as-needed basis, transferred Carl White from transportation deputy to patrol deputy, hired Tim Devlin as transport deputy effective June 29, hired Jon Moses as an as-needed courthouse deputy.

DeKalb County Probate Judge Ronnie Osborn updated the Commission that he along with County Administrator Matt Sharp had been working for several months on updating their present voting machines to the new DS200 machines. Secretary of State, John Merrill helped the County with means to lease the machines until 2023.

Osborn also requested that the Commission enters into an agreement with NO INK to purchase Poll pads for the next election. These pads feature a slide where you can put your license, sign the ballot and vote, This will make voting safer during this COVID pandemic. Secretary of State also helped secure the money to provide this purchase at no cost to the County through 2023. After, the County will be responsible for $100 per pad to update, which the County approved. County Administrator Matt Sharp informed the Commission that the Simplified Sales Use Tax (which is an online purchase tax) would help pay for the COPS Grant along with the updates to election machines.

The County will also use the SSU tax to help fund the RSA Tier 2 Resolution that will help employess hired after 2013 receive the same retirement benefits than those hired before them.

The Commission approved the request made by the Revenue Commission for the Insolvents, and Tax plan, which is done each year.

The Commission also approved a mapping agreement between ALDOT and the DeKalb County Revenue Reappraising Office that awards the Office $10,000 to use the county mapping system.

In other business the Commission: