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

DeKALB COUNTY, Ala. — The DeKalb County Commission held an organizational meeting to swear-in new commissioners and a regular session to discuss normal county business.

District 1 Commissioner Shane Wootten was sworn-in for another term by DeKalb County Commission President Ricky Harcrow. Newly-elected District 2 Commissioner Terry Harris was sworn-in by District Judge Steve Whitmire. 

DeKalb County Road Superintendent Tom Broyles delivered an update on progress on County Road 835, also known as Old Highway 35. He reported that the job “gets bigger every day” with no date set but it’s “not looking good” for the project to be completed by the end of the year, due to issues that have arisen because of constant rainfall. Broyles stated that excavating will likely occur in sections to accommodate weather conditions.

DeKalb County Engineer Ben Luther asked the Commission to enter a funding agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) through High-Risk Rural Roads Program to purchase new signs on County Road 89 from Highway 35 to the entrance of DeSoto State Park. The program purchases signs and posts in the amount of $42,417.85 with the county responsible for installation. The program is a 90-10 match. Vulcan Signs will produce signs for $4,178.18, but posts will be purchased from annual bids from Traffic Signs in Jacksonville.

In other business, the Commission: 

• Voted to keep meeting times the same as in the previous administration (second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m. in the DeKalb County Activities Building)
• Re-elected District 3 Commissioner Chris Kuykendall as President Pro-Tem of the Commission
• Approved a retaining wall project on County Road 85 with federal highway emergency relief funds in the amount of $236,264
• Approved a bid from ConTech for a bridge replacement project on County Road 386 below Aroney in the amount of $70,580
• Tabled discussion on rebuilding a dome to house inmates at the DeKalb County Jail 
• Approved the purchase of a new van for the DeKalb County Council on Aging from Landers McLarty in the amount of $26,612.50

The next meeting of the Commission will be held on Tuesday, December 8 at 10 a.m.