By Marla Jones, Managing Editor • marla@southerntorch.com
DeKALB COUNTY, Ala. — The DeKalb County Commission held their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, February 12 at the DeKalb County Activities Building. In the absence of Commission President Ricky Harcrow, Pro Tem Chris Kuykendall led the meeting.
Brandi Lyles, a board member of Leadership DeKalb, announced activities that the program would be participating in and invited the Commission to go through the program.
Emily McCamy of the DeKalb County Council on Aging announced the registration deadline for the Senior Prom will be March 12. The prom is for citizens that are 55+ and have already had over 80 people to register. Still Kickin’ will be the entertainment for the night.
February is Heart Health Month at the Senior Center. McCamy said that heart disease was the number one killer of women and the Council on Aging is working to educate the County’s seniors on the risks.
McCamy gave a brief overview of the Council on Aging’s 2018 accomplishments. They had four drivers on the road that made 22,000 passenger trips for a total 155,000 miles. They have 20 paid on-staff workers and 26 volunteers across the County. They have had 87 people helped with legal advice on wills and power of attorney. They helped 446 people with prescription assistance and in the senior Rx program over $1.1 million were paid for prescriptions with over 900 different types of medications.
Road Superintendent Tom Broyles announced that chert had been hauled and patch work had begun in Districts 1 and 2, as long as weather permitted. The department is in the process of getting trucks ready for the March 8 auction. Broyles hoped that new tractors and dump trucks would arrive within the month.
County Administrator Matt Sharp presented a damage claim that the Commission forwarded on to their insurance carrier.
County Engineer Ben Luther addressed the Commission on ALDOT funding for County Roads 165 and 631, which is a resurfacing project on Lookout Mountain. He presented the contract for this funding and it was approved by the Commission.
Matt Sharp, in the absence of Revenue Commissioner Tyler Wilks, presented the following personnel changes. Due to the retirement of Rachel Davis, Angie Pass became Deputy Revenue Commissioner and Megan Hall was hired to take Pass’ job.
DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden announced the following personnel changes:
Hire Gary Bowen as part-time courthouse security officer to replace Van Douglas (retirement)
Transfer Kevin Woodall from full-time patrol deputy to full-time transport deputy
Hire Ray Morales as a full-time deputy to replace Kevin Woodall
Transfer Seth Butler from full-time transport officer to full-time corrections officer
Transfer Leah Hitchcock from full-time corrections sergeant to full-time corrections officer
Promote Charles Young from full-time corrections officer to full-time corrections sergeant
Accept the resignation of part-time road crew Verlon White
Accept the resignation of full-time corrections officer Giles Phillips
Hire Regina Wilson as a full-time dispatcher to replace 2 part-time slots
Accept the resignation of part-time courthouse security officer Stanley Vinson
Recommended David Smith as a CED Board Member
The Commission approved the following:
Purchase of ten new Sheriff Department vehicles
Opened bids for residential garbage services
Appointed William Dalton to the Northeast Alabama Water Board
Appointed Michael Posey to the DeKalb County Hospital Board
The next meeting of the DeKalb County Commission will be on Tuesday, February 26 at 10am.