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

PHOTO: At Tuesday's meeting of the DeKalb County Commission, Heil Vice President of Operations Ken Chandler and Executive Director Jimmy Durham of the DeKalb County Economic Development Authority announced an expansion and requested tax abatements for the company. (Marla Jones | Southern Torch)

DEKALB COUNTY, Ala. — On Tuesday, the DeKalb County Commission approved a resolution to grant property tax abatements for new equipment to Heil Environmental, a Dover Corporation. 

Heil has been located in DeKalb County since 1973 and employs 730  people.   Each year the corporation has a 300 million dollar impact on DeKalb County.  

The corporation will be expanding its facilities, located on 108 4th Street, Fort Payne to better serve their customer needs for garbage trucks.  

This investment will not abate any educational taxes.  Over the next ten years, the DeKalb County School System will benefit from over $700,000 in education taxes.  

“[Granting Heil Environmental the property tax abatement] is an Investment in the county,” stated District I Commissioner Shane Wooten. 

Commission President Ricky Harcrow announced that the annual event to help clean up DeKalb County, sponsored by the DeKalb County Commission will begin this week. 

Dumpsters will be at the entrance of the Sand Valley Landfill located on 3345 County Road 209, Collinsville.  Dumpsters will be available Wednesday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. until May 1, 2021.  

Road Department Supervisor Tom Broyles informed the Commission that recent flooding had closed three roads in DeKalb County.  These roads are CR 34 at Oak Hill, CR 453 east of Peeks Corner, and CR 1004 at Geraldine. 

Resurfacing projects throughout DeKalb County have been put on hold while his employees address the issues of washed-out roads.  

Broyles also requested the County’s approval to contract out the herbicide treatment during the summer months.  The lowest bid was around $35,000.  Broyles said his department might be able to resume in the fall. 

Personnel Changes in the road department were made as follows:

• Promoted Rick Doeberi from District 2 Road Crew to Parts Manager, replacing Rex Goza who retired
• Hired Mickey Berry to replace Rick Doeberi in District 2 Road Crew
• Hired Jeff Talley to replace Norman Price in District 3 Road Crew

County Engineer Ben Luther requested that the County award the annual herbicide material bid to Helena. This request was approved by the Commission. 

DeKalb County Administrator, Matt Sharp informed the Commissioners of the recent auction results.  The County profited approximately $320,000 on the 2020 equipment and vehicles.  Those funds go back into the departments for additional equipment. 

“What we are doing [through the auction process] is working pretty well.  This program lowers maintenance costs across the board,” stated Matt Sharp. “ It is a good program.”  

Sharp also asked that the Commission’s approval to hire Elizabeth Higgins and the promotion of Angie Pask at the DeKalb County Revenue Commission. Both the hire and promotion were approved by the Commission.

Bids for the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department Food Service were reviewed and the Commission agreed upon Arrowmark at a cost of $1.237 per meal to feed up to 250 inmates in the system.

The Sherrif’s Office presented a list of promotions, transfers, and new hires that were approved by the Commission.

• Hired Michael Little as a Deputy to replace Levi Bates
• Transferred Johnathan Whitmire from Jail to temporary Deputy to replace Zac Priest who is on military deployment
• Hired Sebastian Gamez as a part-time dispatcher
• Transferred Jim Chambers from part-time Student Resource Officer (SRO) to part-time Courthouse Security
• Hired Lamar Bray as part-time SRO (Henagar) to replace Jim Chambers
• Promoted Sherry Johnson to SRO Sgt South to replace Tony Bartley

JAIL:

• Hired Brandon Blackwood to replace Dustin Bailey as Correctional Officer
• Hired Danielle Adams to replace Sam McAlpin as Correctional Officer
• Hired Dylan Haney to replace Riley Shrader as Correctional Officer
• Hired Valerie Williams to replace Bailey Howell as Correctional Officer
• Accepted resignation of Hunter Miller (no replacement yet) as Correctional Officer

Officers:

• Hired Joanna Hart to replace Magan Diamond as a nurse in the jail
• Hired Lori Jackson as a new nurse position in the jail.  This hire will make a total of three nurses for the DeKalb County Sheriffs Department. 

The next meeting of the DeKalb County Commission will be on May 11, 2021 beginning at 10 a.m.