Marla Jones | Southern Torch
DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden posed for a photo with new jail administrator Ranger Wright.
FORT PAYNE -- The DeKalb County Commission’s first meeting of the New Year Tuesday brought a new administrator for the county jail.
Commissioners approved DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden’s request to hire Ranger Wright as the new Chief Jail Administrator. Wright comes to the office with 20 years of experience and service as an Alabama State Trooper. Wright started his career in South Alabama, serving for two years before returning home to DeKalb County and serving as an Alabama State Trooper in Northeast Alabama for 18 years.
In other personnel changes, Welden asked the commission to accept the resignations of two part-time deputies, Keith Smith and Dustin Fleming. He also requested that the commission approve terminating full-time School Resource
Officer (SRO) Jairo Castillo. Seth Cagle will transfer from Chief Jail Administrator to the open full-time SRO position.
The commission accepted a bid for $43,999 by Bryants Heating and Cooling, to replace the HVAC in the jail kitchen of the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office
DeKalb County Engineer Ben Luther presented the Rebuild Alabama Annual Report for 2023, which is required to be approved at the first meeting in January. The county began the fiscal year of 2023 with a balance of $231,882.16. The county received $1,275,472,10 in Rebuild Alabama Funds, and spent $1,159,180.47 in funds for fiscal year 2023, with the remainder carried over to this fiscal year.
Luther requested the adoption of the 2023 Floodplain Ordinance. There were no technical differences from last year; it is just a newer version of the Floodplain Ordinance, required by ADECA.
DeKalb County Road Department Superintendent Tom Broyles updated the commission on the work being performed in each district to prepare for roads that are on the paving list for this year.
In personnel for the road department, Broyles requested the commission promote T.J Young to unit crew leader, and transfer Gary Scoggins to the position left by Young’s advancement.
Broyles requested approval to purchase 17 dump chassis and fourroad tractors for the 2025 fiscal year due to the number of vehicles being allowed through the governmental programs. The Commission approved the purchase.
The Commission approved the hire of Darren Davis as the DeKalb County Animal Control Officer.
DeKalb County Tourism Director John Dersham thanked the commission and county workers who worked tirelessly for their new tourism office located at 214 North Gault Avenue, Fort Payne. According to Dersham, DeKalb County is the second most popular leisure travel destination in Alabama.
Full video of the meeting is available on Southern Torch Facebook. The DeKalb County Commission's next meeting will be at 10 a.m. Feb. 13.