UPDATE: According to a statement from DeKalb County Revenue Commissioner, Tyler Wilks “The Commission has helped me out with additional resources and it will allow us to keep the Rainsville annex open as normal, we will be at reduced staff from what would be considered full staff but we will be open.”
DEKALB COUNTY, Ala-- The DeKalb County Commission held their regularly scheduled meeting on June 7.
Dekalb County Revenue Commissioner, Tyler Wilks, announced several retirees and resignations from his Rainsville office. Wilks stated that it will take some
time to replace these employees and train new
ones. He stated that it was his decision to open
the Rainsville office only on Tuesday and
Wednesday effective June 24- September 30. The office will reopen and
operate on
normal hours beginning
October1.
DeKalb County Commission
President Ricky Harcrow advised
that the
Commission pays
for the rental of
the building to the
City of Rainsville
but does not control when the office
closes or opens. This decision to close was made by Revenue Commission Wilks in efforts to run his office more efficiently.
Michael Posey, DeKalb County Emergency Management Agency Deputy Director, informed the Commission that a $500,000 (no match) grant had been obtained. This grant will build storm shelters in the Cartersville and Kilpatrick area.
Fred Couch of Alabama Scenic River Trail (ASRT) addressed the Commission regarding the need for more campsites along the river trail. The Alabama Scenic River Trail currently has over 200 campsites on their website, www.ASRT.me. These sites are large enough to accommodate two tents or 6 hammocks for usage up to two days.
Couch advised that DeKalb County ranks #2 in the State of Alabama for tourists and that there was a great need to provide campsites within the County.
Two properties near the Bucks Pocket area, along the South Sauty Creek, have been located that, according to Couch, are perfect sites. He asked the Commission to help him locate the owners. The property owners can require a fee for campsites. The Alabama Scenic River Trail will provide a free listing on their website, provide an ASRT sign asking patrons to “Please leave it better than you found it” and provide funding for access to land from the creek.
Tom Broyles, of the Dekalb County Road Department gave updates on the current road closures. Work has been completed on several roads in the County that were washed out. County Road 34, along with County Road 1004 are now open. County Road 453 is anticipated to reopen next week. County Road 641, east of Mentone, should be completed soon, depending on the weather. County Road 835, still remains too wet to work on and that road project is on hold, until the soil dries.
DeKalb County Engineer Ben Luther presented the Commission with the ALDOT Funding Agreement for CR 26 and CR 83. This is a standard funding agreement for Federal Aid resurfacing projects.
Emily McCamy, Director of the Council on Aging, gave an update on their food assistance programs. In April of last year, the Council served 411 people for a total of 9,317 meals. Due to increased funding through the CARES act, the center was able to serve 755 people with 23,585 meals last month.
Senior Centers across DeKalb County are reopening. Dance classes, including ballroom and round dancing at night and line dancing in the day, have resumed. Contact your local senior center for a full schedule of exercise and dance schedules.
In other business, the Commission:
Purchased (50) Express Ballot Marking Devices
Granted garbage exemptions
Entered into an ACCA Agreement for consultants and attorneys to manage federal funding over a several year period
Empowered DeKalb County Commission President Ricky Harcow to negotiate a property purchase for the DeKalb County Tourist Association
Participation in the August Sales Tax Holiday
Extended public water to residential homes on CR 223 (County to furnish supplies with Water Board to furnish labor)
The next meeting of the DeKalb County Commission will be held on July 13, 2021.
