PHOTO: DeKalb County Engineer Ben Luther asks the commission to approve the vacation of several areas of county roads. (Tyler Pruett | Southern Torch)
By Tyler Pruett, Managing Editor
FORT PAYNE, Ala. — (Full Video at the Bottom) To begin today's meeting of the DeKalb County Commission, District IV Commissioner DeWitt Jackson lead the meeting in prayer, and District III Commissioner Chris Kuykendall lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
To start their regular business, Tom Broyles updated on the work of the county road department. Broyles related that the department is patching potholes, and is hauling chert into Deerhead Cove. He also said that the recent dry weather was helping with the road work.
Broyles also recommend the hire of Matthew McCue for the open road department position in District II. He asked to transfer Josh Nail from the Unit Crew to District II to operate grader, as the new hire doesn't have much equipment operating experience. The commission moved to honor their request.
DeKalb County Engineer Ben Luther held a short public hearing regarding the vacation of portions of County Roads 608 and 196. The portion of 608 was abandoned in the early 2000's due to roadway realignment, and the adjoining property owners were notified. Luther said the county had not received any comments from the residents on the vacation.
As far as the vacation of County Road 196, the item had been brought up in a previous meeting, but commissioners elected to talk to the member of the public who requested the vacation. The commission approved the vacation today.
Luther also notified the commission that a resident on County Road 751, near Hammondville, called his office about a speeding problem on the road. The road is currently paved, but no speed limit is posted on the portions of the road outside of the town limits.
Luther requested the commission set the speed limit for 35 mph on the road, from the edge of the Hammondville town limits to Highway 11, as the commission couldn't set a speed limit within a municipality. The commission approved the recommendation.
Commissioner Kuykendall said that he has clients on that road, "and they are constantly complaining about the speeders on that road."
An employee of the DeKalb County Revenue Commission addressed the commission in the place of Revenue Commissioner Tyler Wilkes, who had a doctor's appointment. The revenue commission requested the hiring of Norma Duarte for the collections office, to replace an employee who recently retired. The commission voted to honor the request.
DeKalb County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Michael Edmondson requested the commission accept the resignation of Samuel Young, who had found another job opportunity. Edmondson also recommended the hiring of April Fowler as a LPN for the jail medical unit, and Pricisilla Padgett, to replace Deputy Daniel Matthews.
Chief Jailer Jonathan Langley then asked the commission to accept a bid for a proposal from Ball Electronics for camera repairs at the jail. During the previous meeting, Langley notified the commission that several cameras in the jail and around the Sheriff's Office facility were not operational. The bid was approved.
The next meeting of the DeKalb County Commission will be held on Tuesday, December 12th at 10 am. The commission will hold only one meeting in December due to the Christmas Holiday.
"We want to wish everyone a happy holiday season," said Commission President Ricky Harcrow before adjourning. "Thanksgiving is past, and Christmas is rapidly approaching. We here at the commission office wish all of you a very happy holiday season. Above all, be safe, and be cognizant of the fact that there are dangers out there on the roads, and we ask the Lord's providential care on all of you."
"Thank you for the job you do; we appreciate it so very much, and we ask in a special way that all of you and your families be blessed in these coming days," said Harcrow.
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