COMMISSION MEETING
March 13, 2007

CALL TO ORDER AND WELCOME
A regular meeting of the Cullman County Commission was held Tuesday, March 13, 2007 at 10:00 a.m., in the County Commission Office Conference Room, Chairman Kitchens called the meeting to order and welcomed all visitors. 

CALL OF ROLL TO ESTABLISH QUORUM, INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Present were Chairman Wiley Kitchens, Commissioner Doug Williams, Commissioner Wayne Willingham and Attorney Dan Willingham. Pastor Roger Hood gave the invocation and Commissioner Willingham lead the pledge of allegiance. 

APPROVE MINUTES, APPROPRIATIONS, EXPENDITURES, REQUISITIONS, TRAVEL EXPENSE AND ALL JOURNAL ENTRIES TO BE POSTED
Commissioner Willingham made the motion to approve. Commissioner Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. 

PUBLIC COMMENTS
No public comments. 
   
NEW BUSINESS

Consider Tax Abatement for Ornamentals Manufacturing, LLC
Cal Wray with City Economic Development Office stated ornamentals Manufacturing is looking at purchasing an existing building on Child haven Road. This is approximately a 3.3 million dollar investment with purchasing the building, building improvements, and buying machinery and equipment. Ornamentals Manufacturing will be employing approximately 20 employees in the next one to two years. 
Commissioner Williams made motion to adopt the resolution for abatement and authorize the Chairman to sign. Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. 

Authorize Chairman to sign Letter of Intent with F&O Architects
Gary Teichmiller, County Administrator stated this if for modifications to the first floor courthouse restroom. This is an hourly rate, we do not expect this to exceed $1,000.00. 
Commissioner Williams made the motion for the Chairman to sign the letter of intent with F & O Architects. 
Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. 

Authorize Chairman to negotiate contract for renovations on first floor restroom
Chairman Kitchens stated the renovations for the first floor restroom are to make it handicap accessible. 
Commissioner Williams made the motion to authorize the Chairman to negotiate a contract for renovations. 
Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. 

Resolution No. 2007-10 Authorize Commission to sign resolution for the purchase of land from TPL (ORV Park)
Attorney Dan Willingham stated this resolution authorizes Cullman County to purchase approximately 1,464 acres for the ORV Park. The Commission has already passed a resolution to except a grant if property was found that qualified, and this property does qualify.
Commissioner Williams made the motion to authorize the Commission to sign the resolution for the purchase of land from Trust for Public Land. 
Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. 

Consider awarding Bid No. 883 – Package Ice for Parks
Robbie Camp, Director of Park and Rec. stated bids was sent out for packaged ice for the county parks for a three (3) year period. Low bidder was Hanceville Wholesale Ice Co. I recommend awarding the bid to the low bidder. 
Commissioner Williams made the motion to accept the bid from Hanceville Wholesale Ice. 
Commissioner Yarbrough seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. 

Consider awarding Bid No. 884 – Metal Pipe
Mr. Fred Penn, County Engineer stated he had received two (2) bids. Bear Concrete Pipe located here in Cullman is within the 3% bid law. I recommend awarding the bid to Bear Concrete Pipe. 
Commissioner Willingham made the motion to award the bid to Bear Concrete Pipe. 
Commissioner Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. 

Consider extending Bid No. 842 for one year with Premier Pyrotechnics – Fireworks at Smith Lake Park
Robbie Camp, Director of Park and Rec. stated everyone was pleased with the firework presentation last year by Premier Pyrotechnics. Premier Pyrotechnics has offered to extend the bid for another year at the same price of $17,000.00. If the county pays by April 1, 2007, they will supply an extra 10% of product to the firework show. I recommend the county extend the bid to Premier Pyrotechnics.
Commissioner Williams made the motion to extend the bid to Premier Pyrotechnics. 
Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. 

Proclamation – Cullman Christian School – Mr. Sam Hollis
Rev. Sam Hollis announced he had a proclamation he would like for the County Commission to consider. Rev. Hollis read the proclamation aloud.
Commissioner Williams made the motion to adopt the proclamation proclaiming the week of March 25-31, 2007, as Cullman Christian School Week in Cullman County. 
Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. 

Dorsey Creek, LLC Petition to Vacate Road
Mr. Willingham stated apparently there is an old road off Hwy. 69 at Bremen that is a dead end road. All the property is owned by Dorsey Creek, LLC on both sides of an old road that was abandoned many years ago when Alabama Highway 69 was built. There is a dedicated easement they are asking the county to vacate. 
Commissioner Willingham made the motion to vacate the road. 
Commissioner Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. 

Consider the approval to order seven Mack Trucks
Mr. Penn stated this is the time of year we place the county’s request for Mack trucks. The new trucks will be 2008 and the county will take deliver of them in December 2007 or January 2008. 
Commissioner Williams made the motion to order the new trucks. 
Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. 

Authorize Chairman to sign a reimbursement agreement with the City of Cullman for the County Road 222 Water Project
Mr. David Bussman stated this project was bided with the City of Cullman thru their engineering firm. I am asking for permission for the Chairman to sign an agreement to reimburse them for the lowest responsible bidder. This is the second time this project has been bid. The first time the low bidder was thrown out because he didn’t acknowledge an addendum. It was bid the second time and the same contractor did not sign his bid so tonight the City is scheduled to accept the second in line which is Roberts out of Jasper. The county’s portion of that project is $320,000.00.
Commissioner Willingham made the motion to authorize the Chairman to sign the agreement. 
Commissioner Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. 

Authorize Chairman to sign an agreement with the Cullman electric Cooperative for billing and collection services for the Water Department
Mr. Bussman announced they are looking at the Cullman Electric Cooperative to take over their meter reading and collection for the County Water Department. We will be down sizing our department by three individuals of which the county is making available jobs that are open to them first. By switching over to the coop it will save us approximately $9,000.00 per month.
Commissioner Williams made the motion to authorize the Chairman to sign the agreement with the Coop to take over the billing and collection. 
Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. 
Mr. Bussman stated this would not take effect immediately; it would be about a five (5) month process. 

Annual Spring Clean Up will be the month of May
Chairman Kitchens announced the Commission was sponsoring the Annual Spring Clean Up during the month of May. Residents on garbage pick up should be receiving a certificate in their light bills for a free dump at the landfill to use anytime in the month of May.  

OLD BUSINESS
Chairman Kitchens stated there was no old business to discuss. 

NEXT REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 2007 AT 10:00 AM
Chairman Kitchens announced the next regular Commission Meeting will be Tuesday, March 27, 2007 at 10:00 am in the Commission Office Conference Room. 

ADJOURN
Commissioner Willingham made the motion to adjourn. Commissioner Williams seconded. 

______________________________	_____________________________ 	        __________________________ 
Wiley Kitchens, Chairman			J. Douglas Williams			        Wayne Willingham
						Associate Commissioner 		         Associate Commissioner