COMMISSION MEETING
December 12, 2006

CALL TO ORDER AND WELCOME
A regular meeting of the Cullman County Commission was held Tuesday, December 12, 2006 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, and Commissioner Wayne Willingham. Attorney Dan Willingham gave the invocation and Commissioner Williams lead the pledge of allegiance. 

APPROVE MINUTES, APPROPRIATIONS, EXPENDITURES, REQUISITIONS, TRAVEL EXPENSE AND ALL JOURNAL ENTRIES TO BE POSTED
Commissioner Williams made the motion to approve minutes, appropriations, expenditures, requisitions, travel expense and all journal entries to be posted.  Commission Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Diane Green with PALS addressed the commission concerning the Referendum on Self Gov. if the commission supported this or not. It will be four (4) years before it will be able to be back on the ballot. 

Rev. George Benefield addressed the commission concerning liter across the county and state.  

PRESENTATIONS 
Commissioner Williams stated two gentlemen are present that works for the County Sanitation Department are here today. These gentlemen Mr. Richard Loyd and Mr. Jonathan Parris have no ideal why they are here. While working early one morning these two gentlemen ran across a small toddler on the side of the road that had escaped out of his home. They took care of this toddler and went door to door till they found his home. I think it’s important as a commission and as a county to recognize that we have a lot of good employees working for Cullman County. 
Commissioner Williams presented Mr. Richard Loyd and Mr. Jonathan Parrish with plaques of appreciation. 
 
NEW BUSINESS

Consider Tax Abatement for Sherman-Dixie Concrete Industries
Cal with the City Industrial Development Board stated this facility is located on Al. Hwy. 157 between Cullman and West Point. They will be constructing approximately 17,000 sq. ft. and invest approximately 3.6 million in expanding this facility, which will create between 15 and 20 jobs over the next three years. Currently Sherman Dixie Concrete makes concrete gutters, with this expansion into a new line of products with this new expansion. 
Commissioner Willingham made the motion to extend this abatement to Sherman-Dixie. Commissioner Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion passed unanimously. 

County Engineer appointment
Commissioner Williams said he would like to recognize Mr. Fred Penn who has been serving the last two weeks as interim engineer, and has been appoint as County Engineer for Cullman County. 

Permission to enter into a grant agreement with Alabama Height Modernization Program – Revenue
Revenue Commissioner Kay Smith stated several months ago we received notification from the Alabama Height Modernization Program that we will be receiving grant monies ($32,238.50) to be used to further strength our GPS Program. Cullman County is already in line if other counties turn their money down to receive additional grant money. 
Awhile back the Commission gave me permission by resolution to sign for grants. At this time I need a letter from the Commission stating the Commission knows we will be receiving the grant. 

Consider rate increase – Sanitation 
Mr. James Rollo, Sanitation Department Manager stated four (4) years in a row the Sanitation Department has absorbed the landfill increase from Cullman Environmental. We are at the point this year, we are asking to increase the rates 3.8%. This is the same increase Cullman Environmental passed on to us. This will increase residential rates from $9.64 to $10.01 a
month and all other rates senior citizens rates will increase .25 per month and dumpsters will increase 3.8% depending up the monthly rate.  
Commissioner Williams made the motion to allow the rate increase. Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. 

Consider the surplus of a 20’ Terrain King Mower
Commissioner Williams stated this is a mowing system that has been down for several years. We need to surplus this equipment and get it out of the way. 
Commissioner Willingham made the motion to surplus the equipment. Commissioner Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. 

Consider the surplus of vehicles from Water Department
Mr. David Bussman, Manger of the Cullman County Water Department stated the three (3) 2000 GMC vehicles are being transferred to the Park and Rec. The Ditch Witch Trench we need to surplus and the 2000 GMC Pickup put on GovDeals. The 95 John Deere Backhoe we would like to transfer to Smith Lake Park. The L-9000 needs to be transferred to the County Road Department and the 1995 International 9400 transferred from the Road Department to the Water Department. 
Commissioner Williams made the motion to surplus and transfer the various vehicles and equipment. Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. 

Consider vacating County Road 41
Mr. Willingham stated this is a small loop road off County Road 223 on West Side of the County. We have published it in the Cullman Times for the required length of time and a public hearing was held Monday, December 11th. This vacating is by the petition of the landowners. I recommend the vacation of County Road 41 from the South end of County Road 223 to the North end of County Road 223.
Mr. Bussman questioned the Commission if the water line was being vacating also and ask the Commission to give him a 
chance to check on the water line. 
Commissioner Willingham made the motion to table this item until the next meeting. Commissioner Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. 

Project No. AL-03-0052-00 CARTS Facility
Joyce Echols with the CARTS Office stated they had received a letter of approval from ALDOT to accept the low bid from Eidson for the new CARTS Bldg. We need approval from the commission on this so we can move on with the construction of the new CARTS Bldg.
Commissioner Willingham made the motion to move forward with the building. Commissioner Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. 

Resolution No. 2206-35 Speed Limit on County Road 230 @ 15 MPH
Mr. Penn stated County Road 230 is off County Road 109. I make the recommendation to reduce the speed limit on this road to 15 MPH. 
Commissioner Willingham made the motion to reduce the speed to 15 MPH on County Road 230. Commissioner Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. 

Resolution No. 2006-36 Speed Limit on County Road 244 @ 15 MPH
Mr. Penn stated County Road 244 is also off County Road 109. I recommend reducing the speed limit to 15 MPH. Commissioner Willingham made the motion to reduce the speed to 15 MPH on County Road 244. Commissioner Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. 

Resolution No. 2006-37 Speed Limit on County Road 703 @ 40 MPH
Mr. Penn stated County Road 703 is the Welti Road. Parts of the road are posted at various speeds. I make the recommendation to post County Road 704 at 40 MPH.
Commissioner Williams made to motion to post County Road 703 at 40 MPH. Commissioner Willingham seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. 

Sportsman Lake Deed
Mr. Dan Willingham, County Attorney stated the county has received various grants for walking trails, etc. After looking at the deed, some restrictions needs to be place on the deed stating this property will be used as an out door recreation facility. I make the recommendation to make these corrections to the deed and authorize the chairman to sign the deed. 
Commissioner Willingham made the motion to authorize the chairman to sign the deed to Sportsman Lake after such correction has been made. Commissioner Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. 

Consider a $1,000.00 donation to the Grandview Community Center
Commissioner Willingham made the motion to give a $1,000.00 donation to the Grandview Community Center. Commissioner Williams seconded, and upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. 

OLD BUSINESS

NEXT REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING TUESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2006
Chairman Kitchens announced the next regular commission meeting will be Tuesday, December 26, 2006 at 10:00 in the Commission Office Conference Room. 

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

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