Ben Harrison (right), general manager of Cullman Regional Airport, speaks to Cullman County Commission members about a bid for reconstruction at the airport. (Hayden Hyatt for The Cullman Tribune)
CULLMAN – The Cullman County Commission on Tuesday morning awarded a bid for work on the north taxiway at Cullman Regional Airport, Airport Taxiway Reconstruction Phase II, to the lowest responsible bidder, Carcel & G Construction, LLC, in an amount not to exceed $412,867.17. Most of the funding will come from federal and state sources. The City of Cullman (which also approved the bid last night at its council meeting) and County will only be responsible for 2.5 percent of the amount each.
At Monday night’s Cullman City Council meeting, Cullman Regional Airport General Manager Ben Harrison informed the council about a potential supplemental grant to make improvements to the airport’s apron (also known as the tarmac, where aircraft are parked, fueled, loaded and unloaded) that will help Cullman’s airport compete better with other regional airports. Harrison will travel to Washington on Sept. 10 to apply for the federal funding which would, if given, be a 100 percent grant requiring no local match. The Commission also authorized the application for a grant to receive funding from the Federal Aviation Administration and the State of Alabama to go toward improvements.
During the public comments portion of the commission meeting, former employees from the Cullman Area Rural Transportation Service (CARTS) and a customer raised concerns about the work environment at the organization. Commission members met with the group after the meeting to go further into detail about the issue and find a resolution.
A memorandum of agreement between the commission and the Cullman Electric Cooperative was approved. The agreement will increase the cost of meter reading form $.95 to $1.05 per meter.
Resolution 2018-13 was approved by the commission. The resolution changes the location of voting precinct 36 from Bolte-White Grove Church to Belle Vue Hall at Stone Bridge Farms. Damage to the church from the March hail storm was the reason for the change.
The commission approved a one-year maintenance agreement with Johnston Technologies for the battery backup of the Cullman County Sheriff's Office at the cost of $4,472.10. The battery backup is used to power dispatch in the case of the generator failing to turn on during an emergency.
Installation of audio/visual equipment for the commission meeting room was approved by the commission. The cost will be $5,458.80 and will be paid to Baker Productions of Cullman.
A request from the Cullman County Human Trafficking Task Force to use the front steps of the courthouse and south parking area for their upcoming Walk for Freedom event was approved. The event will take place on Oct. 20 from 8 a.m. to noon.
The commission approved the acceptance of County Roads 367,371 and 373 in Grandview Shores, Phase 1 and 2 subdivision, into the Cullman County Maintenance System. The subdivision is located in District 2 off County Road 222.
Commission members approved the following bids:
- Bid No. 1248- an extension of a bid for motor oil, grease and hydraulic fluids for the County, provided by Stewart Auto Parts and RelaDyne.
- Bid No. 1287- a bid for structural steel for the county, which has increased by one third this year due to steel tariffs.
- Bid No. 1288- a bid for reinforcing steel for the County.
The next meeting of the commission will be Tuesday, Sept. 11 at 10 a.m. at the Cullman County Courthouse in the commission meeting room. The public is invited to attend.
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