CULLMAN, Ala. – The Cullman County Commission at its Tuesday morning meeting declared a State of Emergency for Cullman County based on a recommendation from Cullman Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director Phyllis Little.
“We experienced rain and flooding with damages last week in excess of $200,000 to roads and bridges,” said Little. “The rain is continuing today, and tomorrow we are looking at another 2-3 inches with severe thunderstorms possible and gusty winds. We know that if we get the wind, we are going to get trees down whether we get the rain or not. That’s going to be even more damage.”
If Alabama Governor Kay Ivey determines enough damage has been caused in the state and declares a State of Emergency, the County’s declaration will put Cullman County in a better position for assistance.
Little added, “The declaration states that the rains began on Feb. 5 and are still continuing.”
The commission welcomed Bryan Cheatwood as the new county engineer. Cheatwood, who previously served as Winston County engineer, replaces John Lang, who resigned from the position last November. Assistant Cullman County Engineer Jon Brunner served as interim Cullman County engineer following Lang’s departure.
The Commission agreed to ratify the City of Cullman’s 10-year tax abatement extension for Rusken Packaging, Inc. The company is expected to make a capital investment of $7.8 million in a facility expansion.
Cullman Economic Development Agency Existing Industry Project Manager Stanley Kennedy said the expansion will create 25-30 jobs, be more than 48,700 square feet and see starting wages at $15 an hour.
The abatement extension is for “all state and local noneducational ad valorem taxes and all construction related transaction taxes, except those construction related transaction taxes levied for educational purposes or for capital improvements for education.”
The Commission also approved the following items:
- Set the tax levy for 2020. This is a continuation of existing taxes.
- Authorized Chairman Kenneth Walker to sign Keefe Commissary Group contract for the benefit of the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office.
- Commissioner Kerry Watson’s reappointment of Phillip Garrison to the Solid Waste Authority Board for a four-year term expiring Nov.20, 2023
- Resolution 2020-11: Awarded bid for the car wash and bath house at Stony Lonesome OHV Park funded by ADECA Recreational Trails Program Grant. The winning bid came in under budget for the project at $761,304 from C.H. Harris Construction from Cullman.
- Extension of bid for polypropylene pipe to Bear Concrete
- Extension of bid for bituminous plant mix only material
The next commission meeting will be Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020 at 10 a.m.
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