CULLMAN, Ala. – The Cullman County Commission at its monthly meeting on Dec. 12 approved price increases for camping and park admission fees.
Cullman County Parks and Recreation Director Doug Davenport addressed the commission in hopes of it approving a camping rate increase for Smith Lake Park, to bring overnight and weekly rates to the same level as other recreational campsites in the area. Currently, the cost to camp at Smith Lake Park is $16 for tent sites and $30 for camper/RV sites. The increase will add $12 to each nightly rate and an additional $10 to be applied on holiday/festival weekends. The current Military/Senior/First Responder discount of 15% will remain the same.
“We are about $12-$15 less than other sites. This puts us in line with the others (campgrounds), maybe a couple of dollars under them,” said Davenport. “Besides Point Mallard and Lake Guntersville, we are also the only park that has a lake.”
Davenport also requested the Commission approve his request to increase the cost of admission at Stony Lonesome OHV Park. Currently, pricing is based on time of day; admission from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. is $15 per person; taking part in a night ride will currently set riders back $20 each. The commission approved Davenport’s request to increase the admission for Stony Lonesome to one flat rate of $20 per rider, no matter the time of day.
On the agenda was a request for the commission to approve the purchase of nine XK300 medical sensor devices from Reassurance Solutions, paid from opioid settlement funds in the amount of $55,600. The request was approved unanimously.
“These medical sensor devices would be a permanently affixed device to the structure,” Cullman County Administrator John Bullard explained. “It monitors breathing for inmates. They can be installed in all the jail cells to determine if there’s been an overdose; most of the time, when someone comes in with drugs in their system we send them to the hospital. But this will further protect people and ensure we don’t have overdoses.”
Each commissioner agreed with Bullard, with Commissioner Kerry Watson adding, “I think it’s a good thing to have.”
In other business the commission:
- Recognized Ginger Taylor retiring after 25 years with the Commission Office
- Recognized Tina Parker retiring after 27 years with the Garage
- Recognized Lori Beckhart retiring after 25 years with the Water Department
- Approved Resolution 2024-01: Authorize Chairman to sign Recovered Resource Revenue Agreement
- Approved Resolution 2024-02-Submit application for Rebuild Alabama Grant for County Road 1670 and authorize Chairman to sign all related paperwork
- Approved putting dumpsters at various locations throughout the county for Christmas (locations TBA)
- Approved renewal of Liability Insurance with County Risk Services in the amount of $521,251.04 and authorize Chairman to sign all related documents
- Approved Commissioner Watson’s reappointment, Phillip Garrison, to the Solid Waste Authority Board for a 4-year term to expire 11/20/27
- Approved Chairman Clemon’s reappointment, Tim Culpepper, to the Health Care Authority Board for a 6- year term to expire 06/30/29
- Approved Chairman Clemon’s nominee, Kenneth Cornelius, to the E-911 Board to replace Kenneth Nail for a term to expire 9/1/25
- Approved renewal of Wind Hail buy back with Byars Wright in the amount of$34,428.80 and ratify all actions
- Approved renewal of property, automobile, and equipment insurance with EMC through Byars Wright Insurance in the amount of $545,650 and ratify all actions
- Approved the purchase of four(4) 2024 Kenworth Tri-axle Cab/Chassis for the Road Department in the amount of $197,600 each
- Approved the purchase of four(4) 2024 Logan truck bodies for the Road Department in the amount of $32,385 each
- Approved the surplus of six(6) 2021 Kenworth T880 Tri-axle Dump Trucks to be auctioned with JM Woods
- Approved proposed preliminary plat Bella’s Ridge Subdivision. A minor subdivision containing 3 lots located off County Road 616
- Approved proposed preliminary plat Bella’s Ridge Subdivision first addition. A minor subdivision containing 3 lots located off County Road 616
The next commission work session will be Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024, at 4 p.m. in the commission meeting room. The meeting will follow at 6.
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