CULLMAN, Ala. – During the work session preceding the Tuesday, Sept. 17, meeting of the Cullman County Commission, Facilities and Equipment Manager Shane Bailey updated the commission on the remodel of the its wing of the Cullman County Courthouse.
Currently, the commission meeting room contains the offices of Cullman County Commissioner Corey Freeman and Cullman County Attorney Emily Niezer-Johnston. The proposed plan will see the wall that joins the offices to the meeting room demolished and the rooms combined, creating more room for the commission’s meetings and business that takes place in the meeting room.
“We hope to take these walls down to make this a nicer presentation room for everyone,” Bailey stated.
When asked about a potential timeline for the project by Chairman Jeff Clemons, Bailey shared, “He said they could come in the morning after a commission meeting and be done before the next one (commission meeting).”
While still in the process of obtaining bids for the meeting room project, Bailey noted, the timeline for the demolition and construction could be 30 days or less.
The commission discussed the 2025 FY budget at the meeting, noting that in 2025, the road department budget will shrink due to the loss of American Rescue Plan Act funds, which were allotted to the department in 2024.
Cullman County Administrator John Bullard spoke to the commissioners and said, “Around June, we start predicting revenues for the next year. The first thing you’ll notice is that our revenues have grown but not at the rate they’ve grown the past couple of years.”
Bullard said the likely reason for the slow growth is the decrease in sales tax revenue after the pandemic and a decrease in property taxes in 2024.
The new proposed budget includes an increase in pay across the board for Cullman County staff of 4.14%; 3.14% of that amount is a raise on the starting pay scale, while 1% is designated as a cost of living increase.
The Commission passed the FY 2025 Budget Plan.
In other business the commission:
- Recognized the Cullman County 4-H Wildlife Team for winning the State Competition in the Wildlife Habitat Education Program
- Recognized Jana Shelton retiring after 22 years of service with the Revenue Department
- Recognized Tara Jennings retiring after 28 years of service with the Reappraisal Department
- Proclaimed Oct. Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Cullman County
- Approved Resolution 2024-40: CARTS Third Party Service Contract for FY 2025 and authorize Chairman to sign all related paperwork
- Approved Resolution 2024-41: The Cullman County Commission adopts the procedures for accepting Public Records Request to comply with the Alabama’s Open Records Act, as amended by Ala. No. 2024-278
- Approved Resolution 2024-42: The Cullman County Commission designates the County Clerk to serve as the Public Officer of Cullman County to carry out the directives of the Open Records Act as amended by Act No. 2024-278
- Approved Resolution 2024-43: Change speed limit to 20 mph on County Road 668
- Approved Resolution 2024-44: Authorize Cullman County Commission to submit a formal amendment request to the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs amending the final project for the replacement of the culvert on County Road 222
- Approved Resolution 2024-45: Authorize Cullman County Commission to apply for state and federal funds for airport improvement projects for the Cullman Regional Airport for FY 2025 and authorize Chairman to sign all related paperwork
- Approved Resolution 2024-46:Authorize Cullman County Commission to apply for a Safe Streets (SS4A) Planning Grant and authorize the Chairman to sign all related paperwork
- Approved Resolution 2024-47: Authorize the Chairman to Ratify the execution of the application for Safe Streets for all (SS4A) planning funds to develop a strategic plan to address road safety on roadways located in Cullman County
- Authorized Chairman to sign Alabama Department of Youth Services Long Term Detention Subsidy Contract for the period of Oct. 1, 2024-Sept. 30, 2025
- Authorized the annual payment to the ACCA Worker’s Compensation Fund on Oct. 1, 2024, for worker’s comp insurance for 10/1/2024-10/1/2025 in the amount of $440,281.69
- Authorized Chairman to sign agreement between Cullman County Commission and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management for the collection, management, disposal and or offering for beneficial use of discarded tires and regulated solid waste funded by the Scrap Tire Fund
- Ratified purchase of a 12.5 kilowatt generator for EMA from Kimbrough Automotive and RV Repair in the amount of $12,500. Funds from AMAS Grant
- Ratified Work Order for brick cleaning from Matthew Cole with Lightning and Sons Brick Cleaning for the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office in the amount of $17,800
- Approved the renewal of employee and retiree health insurance enrollment agreements with Blue Cross Blue Sheild of Alabama. Cullman maintains a self-insured policy that is administered by Blue Cross. Renewal to be effective Oct. 1, 2024. Plan changes to be effective Jan. 1, 2025
- Approved changes to the Cullman County Commission Employee Handbook to be effective Oct. 1, 2024. These changes will be distributed to County employees via e-mail, posting on departmental bulletin boards and posting on the County Personnel Webpage
- Approved updated Juvenile Detention Agreement with Cullman County Partnership for Children in the amount of $130,000 per year
- Authorized Cullman Caring for Kids to use the Cullman County Board of Education parking lot to host a car show on Nov. 9, 2024, from 7 a.m.-3 p.m.
- Approved the purchase of a heat pump split system from Plus One Heating and Air for the Cullman County Board of Education in the amount of $11,300
- Approved Commission’s nominee, Kenneth Cornelius, for appointment to the Cullman County Tourism Bureau to replace Britney Herron
- Approved Southern Health Partners Agreement for Fiscal year 2025 for Inmate Medical Care in the amount of $800,486.64
- Approved a Lease, Construction and Maintenance Agreement with the State of Alabama through the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for the Smith Lake Park boat ramp and Lion’s Park Boat Ramp
- Approved the surplus of the following items from Parks to be auctioned on Gov Deals or by any means necessary
- 2005 Monaco Coach travel trailer
- 1994 Humvee
- 1998 Humvee
- 1988 Humvee
- 2000 GMC Silverado
- Approved the surplus of a 2009 Chevrolet C1500 Silverado from the Cullman County Garage to be auctioned on Gov Deals or by any means necessary
- Approved the surplus of the following items from the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office to be auctioned on Gov Deals or by any means necessary:
- 2022 GMC Sierra 2500 HD
- 2022 GMC Sierra 2500 HD
- Approved to extend Bid #1446: Placement of Surface Treatments to Wiregrass Construction Company, Inc
- Approved to extend Bid # 1447: Cold Laid Plant Mix to Wiregrass Construction Company, Inc
- Approved to extend Bid # 1448: Fog &Scrub Seal to Ergon, Inc
- Approved proposed Bond Release for Stillhouse Point Subdivision. This bond was approved in Oct. 2016. The subdivision is located in Commission District Four on county road 2102 and County Road 2103 in the Cold Springs area. All construction has been completed and has passed final inspection.
- Approved bond extension for Kingfisher Subdivision Phase 1C, located in Commission District One on the corner of Highway 278 and County Road 1616
- Approved proposed plat and resubdivide Willow Grove Subdivision, a major subdivision containing three lots in Commission District Three.
- Approved to reject Bid # 1469: for one new or used Book Mobile current model transit cargo van to Mercedes-Benz of Huntsville
The next commission meeting will be Thursday, Oct. 17, with the work session at 4 p.m. and the meeting following at 6.
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