PERRY COUNTY-The Perry County Commissioners should have prayed for more money in their budget during the opening prayer.

Much work needs to be completed in the county, but funding is being stretched to the limit.

Commissioner Johnny Flowers informed fellow commissioners about the yearly conference he attended at which the Alabama meth lab issues were discussed.

“It’s putting a strain on all the funds of the local government,” Flowers said. He said the money it takes to fight the problem “is tearing the local government to pieces.”

The increased number of children in foster care due to drug-addicted parents is also putting a strain on the system.

The number of roads in Perry County that need to be paved or re-paved is causing a minor budget problem-there aren’t enough immediate funds to cover the needed alterations.

“We need money to fix the roads,” Commissioner Albert Turner said. “A lot of our money went out on 45.”

According to county engineer, Daniel G. Overton, County Road 45 should be completed in the next week or two.

Overton also needs to update the warranty on his county vehicle. It will cost at least $1,000 to get a 60-month warranty.

Construction on Perry County’s portion of County Road 1 is estimated to be about $250,000, which led some commissioner s to think twice about the county’s budget.

After much discussion, the county concluded to spend “45 or less on 45,” meaning Perry County will not pay more than $45,000 for construction on County Road 45.

Chris Wood, project manager for the Perry County jail project, said the working conditions were horrible for construction, which is the reason for the slow progress.

“The temperature get s to 105/ 110 degrees,” he said. Commissioners agree the project needs to be “wrapped up,” and are contemplating ways options to cool things off.

The county is also smells something funny. It’s the garbage.

The county is behind on garbage pick-up due to the lack of a contract with a service provider. Trash and debris from Dennis is still in some areas of Perry County.

The Commission is soon expected to re-open bids for a garbage pick-up service.

The county will soon begin the search for an assistant to the county engineer since the current has resigned.

The office annex renovations should be completed in the next 10 to 15 days.

Also, the commissioners agreed to purchase property across the street from the courthouse once other financial matters are resolved and to purchase 2, $90,000, tri-axle trucks.

The Perry County Commission meets every second and fourth Tuesday at 9 a.m.