HALE COUNTY- Kelly Barnes of the Department of Human Resources asked Hale County Commissioners to consider putting the center in the budget.

Barnes said money is needed for aid within the mental health department since DHR pays $800 – $1200 a day when doctors come from out of town to help patients.

She mentioned other area offices send their patients to Selma, Birmingham and other surrounding towns and has proposed for area DHR’s to pool their funds to get a local doctor to serve area centers.

Judge Leland Avery said DHR used to be in the budget but had to be taken off years ago due to lack of funds.

“I feel like we should be able to help them,” Avery said. “They do an excellent job so I hope we can get them into the budget.”

The commissioners also agreed to accepted bids to repair the county’s DHR roof.

Avery said a low bid is needed from a company that can begin reconstruction immediately.

The county is also working on correcting the solid waste violations that it currently faces and may pay $35.000 to replace damaged water lines on county roads 16 and 17.

City engineer, Chris Howell, informed commissioners on the “usual” patchwork, pipe work, and other federal funded projects.

Since all commissioners will be out of town on Tuesday, August 23, the next commission meeting has been moved to Monday, August 22 at 9 a.m.