Commission makes MCEDA board appointments

Published 2:19 pm Tuesday, January 14, 2014

The Marengo County Commission made three appointments to the Marengo County Economic Development Authority Board during their Tuesday morning meeting.

Broughton Rogers was appointed for district two, Craig Stephens was appointed for district three and Johnny Jones was reappointed for district four.

Also during the meeting, the commission gave the Marengo County Sheriff’s Department permission to purchase two vehicles from the Butler Police Department for $12,000 each. The two vehicles are 2009 Dodge Chargers. One has 72,000 miles and the other has 87,000 miles. The commission has applied for a grant for the Sheriff’s Department for two new cars, but they are still waiting to hear if they will receive the grant.

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Sheriff Richard Bates said they have three cars with more than 200,000 miles that are in the shop more than they’re on the road.

“We have to do something because we’re spending too much money on maintenance,” Bates said.

In other business during the meeting, the commission also did the following:

•Approved liquor license application for Dixon Mills Food Mart

•Made a resolution to renew the county’s participation in the Liability Fund for 2015-17

•Approved participation in the Summer Feeding program

•Approved an advertisement for $690 in the Demopolis Times Progress edition

•Approved the promotion recommendation from Ken Atkins for Preston Trimble to truck driver for the county

There were also several people who addressed the commission before the regular session. Jackie Holliday from the Marengo County Health Department updated the commission on a survey that the department is conducting to see what health factors the community is most interested in. The survey is from the Alabama Department of Public Heath, and can be taken at http://bit.ly/1cqyvEr.

Brandon Smith from the Army Corps of Engineers, along with Chip Dixon and Ben Sherrod, addressed the commission about a grant they have applied for that would allow Gandy Ferry Road to be paved up to the Lower Pool Park.

The grant is part of the Federal Lands Access Program, which is for roads that lead to federal property. If the grant is awarded, the county, who owns the road, would only be responsible for the upkeep of it after it’s paved.