County Commission Agendas - Regular Meeting

July 13th, 2026 Jackson County Commission meeting. Let's say thanks for everyone being here. We do have a number of items tonight on the agenda in the new business portion. And I will make some additions in our work session portion of the meeting as we get to approving the agenda for tonight's meeting. So I'd like to ask Ms. Turner, our County Administrator, please call the roll. Ms. Dutch.

Ms. Scully? We do have a quorum at this time.

Please stand.

Let's pray.

God, our Father in heaven, we're blessed to live in this county, to live in this country. We're so thankful for the men and women who serve us each and every day in a public way as public servants.

God, we pray that they will always remember that they serve the people of the county. We pray that every decision that is made and every act that they take assists in guaranteeing our freedoms and carrying out those freedoms and making this a good place to live. So, God, we're thankful for the men and women that serve us each and every day. We're thankful for their families. We pray you'll continue to watch over us and guide us. In Christ's name, amen. Attention. Salute.

Pledge.

In your package, you have an agenda. We will make a request that we make a couple of additions to the agenda in the work session. First of all, we have received a proposed contract from WAC, the Mortuary Transport Service, that supports our corner and his work. And also, we have recently received from FEMA and EMA, I guess, Josh, state of EMA, the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, a request for us that is running the safe houses that we're putting in our schools this year. And so we'd like to add those items to the work session. So do I have a motion to approve the July 13, 2026 agenda with the addition of work session item seven? Discussion item A, permission. Item two, MAC, mortuary transport, forks, LLC contract. And item B, emergency management. Item one, hazard mitigation grant program. Do I have a motion?

I take the motion.

We have a motion. Second. We have a second. Any questions or discussion? If not, all in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries. Thank you, Gary. We don't have any awards or presentations tonight that we're giving out to the speaker. And if I can get the sign-in sheet, please. Tonight, Mr. Morgan is requested to speak. And so, Gary, if you would ask. If you would just use the podium there.

Yes, sir.

And I'm going to ask you two questions I need to ask for public practice. Okay. If you would please state your name and your address.

Gary L. Morgan, 150 Rhone Street, Scottsboro, Alabama.

And are you speaking on your behalf? No, sir.

I'm speaking on behalf of friends and residents in the county of Reverend Scott.

With that, we'll turn it over to you.

Thank you, sir. It's an item, having friends that live on the mountain in the county areas, an item that I have heard about and have studied for a little bit is that of poor folk and how the garbage is collected, how the payments are made. Concerning garbage collection, there are people that are kind of indigent. But in doing some research, I learned that, of course, the poverty level for one person, it varies depending on family size, is $15,960. That's one person, which equals about $997 in change per month. But in the state of Alabama, I also noticed that, oh, by the way, that 997 was 75%. That 75%, if an individual who is in the county does not make 75% of the minimum poverty level for one person, then they should be eligible. They should be eligible for a kind of grace period or or a hearing to determine what their financial status actually is. Now, that's what I do not know. Within Jackson County, I know there's been some prosecutions for nonpayment of garbage debt. But that's what I do not know, is are there methods and ways that Before they come to court, can the commission determine who is actually not going to be able to pay their debt? Or should this be brought up to the court? This is why I'm asking. And there's another reason I ask if the media was here today. So I think it's an important issue. I mean, there are some poor people. In researching this, back to like mid-2000s, at one time, there was 1,200 people That had unpaid garbage bills. I don't know if that's the situation now. I would hope it isn't. But, you know, I think it is a problem and that mainly the people of the county that live in the county need to be made aware of what their options are. What is required regarding garbage collection? If they can't pay it, well, here is the process you must go through. You know, come to the court. If you get a summons, you can't just stay out of the court and tell the judge when you come up there, you know, hey, I'm poor. I can't afford it. But I'm curious about what the county thinks about this and what, if there are any exceptions, or is it just basically the state rule, period? So that is my presentation.

Okay, sir. Thanks very much for your willingness to speak to us tonight. And we'll take a look at that.

I will say thank you, but we will not try to provide the answers this week.

With that, that's our last item in public comment. We will now move into the new business portion of the meeting. The first item in new business are the minutes from the June 8, 2026 meeting and work session. We do have the minutes in the packet. We'll give you a little time to review those. So do I have a motion to adopt the minutes for the June 8, 2026 meeting and work session? I move that. We have a motion. Do we have a second? Second. We have a second. Any questions, discussion? If not, all in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries. Thank you very much. Next item we discussed in our last work session, and that was a... fiscal accountability policy. This resolution that you have in your work packet outlines a policy that regards really how we handle all fiscal activities, budget activities, and other activities regarding that across all our departments. And with this resolution, we would begin immediately with the passage of this resolution to adopt the fiscal policy applicable to all funds under the direction and control of Jackson County, Alabama, and they shall be administered as set forth in this policy. It says that the county administrator approves all of the purchase orders and other activities regarding this. It also states here that the term county administrator as used shall refer to the office of the county administrator and include in successive order the county administrator, the assistant county administrator, if the county administrator is unavailable, and if necessary, the chairman of the county commission in absence of the county administrator or the assistant county administrator. This policy, county funds fiscal accountability policy, covers the following areas. Purchase order approvals. contracts and opening accounts, accounts payable, credit cards, online account ordering, reimbursable funds, surplus property, and competitive quotes. With that, do I have a motion to approve and sign the resolution for physical accountability policy? I'll make that motion. We have a motion. Do we have a second? Second. We have a second. Any questions or discussion?

I do, and I apologize for not being present at the last meeting. Do we have a process, let's say, that Public Works brings something forward and it's not approved, but there's a... I don't know, an appeals process. Is there an appeals process for something that gets rejected so that we're not saddling her with just a decision-making process? I'm just asking if that was part of it.

I would suggest to you the county administrator will certainly confer with me as the chairman of the county commission if she's going to reject a policy. I will advise her as to whether we're guarding that. But I'm afraid if we put that kind of policy in place, that everybody, every time, I'll just be candid, someone wants to disagree with the decision of the county administrator on the fuels process, it will be opened quite often. I would suggest that we normally have used the process where the chairman of the county commission is involved in those decisions, ultimate final decisions, and then makes the call. So I would suggest that's the process.

OK. That was my one.

Any other comments or questions? Well, do I have a motion to approve? Well, we have a motion and a second. If there's no other discussion, all in favor say aye.

Aye.

Motion carries. Thank you. The next two items are under the county engineer. The first is a motion to approve the purchase of an asphalt contractor for the private works department. Let me try to go with our county engineer if you have any questions.

Thank you, Sheriff. I'll be happy to entertain any questions for what we presented last time on this.

Just a quick summary. You had three options last time that you proposed to us. And your recommendation was, if I understand, that we constantly get U2026 55-inch tandem vibrator compactor. And the purchase price was $84,750.

option state.

If there are no questions. I do have one. I'm sorry. And just out of curiosity, it's a 55 inch tandem vibratory compactor. So I'm envisioning the large rolling wheel that homes as it's going. And thus, as you're paving, it's going to create a smoother surface as an end product.

Is that your primary function? Yes, sir. So there was... I can't remember if you were here or not. Okay, so there's a photo attached to your pocket. So what... What you didn't hear, we try the existing equipment we have, which is a rubber tire, pneumatic roller, and you can see evidence of that on the map on the left side. Yeah, it's good in a breakdown. It's not good in a breakdown position. It's fine in a finish roll position, but right off the paper in a breakdown position, it needs those steel wheels. residual marks and the kneading action of the pneumatic tires lead to evidence, as you hopefully can see in that picture. The picture really doesn't do it justice, but it's just the wrong tool for the job. So we have been in a renting position on this tool to continue paving. And some of that was intentional. We wanted to try what we had, but we also wanted to rent to see what worked best. We tried different brands, two of which are presented by these quotes, and option C represents the choice.

And to me, and again, I apologize for my ignorance on this, but I would assume that the compacting and vibration would create a better adhesion and flatter surface.

Compaction is required. for that mat to longevity, to seal everything that must be compacted. So that piece of equipment is critical in the research.

Okay. Any other questions? We have a motion to approve the purchase of asphalt compactor for Public Works Department. Tom, go ahead. I'll make it. We have a motion. We have a second. We have a second.

Yeah, I'll take that.

We have a second. All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Motion carried. Thank you. Next item is in our last meeting, and Jonathan, I'm going to let you stand up here a little longer. You have a meeting with the Alabama Department of Transportation Director, will agree to support us with a $500,000 grant to help us with the paving of County Road 91. I'm sorry, County Road 93. County Road 262 at the top of the fountain down to the base, County Road 91. This is an agreement between the state state of Alabama. It's referenced the Alabama Department of Transportation and Jackson County Commission. And the project funding is for state public road and to be from state public road and bridge funds, limited to $500,000 for the project. It also states that any deficiency, meaning that if there's an overfund in construction costs, that will be borne by the county. from the county starts. And the total grant is $500,000. Also, in the act, if you see a resolution, it's on page eight. That is, we have to also approve that it stays to be resolved by the Jackson County Commission as follows, that the county, for inter-infield agreement with the state of Alabama, act combined through the Alabama Department of Transportation related to a project for resurfacing County Road 93 from County Road 262 to County Road 91, which agreement is before the commission and that the agreement be executed in the name of the county by the chairman for it on this behalf and that it be attested by the county clerk and the official seal of the county bill picks thereto. And so this agreement would be assigned in all by the county and the Alabama Department of Transportation, and this also will have to be signed by the governor. So with that, are there any questions?

I don't have a question. I just want to make a statement about it. I'm very appreciative of this because this gives us a chance to do something that that rate has been lacking for a long time. Not only have we made the structural changes to where the slides happen, but being able to pave it top to bottom with this extra line-up. we're going to have a quality surface that hopefully in our lifetime will be a wonderful road to travel up and down. And so for the citizens of the north end of the mountain, the Long Island area, I'm very appreciative of their patience and the time that it's taken to get this road back up and going. But I think once it's open, kind of like 38 going up and down there, I think ultimately,

things like this happen and it takes all of you and we certainly appreciate it. We appreciate all that and their support and continue to invest in this county.

Just one note of clarification. I believe you plan to also install guardrails and I'm not sure if guardrails have ever been. That's correct, yes. Okay. So with that, do I have a motion to approve and sign the agreement and the resolution for County Road 93 for public, from public boards to public? I'll make that motion. We have a motion. We have a second. Second. We have a second. Any further questions or discussion? If not, all in favor say aye. Aye. Motion to approve. Next, we have two items from our solid waste department. And Mr. Skipper. if we have any questions. The first is the surplus, a request to surplus three old and gelatin traded or solid waste department. And Director Skipper discussed these three trailers. I think he also provided the pictures of them at our last work session. So let me ask for any questions regarding this. If not, do I have a motion to surplus three old utility trailers from the Solid Waste Department? I'll make that motion. Do we have a motion? Do we have a second? Second. Second. Any questions? If not, all in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries. Second item is a request to purchase two new trailers for the Solid Waste Department. In your package, you do have a We discussed the options, and the recommendation was with John Deere, I can purchase Larimore without my glasses. I think it says 83 by 16 foot trailers at $4,200 a piece, and for the total cost for the two, it's $8,400. Let me ask whether there are any questions or comments. If not, do I have a motion to purchase two new trailers for Solid Waste Department?

I'll make that motion.

We have a motion. Have a second? I'll second. We have a second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries. Thank you very much.

Thank you.

All right. Last item is we do have a requirement here to nominate one of our commissioners to participate in at the Alabama as a member of the ACCA legislative committee. I would appreciate Commissioner Gulley doing this job for us last year. I think Mr. Kinnaman has done this job before for us, and I know Commissioner McBride has done this job for us for a while. But any discussion? Then I have a motion to appoint a member to the ACCA legislative committee.

I make a motion we appoint Chris Goley to serve as our ACCA legislative committee.

Okay. So we have a motion. I have a second. Second. We have a second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Okay. Thank you, Chris. Thanks for your willingness to do this. I know last year there were a lot of One of the key legislative issues that were raised at the KCCA level and you were participating in that, so I thank you. That's the last item on our new business portion of the meeting. We will now move to a few items that we have in the commission or in the work session. First area is under commission. We have received notice from the state that Act 2026-608 has been passed, which provides for a lump sum bonus for our retirees for the year. And we do have a resolution supporting that. And if I could, I would read the resolution. It is... And at 2026, 608, local unit retirees and beneficiaries of the seized retirees. And it states, be it resolved that the Jackson County Commission, through its governing authority, elects to come under the provisions of Section 2 of Act 608 of the regular session of the 2026 legislature. The Jackson County Commission agrees to provide all funds necessary to the employee's retirement system to cover the cost of the one-time lump sum payment as provided for by this Act for those eligible retirees and beneficiaries of deceased retirees of Jackson County Commission with the aforementioned lump sum payment being paid in October 2026. And I'm sure you'd be managed to get your best condition. You're not certified with the four warnings. It is a true and correct copy of the resolution passed on this. And they as well, Frank, Frank, you have the option. So aside the rules to lock some total amount as stated in the letter that we received from the retirement systems of Alabama total. for the county is $36,860. So, Michelle, do you have any comments regarding that?

The only thing I'd like to add is the lump sum payment should be received by the retirement system no later than August 31st, and I would like the commission to know that the last time this was approved by the commission was August of 2022 for fiscal 2023 year budget. There are 140 retirees and beneficiaries that would benefit from this, ranging from $120 to $590 for a one lump sum payment.

I do have one. For us to be able to make that August 30, if we approve it at the next meeting, would that afford you enough time to do that?

We can do that.

Okay, so we can then put this on our new business agenda for the next meeting in July.

Yes, and the check will be cut immediately soon. It just has to be there by the 31st.

Say that again, please.

It just has to be there by the 31st, but we don't have enough time.

Okay. Well, I just wanted to bring clarity on this. I was confused by the dates. It says October 1, 2027 to September 30, 2028. So will this be something that will actually, they will receive the following year, or is this something, I just don't want anybody thinking that they're going to receive. If I can answer that, there are two options to pay this.

We can pay it out on a monthly basis, or we can pay a lump sum to our, and the recommendation from HR, the county administrator, is to pay this in a lump sum to our employees.

So really what my question is, If we vote to approve this the next time, which I want to assume, but when would they expect the money? Because often, you know, I don't want anybody thinking I'm getting a check after they vote for this and it be six months, a year later.

That's a very good question. They will receive it October of 2026 and it will be separate than their monthly retirement. Two separate checkouts.

No, no, no. Good questions. Anything else? Any questions? OK. We will add this to the business for our next meeting to approve.

OK.

Thank you. Next item is we have a proposed contract from MAPS Mortuary Transport that have been providing our body transport Mr. Jordan, my county coroner's here, and they really work for John David, but I think they're doing this job, I think, now for years.

Things like it started yesterday, but anyway, I would like to continue this because our original contract, we had some time space, but with this contract, it doesn't reach an open, and I would like to continue to the next session.

Okay. So the recommendation is that we get back with Mack Mortuary, and we do add, and I think in our previous contract, there is a 45-minute time. So we want to be consistent with that time constraint that we put in the last contract. And so we'll add that and get it back to Mack Mortuary for their requirements. Okay. Yeah, so let me open up for any questions or comments. What I would propose to do if we get that added to it, that we put it on the new business. If they don't agree, then we open it back up in work session to discuss and then move forward. Is that okay with you?

I will look for the, I've got the original contract in the office. Okay. I'll make sure to get it to whoever needs to have it and go over it with her if it's not.

in that sense of emergency management and let me kind of pull over to uh dma director of gospel what you guys have before you is the state sub-recipient disaster assistance

These agreements say that we follow all the state and federal laws and regulations in regards to putting in the storm shelters. And this agreement allows us to reimburse the school systems for the money that they're having to put out. So without this agreement, we can't process the funding and the grant itself.

These are the two new shelters that's going in.

The five. The five. Yeah, the five. It's on two different grants.

Just a little explanation of that. We originally applied for all five, but remember that Skyline, the original location, was in the historic area.

It was in the historic area. We had to do a simple work change for FEMA to move that to an alternate part of the campus. And then when they did that, it separated in the two separate grants. I'm assuming that works with their

start some plans.

We're going through the final checkers now and hopefully we're going to start building form checkers in the very near future.

Can you give us a real quick summary of where you think the schedule is on getting the form checkers put in place?

Right now we are in the process of doing the site prep to get them ready to build. Okay. So There's been another question with the third-party vendor through the school system that we're working on getting clarified with what they're looking for. But once that moves forward to deciding this, we should be moving forward with getting these in.

And I understand the shelters have been built, and so it's just waiting to be in place.

It's in place. We've got to finish the site prep and then pour the pads, and then a couple weeks. I think it's four weeks after we pour the pads, they start putting the storm shelters in place.

Okay. Are all these fire going on the school campus?

Yeah. visit in North San Val.

Okay. Well, Josh, I know you've been working this for a long time and trying to solve issues that have come up regarding the grants and coordinating this. I just want to say thanks for all of you to get this done. So any other questions? If not, we would put this on the visit. These need to be approved and signed, but we can get that done at the next meeting. some new business for next week. That's the last item that we have in our work session. So with that, we'll move to reports from the staff. Okay. I'm sorry. Nothing to report. I know you're staying busy. We appreciate it. Okay. Okay. Okay. in the room here. County attorney. I don't have anything. Thank you very much. Okay. So that will move to comments from the commission and District 3, Commissioner Book.

Thank you, Chairman. Just very, very humbled and excited about the response that I saw for the 4th of July, celebrating this great experiment. for 250 years is quite the accomplishment. I truly believe we have the greatest nation, not only of present time, but of all time. And I think it has come from the unique way our country was built, that we went away from the monarchy, that we established representative government and have done it in such a way that we are still peacefully changing leaders out 250 years later, which again, has never been done at this scale. And so just proud to be an American, proud of everything I saw, proud of the patriotism, proud of all the colors, people participating in parades, and just really just a returning Americanism that's present. Very thankful for everybody who has served in any capacity that allows us to enjoy this freedom. And so Just thankful for all that. So that's that's the end of my comments today.

I want to go back to what AJ said about Canterham 93. So glad that's almost finished product that the citizens could be proud of in years.

Commissioner what?

I'll echo Commissioner Buckner's comments. And, you know, it's great time to live in the United States. We're all blessed to live here. like to thank the employees for all their dedication, hard work for the county. And I promise you, no one is any more pleased with the progress on Capitol 93 than me. So it's the last slide to be prepared. So thankful for the hard work of the chairman and the and making the additional repairs or the repairs that really doesn't need to be replaced. It's going to be a good thing for the folks on that end of the county and it's long overdue. Thank you for the hard work.

The only comment I'll add is I think we thank citizens of all walks of life who have made this country as great a country as it is. Any women, whether they were in uniform, whether they were on farms or whether they were in industries that have supported our nation forever. And so also thank you to our veterans because they stand in line with veterans throughout our history from the very first idea of this being a free nation. Those that have served. So I'd like to say thanks to all of them for their work. Thanks to all of our employees that make Our job's easier. They're out there every day supporting, and I just like to remind our citizens of that. Our next meeting is on the 27th of July. We'll be here in this room at 5 o'clock, and so we'll have a motion to adjourn the meeting. We have a motion. We have a motion. We have a second. Second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries. Gary, thanks for being here.