Meeting Minutes

9/8/2003 - Regular Term Meeting

Regular Term Meeting
September 8, 2003

The Tallapoosa County Commission held its regular scheduled meeting September 8, 2003 at the Courthouse in Dadeville, Alabama at 9:00 a.m. All commissioners were present.

Chairman Allen called the meeting to order. Commissioner Shaw gave the invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Commissioner Coley made a motion to approve the minutes. Commissioner Oliver seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Thweatt made a motion to approve the warrants. Commissioner Coley seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Sonny Brasfield, Assistant Director of the Association of County Commissions of Alabama addressed the Commission. He informed the Commission that Calhoun County Commissioner Robert Downing's wife was killed in an accident on Thursday, September 4, 2003. Brasfield requested that the Commission pray for the Commissioner Downing and his family.

Brasfield gave special recognition to Representative Betty Carol Graham. Brasfield stated that of the 105 members of the Alabama Legislature, Rep. Graham is one of only a handful of representatives who actually get things accomplished. Brasfield stated that Tallapoosa County should be very proud to have a representative such as Representative Graham. Brasfield informed the Commission that Rep. Graham has worked very diligently to solve the problem of collecting sales tax from internet sale transactions. Brasfield informed the Commission that collecting sales tax from internet transactions is a very complicated process, involving both the United States and the Alabama Constitution to try to develop a method for collecting the tax. Rep. Graham helped to enact the law requiring an Alabama institution to collect sales tax on internet transactions.

Ed Hudson of Comet Consulting updated the Commission on the findings of the Tallapoosa County Telecom Audit. Comet Consulting would audit the County's billing and inventory. Hudson stated that the audit was very successful. Hudson stated that the billing is in great shape; the County is catching errors and taking care of debt. Concerning inventory, Hudson stated that the County is getting what it pays for, but it is not what the County needs. Comet Consulting contacted the County's vendor, DeltaCom. DeltaCom stated that the County is paying $5,000 a month for service that DeltaCom has for as low as $2,300 a month. Hudson stated that Comet Consulting has sent the County Administrator, Annette McGrady, a synopsis of their findings, and that McGrady can expect to receive an additional packet detailing all of their findings. Chairman Allen stated that the Commission will discuss that findings and report back to Comet Consulting. Preliminary findings attached.

Chairman Allen made a motion to approve the retail liquor license for The Social and Supper Club at Blue Creek. Commissioner Thweatt seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Application attached.

Chairman Allen removed from the agenda the approval of a Retail Liquor License for A.J.'s Community Club, Inc.

Danny Lloyd, of the Volunteer Fire Department Association addressed the Commission concerning the VFDA's special election. Lloyd asked the Commission if the November 4, 2003 election date was approved by Governor Riley. Lloyd asked the Commission to place an ad in the newspaper showing their support of the Volunteer Fire Department Association. No decision was made.

Commissioner Thweatt made a motion to seek yearly bids for the highway department. Commissioner Shaw seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Bids will be opened September 16, 2003 at 9:00 a.m.

Revenue Commissioner, Linda Harris, announced that she will be sworn in on October 3, 2003 at 10:00 a.m. She invited everyone to attend.

Chairman Allen made a motion to condemn Warrior Lane. Commissioner Thweatt seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Coley made a motion to approve using $20,000 to complete the athletic track at Benjamin Russell High School. He requested using one-third of the $20,000 from the General Fund, one-third from the Capital Improvement Fund, and one-third from the Solid Waste Fund. Commissioner Oliver seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Shaw made a motion to place District 2's Federal Aid Project, Elkahatchee Road, as the next scheduled project. Commissioner Coley seconded the motion. Commissioner Shaw stated that District 2 should be treated fairly considering the fact that it has not received a Federal Aid Project since 1992. Commissioner Thweatt asked how long Elkahatchee Road is. It was reported that the road is 6 miles. Commissioner Thweatt stated that he wants to be fair, but that County Road 79, Dudleyville Road, and Lower Tuskegee Road have never been resurfaced. The motion died for lack of a majority vote.

Commissioner Thweatt made a motion stating that he would not mind trading Dudleyville Road for Elkahatchee Road. Dan Cook stated that it would be more feasible to resurface County Road 79 before resurfacing Elkahatchee Road. Commissioner Shaw stated that Elkahatchee Road has dangerous places that have been patched, and that these places are knocking cars out of alignment. The motion failed with a 4-1 vote.

Chairman Allen made a motion to place Lower Tuskegee Road on the Federal Aid Project List. The motion died for lack of a second.

Commissioner Oliver made a motion to place Cowpens Road and Bluff Springs Road on the list for Federal Aid Projects for 2008. Commissioner Coley seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Chairman Allen made a motion to place Girls Ranch Road and Lower Tuskegee Road on the list for Federal Aid Projects. Commissioner Thweatt seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Current list of Federal Aid Projects is attached.

Each commissioner thanked Betty Carol Graham personally for her assistance at the state level.

Commissioner Coley made a motion to recess. Commissioner Oliver seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

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Thomas L. Coley, District 1

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Charles Shaw, District 2

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Dylan Oliver, District 3

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William Thweatt, District 4

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Johnny Allen, District 5

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