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Commission to borrow $400,000 to end fiscal year At the June 11 meeting of the Washington County Commission, County Administrator Janelle Sanderson informed the commission that, "The general fund is running short. We have $90,000 in the general fund." Washington County's monthly payroll is approximately $140,000 and there are additional outstanding bills. Probate Judge Charles Singleton said that even with borrowing the $400,000 limit "…we are going to cut it close." Washington County has in the past borrowed more than the $400,000 limit allowed by the state and at present, on the state auditor's Web site, is a letter from former Probate Judge John H. Armstrong, stating that Washington County will not repeat that action. The commission passed a resolution to borrow up to $400,000 as needed to get through the fiscal year. Judge Singleton stated that citizens had voted to pass the school referendum and his office would certify the results this week. He informed the commission that the other election for the additional school millage "needs to happen before October," adding, "a special election will cost $56,000." Commissioner Willie Dixon said it would be nice if the school board could help with that cost. Judge Singleton explained that the state will reimburse the county part of the costs for the June 5 referendum and he "plans to send them (the school board) a bill for the remainder." Sheriff Stringer Captain Terry Beasley of the Washington County Sheriff's Department, who also serves as the jail administrator, requested that the commission advertise for two full-time jailer/dispatchers and a full-time clerk. The sheriff's department has been working with part-time jailer/dispatchers and it has created an extra expense for overtime pay because of some employees calling in sick at the last minute. Captain Beasley also told the commission that the town of Millry has entered into an agreement with Sheriff Richard Stringer to pay $350 a month for the sheriff's department to do Millry's dispatching and to issue warrants. The money will be placed into the sheriff's general fund. There was some discussion as to whether the money could go directly into the sheriff's general fund or if it had to be first placed into the county general fund and transferred to the law enforcement department. Sheriff Stringer said that his department was staying with the traditional law enforcement radio system. "This 800 radio system that we've been hearing about has been on-going for nine years and is still not in place. The equipment will be 19 years old if it went into operation today." The sheriff has applied for and received $24,800 in grants to "beef up" his present communication system and is in the process of putting some repeaters in various locations. The sheriff said that his officers in the field have to rely on Southern Linc for communication and emphasized that a better system is needed for the safety of deputies in confrontational situations. Judge Singleton stated that because of the lack of communication during recent hurricanes that the state has said a county must have a communication system that has 'interoperability.' The firemen must be able to talk to police and emergency people and vice versa. Stringer stressed that he doesn't want fire departments on the sheriff's frequency. "I don't want every cowboy and coon hunter out there listening in on law enforcement." He said his new system will allow law enforcement, fire departments and emergency personnel to communicate. The judge agreed that EMA uses Southern Linc and it doesn't work in Washington County. County Engineer Jason Sturdivant, county engineer, reported that two pieces of equipment advertised on Govdeals.com, a loader and a cutter, brought $35,555.55 and $310.00 respectively. He said he is back working on the health department site now and expects to be through in a week or a week-and-a-half. Resolutions Four bids were opened for paving Fire House Road with Mobile Asphalt submitting the most cost effective bid at $70 a ton for the complete-in-place job and $12 a ton for laying down asphalt only. The commission passed a resolution to grant the bid to Mobile Asphalt for the complete-in-place job. After some months and letting bids out twice, the commission seems to have solved the booster station problem. They passed the following resolution: use the $30,000 left in the grant along with $35,000 promised by the town of Chatom to purchase a booster station for $47,000; commissioners Alan Bailey and Hilton Robbins will do the grubbing and pad work and pour the concrete; the commission will hire out the wiring and plumbing. Other Resolutions: +Hire two full-time jailer/dispatchers and a clerk for the sheriff's department; and allow the town of Millry to pay the sheriff's department $350 a month to dispatch and issue warrants. +Pay the hospital insurance premiums for county employees who retire at age 62 (or above) with 25 years service. +Accept resignation of Penny Nichols of the Washington County Water Board and advertise for another clerk. +Advertise for a double-wheel roller. +Extend bids for treated timbers to go out to end of September, 2008. Bids to be opened at the July 9 meeting. Remarks +Commissioner Dixon said that HB139, the County Modernization Act passed the Legislature in the waning hours of the session. This bill basically takes the duties of the county commission, scattered throughout the code, and compiles them into one document. +In light of the expected growth of Washington County due to the steel plant, Judge Singleton said that it is imperative that the Washington County Industrial Board (WCIB) meet with the commission at the next meeting. "We need to know something," he said. "I will contact Mike Onderdonk (county attorney) about this and if no later than the next meeting they (WCIB) can't tell us when they can meet, we will have to dissolve this board." +The judge said that there are at least three people who work at polling places who don't need to be there. He went on to explain how they had disregarded instructions to place identification stickers on ballots. The stickers identify where votes are cast. The judge also wants to look into securing funding to put a sewage system in the southern part of Washington County because of the expected growth there and the fact that the soil does not perk.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the commission is June 25.
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