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Revenue commissioner reports a $449,000 increase in annual revenue The Washington County Commission met in regular meeting on June 25, with Commissioner Willie Dixon presiding in the absence of Probate Judge Charles Single-ton. Laura Lee Taylor, revenue commissioner, handed the commissioners a document showing the errors and assessment and the bankruptcies; and said it is time to make the annual report to Montgomery. Taylor also reported that revenue was $449,000 more this year than last. Commissioner Dixon asked if the county would be able to collect taxes from the travel trailers expected to move into the county with the steel mill construction. Taylor said that the county misses out on revenue on mobile homes because her office is short handed and often has no one to send out to check on trailer tags. "We do get a report from the Clarke Washington Electric Cooperative when someone puts electricity to a trailer. But compliance with purchasing the tag is mostly voluntary because we have no inspector." She told the commission that most travel trailers are already tagged when they are parked, so there's no revenue. "The usual fee for a mobile home tag is $49, Taylor explained, "unless the mobile home owner also owns the land his trailer is on; then he is responsible. I can sell the mobile home and land if he is delinquent with his tag." Chad Singleton brought to the attention of the commission the need for the county government to enter into contract with Sprint/Nextel in order to complete the last phase for the 800-mega hertz radio system in Washington County. He explained that the Federal Communications Commission has approved public safety agencies to use the same frequencies. Sprint/Nextel will be responsible for the upkeep of the towers. Singleton further stated that county attorney, Michael Onderdonk, has already been working with Sprint/Nextel on the contract agreement and Singleton said they have agreed to every change Onderdonk suggested. This cooperative effort will be at no cost to the county. Singleton said that maintenance would be funded by contributions from industry and municipalities; and grants will provide set-up financing. Tommy Johnson of the Washington County Water Authority recommended that the commission hire Rebecca Grimes as full time clerk. Johnson also asked the commission to look into the possibility of putting well in the Deer Head area which could serve the Sunflower Water System, Wagarville and Tibbie. He explained that the Washington County Water Authority has already served Wagarville in an emergency situation. He also expressed concern about the increased need for water with the new trailer parks which are slated for opening soon in this same area: 40 trailer spots in the nowclosed rest area and 20 on Tarver Road. Jason Sturdivant, county engineer, reported the sale of a Ford truck, paver and a backhoe on Govdeals.com for $250, $7,700 and $25,100 respectively. He said he was still working at the health department site and estimated he had one week left there. He reported that he expects to let the Pine Barren Bridge project in August and County Road 4 in November. There was some discussion about how to handle rocks thrown by county bushhogs and cracking windshields. Captain Terry Beasley of the sheriff's department, who was present suggested that the citizen stop and notify the equipment driver when such an incident happens; get the operator's name, date and time of the incident. They can bring it to the sheriff's office and use that as a report to their insurance company. Beasley also reported that regulations state that a sheriff cannot enter into an agreement with a municipality but that the county commission can. He stated that Robert Montgomery, attorney for the town of Millry, is working an such an agreement so that payment can be received from Millry for the sheriff's office doing Millry's dispatching and issuing their warrants. This money would go into the law enforcement's general fund. At a question by Commissioner William (Termite) Beasley about getting work-release inmates to pick up roadside trash, Captain Beasley told him that if he could give the sheriff's office a schedule of places when roads were to be bush-hogged, he would try to coordinate trash pick-up ahead of cutting. Commissioner Johnny Johnson said that the Richard Seals Road will be let in July, with work possibly beginning in September. Acting chairman Willie Dixon asked Commissioner Beasley to contact former probate judge John Armstrong that the commission needs a letter of resignation from him for his seat on the Alabama Tombigbee Regional Planning Commission. Resolutions Passed +The county will enter into a contract/agreement with Spring- /Nextel to use their towers. +To hire Rebecca Grimes as full-time clerk with Washington County Water Authority. +Signed off on CDBG invoice: $77,000 for 20 trailers; part of Katrina Grant. +Validate County District A and District B for school millage vote and election for Sept. 11. +Voted to allow the state to make improvements (widening and leveling) of Paul Bayou Road as an industrial access project. This will be done at no cost to the county. The county will, however, maintain the road. +Invite and open bids for surface treatment at the July 23 meeting. Afterwards, the bids are for a calendar year: Sept. 30, 2007 to Sept. 30, 2008. +To hire Sondra Sexton of Springbank and Lauren Gunner of Hobson as jailers and Denise Delmarter of Copeland as a clerk in the sheriff's office. +Re-bid booster pump. Bids will come in July 23. +Appoint Judge Charles Singleton to the Mobile Community Action Board upon the resignation of Commissioner Hilton Robbins. +Advertise for a housekeeper for the courthouse.
The commission will meet again on July 9.
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