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WashCo Commission adopts balanced budget for fiscal year Probate Judge Charles Singleton made a pledge when he went into office Jan. 15 of this year that he would do all within his power to lead Washington County to live within its income and to cut spending wherever possible. He made took a step in that direction on Sept. 24, when the Washington County Commission adopted a balanced budget based upon projected revenue. As revenue is only a projection, the county budget is the commission's effort to live within the 2007-08 projected revenue. This was done while giving county employees a modest raise. The commission adopted a budget with total expected expenditures for the 2007-08 year projected to be $12,389,722.52. This included $3,000 to Washington County Public Library, $3,000 to Soil and Conservation and $8,000 to the Auburn Extension Service. A resolution was passed to adopt the budget. Ciba David Huggins of Ciba brought petitions asking the commission for a $2 million tax abatement. This is for improvement to Area 1 and will increase cost efficiency of production. Huggins explained that this alteration does not create new jobs, but will help Ciba remain competitive in the chemical market and help to keep jobs in McIntosh. As is the custom, the abatement excludes road and bridge, and education ad valorem taxes. In real dollars, the abatement amounts to $107,000 over a period of 10 years, or a bit over $10,000 a year. A resolution was passed to grant the abatement. Annual Bids •High Standard Sales of Waynesboro, Miss. submitted the low bid for metal pipe. •Henson Pipe was the only bidder and was awarded the bid for concrete pipe. •Southwest Alabama Construction of Jackson won the bid for the repair and construction mix. •Traffic Signs, Inc. was low bidder for county sign business. •Mobile Asphalt Company was awarded the bid for cold-mix asphalt. Aresolution was made to make the above awards. •There were many bids for debris removal. This involves the removal of mass amounts of debris such as is left from a storm (hurricane). These bids are multifaceted and Sturdivant needed extra time to study these so as to make the best recommendation possible to the commission. The debris removal award will be made at the next meeting. Other Resolutions •Bids were opened for the sale of a motor grader for District Two. •Chris Bumpers was present The high bid was $170,501.00 by J.M.Wood Auctions. •The Cricket Hill property will be called the Malcolm Industrial Site and is designated an industrial park. The county attorney has had appraisals done and is presently working on a deed to sell 5 acres of the Malcolm Industrial Site to Robert Morris of Saraland for a ready-mix concrete plant. A resolution passed to officially name the site the Malcolm Industrial Site. •The commission adopted their meeting schedule for the fiscal year, Oct. 1, 2007 through Sept. 30, 2008. •The commission agreed to enter into contract with Gemini Consultants for computer maintenance for both the probate and the revenue offices with the two departments sharing the $12,500.04 annual expense. •Commissioners granted a leave to Mittie Dubose from Sept. 24 through Dec. 17. •Commissioners agreed to enter a five-county industrial development authority with Mobile, Baldwin, Clarke and Escambia counties. •Jason Sturdivant recommended that the commission hire Greg Kirkwood as Engineering Aide II. After Kirkwood has been to classes and become certified, he will be promoted to Engineering Aide III. Miscellaneous •Sheriff Richard Stringer told the commission that the contract agreement his department has with the town of Millry has to be reworded and another resolution passed. •The following bids were opened for the Richard Seals Road: Southwest Construction of Jackson--$683,337.25; Gulf Equipment of Theodore-- $729,907.00; McConnell Construction of Mobile--$634,522.49. The county engineer asked for time to look at the details of the individual bids before the awarding. and made a presentation to the commission emphasizing that the county's bid process for fuels did not include present rack price. There was a good deal of discussion with Jason Strudivant, county engineer, making the point that rack prices fluctuate daily, even hourly in the gas and oil market. The commission finally agreed to re-bid the fuels and award this bid at their next meeting based on the most current rack price. Merritt Oil of Mobile had bid 8 ? cents over rack price, and Bumpers Oil, 10.3 cents over rack price •Judge Singleton reported that Charles Ray Baxter, previously hired as Katrina building inspector, has resigned and he is looking again to fill this position. •The judge also told the commission that on Wednesday, the Sept. 19, a symposium was conducted where county officials and many local and state agencies were represented. The matter under discussion was how the county is going to manage the Thyssenkrupp generated growth in population in regard to housing, education, law enforcement and fire protection. He said that two recommendations came out of the meeting: 1. Hire a full time Industrial Development person with Washington County roots. 2. Meet next with the Auburn University Economic Development Institute. •The county engineer was contacted by a person representing Thyssenkrupp with a request that 10 street lights be installed at the Paul Bayou Road and Highway 43 intersection. The state has agreed to install the lights if Washington County will pay the power bill of approximately $400 per month. The commission declined to pay.
•Because of several items of outstanding business which needed additional study, the commission continued today's meeting until 10 a.m., Oct. 1.
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