Millry asks county for partnership in pursuing grants
By Ellen Williams SA Reporter

Roy Chapman, mayor of Millry met with the Washington County Commission Monday to discuss the county's possible participation in two grants the town has applied for.

The first grant is an 80/20 match. Chapman believes that Millry is virtually assured of securing this grant. He told the commission, "If the county can do about two weeks of surveying and haul some base dirt, that would cover Millry's 20 percent."

The second grant is a Park Grant and is a 50/50 grant. This grant will be for improvement to the town's softball park. "I have heard talk that this may not be legal for the county to do," Chapman said, "and if that is the case, then I understand."

The commission deferred to County Engineer Jason Sturdivant who stated that it is legal for the county to do work for a municipality, "…but the work, both labor and equipment, are financed through gas tax funds and those funds must be reimbursed.

"That's the hang-up," Sturdivant explained. "If you have to reimburse us, then you can't come out any better."

Commissioner Allen Bailey stated that he thought it (work on Millry park) would have to be done out of the General Fund. Chapman stated that they should know by the end of the year if the grant is approved.

Judge Charles Singleton said that the town needs the engineer to do the surveying and design the two ends of a walking bridge abutment.

Sturdivant said, "I could probably work it in. And I don't mind doing the work, but I will have to let something else go."

Commissioner Robbins said that he didn't want the county to lose any federal funds (for roads) to work on the Millry

The commission decided to wait to see how Millry progresses with securing loans before giving a definite answer to the mayor.

County engineer

The commission has been discussing the need for county subdivision regulations for several months. Sturdivant handed the commissioners a set of sub-division regulations and stated that he and county attorney, Michael Onderdonk had been discussing them. He asked, "Does the commission want Michael Onderdonk to draw up sub-division regulations?"

Commissioner Bailey said he would like for Onderdonk to look at what Sturdivant has and see how these regulations would apply in Washington County; and expressed the desire to "….get something in place to protect the citizens."

Sturdivant reported that he and a representative from ALDOT had inspected the county roads and "….we have no roads that received a failing score. We have some close, but all our roads scored 70 percent or better."

Sturdivant expects the Pine Barren Bridge to be complete by the end of May. He reported seven or eight bridges presently down and said that Washington County has 51 bridges that are either structurally deficient or structurally obsolete. "It will take approximately $24,000,000 to restore these bridges," Strudivant said. "But we just don't have the money or the personnel," he insisted. "We are doing the best we can under the circumstances."

Sewerage authority

Judge Singleton reported that the authority or board to govern the anticipated sewerage system in the south part of the county is almost reality. The town council of McIntosh meets Tuesday night, May 13, and will move on appointed people to petition the commission for the governing authority for the sewerage system. He said he had asked the legal staff for the approval on the property today. "I need it tomorrow," he stated. "and I don't have it."

Plans for paving the four roads from Katrina funds were drawn up and approved two years ago, but have to be done based on today's costs. The judge explained that they were looking for every way possible to cut costs from the four roads. The plan he and the consulting engineers worked out for Richard Seals Road was to drop off the north end of the road and pave the south end. Three days later, the engineer got a call and was directed to drop off the south end and pave the north. When Commissioner Robbins asked who made such a call to override the agreed-upon Katrina road changes, the judge responded, "I'd rather not say in a meeting such as this."

Ted Kirksey

For several months now, Judge Singleton has been saying that "someone" from Memphis, Tenn., wants to build a 100-bed long-term-stay motel in southern Washington County. This "someone" is Ted Kirksey who represents several business concerns; among them Brag-Davis. On Thursday, May 15, five people associated with Kirksey are flying in from Memphis to meet with the commissioners, the county attorney, Janey Galbraith (grant writer), and Jesse Quillen, (industrial developer). The meeting will be at noon, but is closed to the public and the media.

The judge explained that Kirksey will be presenting his firm's credentials for approval. The county owns 77.6 acres in the south end of the county which Kirksey will purchase. "If this comes in anywhere close to what land has been going for down there, the county will make a sizeable profit. I would like to see us use that to pay off the bond for the expansion on the courthouse." The annual payment on this bond is $223,000.

Cogon grass

Commissioner Hilton Robbins called attention to the rapid spread of Cogon grass which chokes out every other vegetation in its path. The only way to kill and prevent this pestgrass is by spraying. The commission decided to have the county engineer look into the possibility of hiring the state to help with the eradication of Cogon grass in the county.

Resolutions

•Jim Long of the St. Stephens Historical Commission and Robin Goldman of Leadership Washington asked the commission to help with funding for six signs advertising the St. Stephens Historical Park. Leadership Washington had already agreed to fund two signs: one at Leroy and one at Calvert advertising Old St. Stephens as the "place where Alabama began." In addition to the two original signs, Leadership Washington will place two on Highway 45; two on Highway 56; and two on Highway 17 North. The commission agreed to contribute $100 to the cost of the signs.

•Washington County will begin to participate in NACO (National Association of Counties) Drug Cards. This is card is the result of cooperation between the National Association of Counties and pharmaceutical manufacturers. They are for people with no insurance, those with a cap on their insurance and on Medicare and Medicaid. The card will pay about 36 percent of a drug bill. The two drug stores in Washington County as well as all major chains will participate in the NACO program. This operates with no cost to the county.

•The commission voted to contribute $200 to the Washington County Junior Miss program.

•The commission voted to award five more Katrina trailers to: Dorothy Jordan of Millry; Loren Pickens of Frankville; Bettye Sims of Sunflower; Brenda Poole of McIntosh; Glynda Trailor of McIntosh.

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