By Dale Barnett
Elmore/Autauga News
The Elmore County Commission held their first monthly meeting of April on Monday, April 11.
Commissioner Chairman Troy Stubbs (D3) called in the meeting into session with Commissioners Henry Hines (D1), Mack Daugherty (D2), Bart Mercer (D4) and Desirae Jackson (5) all present, along with Richie Beyer, County COO and several other County department heads present.
Chairman Stubbs started off the work session discussing the importance of protecting the innocent to ensure children are given an opportunity for a safe and healthy home environment. Chairman Stubbs advised those in attendance that the Commissioners had signed a proclamation declaring April in Elmore County as Child Abuse Prevention month.
Stacey Reed with the Wetumpka DHR office was invited to speak to the Commission. Reed stated the Department of Human Resources is to provide protection, well-being and self-efficiency for all children. Reed said that in 2021, the Elmore County DHR office handled 563 reported abuse cases that involved 814 children. The office averaged 47 cases a month and out of 563 cases 33% were cases of abuse.
49% of the cases were physical abuse cases, 35% of the cases were sexual abuse cases and 15% were cases of neglect. The County DHR office also handled 85 kids through foster care which was a big increase from the 68 children in 2020.
Chairman Stubbs emphasized April is an important month to recognize the importance of protecting the children. He also thanked Reed for providing the statistics and numbers because so man people do not realize how many children are affected. This was a point that Chairman Mercer also stressed, saying providing the public with those numbers can help residents be more alert for abuse. Reed read the proclamation aloud and thanked the Commissioners.
To learn more about the Elmore County DHR and services it provides visit their website at https://www.dcfoffices.org/office/al_36092_elmore-county-department-of-human-resources
In other business, Tiffany Whorton led a public hearing on the closing of a block grant by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. The Elmore County Commission assisted and provided infrastructure work to the facility and parking lot of the medical building beside Lowes in Wetumpka.
Chairman Stubbs discussed the importance of this medical facility to bring in more medical professionals to Wetumpka and Elmore County so citizens did not have to always travel to Montgomery. This was during the height of the pandemic. This medical facility was able to provide Covid testing, vaccines and medical care according to Chairman Stubbs.
Chairman Stubbs also explained that the Commission is still looking to fill a position on the Elmore County Impact Crater Committee. He advised that no candidate has filled out the paperwork for this position or been listed for consideration. Chairman Stubbs stated the Commission will continue to seek a viable contributing candidate for the position.
Stubbs discussed a public hearing on April 21 at 10 a.m. before the Commission concerning the vacation of an unnamed road off Shadow Wood Lane. He explained this hearing will be held at the next Commission meeting, which is scheduled outside their normal dates because of National Government Day. High school seniors will be in attendance to experience public government in action.
Chairman Stubbs brought up the discussion of the design contract with Dalhoff Thomas of the redevelopment of Hohenberg Field. County COO Richie Beyer explained in further detail this was a project that involves up to a 50% grant from the County, in partnership with the City of Wetumpka and the Elmore County Board of Education. This is an economic development project that improves the present old stadium facilities and develops the area around the stadium for future use.
Beyers stated this grant and project would be similar to the City of Millbrook and Elmore County Board of Education and YMCA project with The Fields at 17 Springs. The Commission approved the motion.
Chairman Stubbs introduced a contract agreement proposal for a three-year contract with AT&T through the Alabama master state contract and turned the discussion over to County Beyers.
Beyers stated there were two items tied together that involved technology agreements, which included the proposed AT&T contract and a contract with Spectrum. The County had taken bids and Spectrum was the lowest bid. Beyers shared that the County, in looking for reduced costs and savings, had tasked Shane Pittman, Elmore County Chief Information Officer, with finding improved technology contracts which involved internet, cable and phone service.
Beyers shared that Pittman was able to provide proposals for two internet contracts since the County had discovered issues in the past with being tied to just one internet company. Beyers explained the two proposed contracts would expand the technology capacity and bandwidth by four-fold with both proposed contracts while providing a savings of less than the current contracts. The Commission approved the motion on both contracts.
Stubbs discussed the proposed low bid by GMC Blue Services Inc for replacement of the roof on the Elmore County Public Works shop, which Beyers explained was the old shop and the existing roof has been in place over 20 years and is having problems with leaks. The new roof was already included in the current County budget and this is the lowest bid. The Commission approved the motion.
Beyer also discussed the efforts of the County towards working on many of the dirt roads that were damaged during the storms. He explained the County had been busy cleaning up storm debris and was not able to tend to the roads as planned but with the debris being mostly handled dirt roads will once again be a focus.
Commissioner Hines discussed over the next couple of weeks that new Disposal Service, Arrow Disposal would be contacting the new customers based off the existing waste management customers. Hines said new trash cans would be delivered between the first and middle of May and a number and email will be provided for customers that do not receive their cans. Hines reminded everyone that Arrow will now service all of unincorporated Elmore County, City of Wetumpka, Elmore, Deatsville and Eclectic. He thanked the EMA department for staying on top of the weather for the citizens and the County Road crews for they efforts to clean up the debris and keep the roads clean. Hines also discussed the upcoming County clean up Day next weekend.
Commissioner Mercer also expressed gratitude to the EMA Director Keith Barnett and his staff for their efforts to keep the public informed during severe weather and the efforts of the County crews and the sheriff’s department to assist with recovering from these events of severe weather. Mercer discussed the Alabama state legislation passing a bill to allow a Broad band bill to be voted on by the citizens under the State Constitution amendments. He discussed the importance of improving the access to better internet to the entire county.
Commissioner Jackson wanted to thank the County EMA department, the sheriff’s department and the County Road crews for their hard work and efforts during the severe weather. She also discussed how the Facebook posts help provide information and how she also shares those posts to help others know what is happening.
Chairman Stubbs finished the meeting by discussing efforts to reduce the loss of employees by providing bonuses over a three-year period with funds that have trickled down to the County from federal funds. Chairman Stubbs explained the County wanted to keep good employees and provide fair pay. Under the current plan, employees that stay with the County can continue to see increased benefits.
The next Elmore County Commission meeting will be held Thursday, April 21 at 10 a.m. This is also National Government Day and seniors from several local high school are scheduled to be in attendance for this meeting. They will also break up into groups spending the day with different county departments, and have the opportunity to register to vote.
