By Hamilton Richardson
Elmore/Autauga News
Top Photo: County Commissioner Rusty Jacksland gives recognition to longtime educator Jerry Brown.
Although there was plenty of business to be done at Tuesday’s Autauga County Commission meeting, there was also a lot of recognition and celebration as the group of leaders took time to focus on the accomplishments of a retiring longtime teacher and several law enforcement representatives.
After the approval of meeting minutes, invoices and the consent docket, and the moving around of a few items from the end of the agenda to the beginning, Probate Judge Kim Kervin came forward.
Commissioners addressed three items with Kervin including the approval to pay tabulation workers for election night May 24, 2022 at $50 each for the Primary Election. Also approved was the pay for tabulation workers for the provisional absentee overseas ballots on May 31, 2022.
The Commission also approved the acknowledgement of May as Mental Health Awareness Month and recognizing the following law enforcement personnel as Mental Health Liaisons with the Autauga County Probate Court:
Prattville Police Department-
Cpl. C. Brasie
Cpl. Devon Jackson
Cpl. Rico Hardnett
Cpl. F. Surls
Cpl. J. Chatman
Autauga County Sheriff’s Department-
Lt. Mike Heath
Sgt. Steven Geon
Lt. Clifton McGinnis
Captain Larry Nixon
Cpl. Corey Smith
Sgt. J.C. Grant
Mary Fitzpatrick with Montgomery Area Mental Health was also recognized by Kervin for her assistance in the county with mental health issues.
At this point, Commissioners approved going into Executive Session to discuss a resolution and after returning, Commissioner Rusty Jacksland called up to the front of the room educator Jerry Brown to recognize him for a 50-year teaching career.
“On behalf of the Autauga County Commission,” said Jacksland, “we’d like to give you this resolution and recognition for your 50 years of service in the educational system, not all of it here in Autauga County but all throughout the southeast.”
The commissioner then read the resolution letter highlighting many of Brown’s educational accomplishment over the years.
“While at Prattville Junior High School, he coached the girls’ basketball team, which included his granddaughter, Claudia. During his 50 years of teaching, he has taught math, history, science, physical education and drivers’ education as well as coaching football, basketball and softball,” Jacksland read.
Upon receiving the recognition, Brown said, “I’m at a loss for words. I love children. The hardest thing I’ve ever done in education was when I turned in my letter last Friday to Janice Stockman.”
After the large crowd who had gathered to celebrate Jerry Brown left the room, Commissioners moved on to Resolution 2022-16, which is the support of Project Mayfield.
County Administrator Scott Kramer read the resolution and commissioners approved it but no further details were given at the time regarding the scope or purpose of Project Mayfield, although it does pertain to economic development in the county.
Before any more business was done, Chairman Jay Thompson left to attend a graduation ceremony and Vice-Chairman John Thrailkill took over.
Next on the agenda was the approval for FY223 Midsouth RC&D Grants, which was approved.
Sheriff Joe Sedinger approached the commission for several items he had on the agenda including the approval to amend certain budget line items due to checks received from ACCA Insurance, the approval to transfer David Bradley from full-time Investigator to part-time SRO and the transfer of Tracy Lachance from part-time SRO to full-time Deputy Sheriff.
The approval to accept the resignation of James Happney, Sergeant, and to advertise his replacement, the application of a bulletproof vest grant and to purchase a truck for jail use with CARES Act reimbursement funding were also on the list of items to consider.
Lastly for Sedinger’s department was the approval of a one-year, one-step pay increase for two employees. All of these measures were approved for the Sheriff’s Department.
Jail Warden Larry Nixon also came forward to address items on the agenda relating to his area of responsibility, which included a discussion of the QCHC contract, the approval to hire Shelby Barregarye, full-time jailer, the rescinding of the resignation of Martevion George and the approval for George’s transfer from full-time to part-time Jailer.
All of the items relating to the Metro Jail were also approved.
Next, Ernie Baggett, EMA Director for the county, discussed with the group the approval to allow all eligible entities to apply for the Homeland Security Grant FY2022, which was approved.
During the portion of the agenda when Autauga County residents may address the commission for three minutes, Jackie Speigner from District 5 and Jack Morgan, also from the same district, approached the group.
First up was Jackie Speigner, who asked about funding for the Old Kingston Cemetery saying that it could cost anywhere between $30,000 to $35,000, which included a slab and an urn column.
“The proposal I passed out to you was asking for some of the ARP (American Rescue Plan) money to get these projects done, and because we were a non-profit organization before we became a historical cemetery, that’s how we qualify to apply for some of this money,” she said.
Thrailkill told Speigner to make sure she turns in an official request so that during budget consideration, that can be considered.
Speigner asked again whether commissioners had decided to begin having work sessions and Thrailkill said the possibility was being discussed.
Next up was Morgan, who said that he still doesn’t see anything done in District 5 and asked why it was being overlooked.
Morgan then brought up a question about whether the county has a Parks and Recreation Department, which he had asked at the last meeting and was old no.
“The other week I asked if we had an Autauga County Parks and Rec and you said no, that we don’t have an Autauga County Parks and Rec organization,” Morgan said. “The documentation I have, we have checks that have been paid out for someone cutting grass over on 104 under Autauga County Parks and Rec. Who’s getting this money?”
Scott Kramer said the county has a Parks and Recreation volunteer board.
Morgan then asked about why a certain amount of money was being paid for grass cutting and where the grass was being cut.
Kramer said that the grass was being cut and that the payment was to cover a certain amount of time but Morgan disputed that, turning to Kyle Shirley, the county’s attorney, saying, “This is an ethical violation.”
Thrailkill asked Morgan to address the commission, not Shirley.
“You refuse to do anything in District 5 but you pay somebody $5,000 in two days to cut grass somewhere else,” Morgan asked. “We’re fighting to get the roads paved. We’re fighting to get the park out here done but every time we come here, it’s all about, let us look at this, let’s look at this.”
Speigner spoke up from the audience regarding the matter and the Vice-Chairman called her out of order.
Morgan also asked about paving County Road 69 and why it hasn’t been done, why ARP funds have not been used and why the commission approved paying $325,000 for legal assistance.
At that point, Thrailkill told Morgan his time was up.
In the last few minutes of the meeting, an approval to recognize Bethlehem Lutheran Church for turning 100 years old was approved.
John Mark Davis, County Engineer, also addressed the commission for the approval of a bid to Wiregrass Construction Company for Project ACP-80-80 IAR-001-000-011, turn lane addition at Jesse Samuel Hunt Blvd. Also discussed was the approval of the resignation of Steve Tyus, Truck Driver and the advertisement for a replacement.
