Malia Riggs
Elmore Autauga News
The Autauga County Commission met Tuesday evening, on Election Night, where they approved two local proclamations, a resolution supporting veterans and the approval to seek out a bond for Phase Two of the Autauga County Metro Jail Remediation.
The Commissioners started the meeting by approving the Farm City Week 2024 Proclamation, the Military Appreciation Week Proclamation as well as a resolution supporting Operation Green Light for Veterans. The Commissioners voted in favor for all three.
The Commissioners also voted in favor for the approval to engage an agreement with Stifel, with Chairman Jay Thompson abstaining from the vote. The commissioners voted in favor of seeking assistance for a bond to help support Phase Two of the Autauga Metro Jail Remediation.
The jail cleanup has come after months of controversy and back and forth with Autauga County Sheriff Mark Harrell and the Autauga County Commission, after Harrell evacuated all prisoners from the facility on June 6 of this year. Placing inmates in other facilities due to ongoing concerns with moisture and mold within many areas of the jail.
Now that Phase One is complete, it is onto Phase two.
Commissioner Larry Stoudemire questioned County Administrator Scott Kramer as to why the county would need a bond and what it would be used for.
Kramer responded that due to the anticipated size of the project the money would be used for upgrades to the HVAC systems in both the jail and the courthouse as well as projected renovations within the jail at this time.
However, Kramer confirmed that they do not know the amount that will be needed until the bid has closed. Then the county will seek an engagement agreement with Stifel to move forward. Kramer confirmed that the bid closes on Nov. 18.
“We’re replacing all the HVAC’s and the ductwork in the jail, and we’re replacing a lot of HVAC’s in the courthouse. Then there’s renovations in the courthouse that we’re looking at too. There’re some alternatives to the bid based on how it comes in, and the commission will decide if we’ll move forward with those,” Kramer said.
