Commission approves 10-year tax abatement, recognizes two in Tuesday meeting

Two Rivers Lumber Co., LLC received a 10-year tax-abatement from Marengo County after a unanimous decision by county commissioners at their meeting Tuesday.

Two Rivers announced last week that it was building a multi-million-dollar facility at the Demopolis Industrial Park which initially will employ between 50 and 60 workers. The company has leased the land from the city for 40 years.

Voters at two locations in Demopolis will take part in a trial run of an Electronic Poll Books Project during the Nov. 8 election.

Corrections Officer Latesha Jacobs, center, was recognized by the Marengo County Commission for completing the Alabama Jail Training Academy Classes.
Corrections Officer Latesha Jacobs, center, was recognized by the Marengo County Commission for completing the Alabama Jail Training Academy Classes.

Paula McDaniel with the Probate Judge office said all voter names will be loaded into the iPad-like devices. Voters can scan their driver’s licenses instead of having poll workers flip through the paper books of voting lists. She said the use of the Poll Books will make voting faster and more user friendly.

McDaniel said the state gave the six Poll Books to the county at no charge. They will be used at the Church Aflame and Civic Center voting sites. Paper books of voting lists will be used as backups.

Commissioners tabled a measure to approve a voting machine maintenance agreement with ES&S Hardware until after the election.

The state has been paying for the maintenance of the county’s 26 machines, but beginning next year each county will be responsible for the upkeep. It would cost Marengo County $9,000 annually, and after two years the cost is expected to increase up to five percent. The first payment for the maintenance is due before Dec. 1.

The commission is considering reducing the number of precincts, which would lower the cost. It will consider the measure at the next meeting and before the payment deadline.

Three new hires received approval: Sarah Dailey at the library; Mary Washington with the reappraisal office, and Eva Marie Daniels, to be a cook at the county jail.

Three of the state Constitutional Amendments on the Nov. 8 ballot received support in resolutions from

Mary Jo Marting, left, with Commissioner Dan England. (WAW | Jan McDonald)
Mary Jo Martin, left, with Commissioner Dan England. (WAW | Jan McDonald)

the commission. Amendment 3 would require only qualified voters in a particular county or city to vote on measures pertaining to them, if the Legislature determines without a dissenting vote that the measure applied only to them.

Amendment 4 allows each county commission to set up programs related to the administration of its affairs.

Amendment 14 gives approval of the “application of any budget isolation resolution authorizing consideration of a bill proposing a local law adopted by the Legislature before Nov. 8 that conformed to the rules of either house of the Legislature at the time it was adopted.”

Silver Haired Legislature advocate Mary Jo Martin of Demopolis was honored with a resolution for her work not only with seniors in the state but with the Alabama Tombigbee Regional Commission. Martin was honored by the state earlier this year, and the commission wanted to recognize her locally as well for the work she does behind the scenes.

The commission approved an agreement with Charles Osburn to serve as caretaker of Chickasaw Park. The state is leasing the park to the county, and Osburn will live on site to maintain it.

In other action, the commission:

  • Recognized Corrections Officer Latesha Jacobs for completing the Alabama Jail Training Academy classes.
  • Denied a claim by Daniel Yelverton for an injury received in an accident on Sparks Road.
  • Passed a resolution honoring former commissioner James Hopson who died Sept. 21.
  • Approved a resolution and an agreement on the upgrade of Sparks Road. The county has received the funding and is ready to start work, county engineer Ken Atkins told commissioners.
  • Made public two roads in District 4: Easley Lane and Prayer Lane.

Because of the general election, the date of the next County Commission meeting was moved to Wednesday, Nov. 16.