County Commission considers courthouse safety, road repairs

Courthouse safety and repair of roads in the Town of Myrtlewood took up most of the business during the monthly meeting of the Marengo County Commission Tuesday morning.

Chairman Freddie Armstead said a meeting held to discuss courthouse security suggested having monitors in each office and cameras, especially at the back door, to help lessen the chance for any tragedy in the building.

EMA director Kevin McKinney already has met with Collins Communications to determine what equipment is needed. The company is expected to have a quote soon.

Other safety issues addressed included a door in the building which no longer closes securely since the ground has shifted.

Armstead said he also has directed department heads to have an escort to the bank whenever large sums of money are deposited in order to deter any robberies.

Myrtlewood mayor Jane Vick requested help from the commission to repair roads and sidewalks in her community of 120 residents as well as groom the shoulder of the roads.

The town doesn’t have the equipment to do the work itself. In the past, when the county has done work, Myrtlewood has paid for materials and labor.

Former road foreman Calvin Etheridge, who retired two years ago, was able to handle most of the major problems, Vick said, but since he left much of the work has languished.

“I ask you as a group to kind of help us out with this,” said Vick.

Armstead said county engineer Ken Atkins will look closely at the problems, especially the most serious one on Maple Street where washouts will soon prevent the two residents from being able to get to their homes.

In other business the commission denied the claims of two county inmates, one who filed for false imprisonment and another who claimed bodily injury by officers.

Commissioners approved the reappointment to the E911 Board of Bill Mason from District 2 and Joseph Hudson from District 4.

The Town of Providence has agreed to let the county use its Town Hall as a voting site for District 3. The VFW Hall, which had been used, no longer meets requirements.

Probate Judge Laurie Hall said she was very thankful the town offered the site since there was no other viable location in the district.

No action was needed since the commission voted in April to approve the site if Providence agreed to it.