County Commission denies probate office use of meeting chambers
Marengo County Probate Judge Laurie Hall implored the members of the County Commission Tuesday to be able to use the commission chambers for hearings.
Several of the commissioners were obviously reluctant to cede use of their space to Hall for a few hours two to three days a week and peppered her with alternative ideas.
Hall, who now holds hearings in her office, said she had exhausted all avenues for other sites with no success. Her office space is too small to hold attorneys, their clients, paperwork and displays that often are needed in the hearings, she told the Commission.
She said the only expense would be to purchase two tables for attorneys to use, which would be paid for out of her budget. Commissioner Freddie Armstead objected to taking up space in the Commission chamber with the tables, even if smaller tables could be moved out of the way.
County attorney W.W. Dinning Jr. spoke on behalf of Hall’s request. “It’s for the people who have to be in court,” he said.
Commissioner Jason Windham added, “The whole place belongs to the people. I don’t have a problem with it.”
After an executive session, commissioners decided to conduct their own search for an alternative site.
Hall also announced a day of prayer at the Courthouse on Thursday, Dec. 20, at 1 p.m. in response to the recent tragedies in the county. She said the event would provide an opportunity to pray for those who have been lost and those who won’t make it home for the holidays.
Two representatives of Sen. Doug Jones announced that a satellite field office will be opening in Selma.
Al Stokes, Regional Director, and Donald Dees, field representative, said space finally has been found in Selma, and interviews are being held to hire a satellite office coordinator with the hope of opening the site within the next 30-45 days. The Selma office is one of six regional and satellite locations around the state to represent Sen. Jones.
“We try to spend as much time as we can on the ground,” said Stokes, adding that the offices are the “arms, eyes and ears” of the senator.
The Commission approved the 2019 schedule of holidays for employees:
Jan. 1 – New Year’s Day
Jan. 31 – Robert E. Lee and Martin Luther King Day
Feb. 18 – Presidents Day
May 27 — Memorial Day
July 4 – Independence Day
Sept. 2 — Labor Day
Oct. 14 — Columbus Day
Nov. 11 – Veterans Day
Nov. 28-29 – Thanksgiving
Dec. 24-26 – Christmas
After an executive session, commissioners voted for a resolution to rescind an act tying county deputy salaries to those of state troopers.
The act, first passed in 1978, was renewed in 1995. It now must be approved by the State Legislature.
The newest member of the Commission, Terry Hinton, presented a plaque to coaches and players of the Linden High School Patriots for making it all the way to the state playoffs in Division I. While the team lost the championship game, it was undefeated the rest of the season.
In the only other business, Sarah Lockett asked the commission to repair her driveway after road crews damaged it while repairing County Road 6.