County Commission hears from residents concerning road repairs, improvements

April 11, 2019April 11, 2019 Jan McDonald

Marengo County residents asking for help to repair or pave roads started off the County Commission meeting Tuesday, and discussion of trash pickup closed out the session.

Doug Shearer, representing the Town of Myrtlewood, Carolyn Wilson for Rainbow Circle and Betty Gilbert on Beautiful Star Road all requested the commission provide help to fill potholes, clear encroaching vegetation or completely pave a road.

Shearer said Myrtlewood has the money for repairs if the county could do the work. Wilson told of the dangerous exits on State Hwy. 10 between Sweet Water and Nanafalia.

Gilbert, a member of the 168-year-old Beautiful Star Church, said the dirt road has been there as long as the church. She is hoping with the recent passage of the state gasoline tax that the county can pave the road.

When chairman Michael Thompson announced the annual statewide Spring Cleanup April 20-27, it started a discussion of trash along the county highways. Commission Freddie Armstead commended a woman who lives out of the county but was visiting here who organized a group to clean up County Road 6. “She did a fantastic job,” Armstead said.

Solid Waste officer John Bell said his crew disposed of some 45 bags the volunteers picked up. He said the road department employees who have been collecting roadside trash every Friday pick up between 75 and 100 bags each week.

The crew started in the southern part of the county and is working north, steadily bringing in bags of trash. “We’ve still got a long ways to go,” he said.

Commissioners asked County Engineer Ken Atkins to look into purchasing a grapple attachment for the backhoe so that crews can pick up large items such as mattresses that have been left on the side of the road. The grapple “will help us a whole lot,” Atkins said.

Atkins also got approval to sell two older trucks now that the county has received delivery of new ones.

Commissioners voted to buy the property across from the Courthouse at the intersection of Hwys. 43 and 28 for $10,000, pending tests that will determine the safety of the gasoline tanks buried on the site.

The tests would help in the county becoming part of the ALDOT Alabama Trust Fund that would provide cleanup costs should any gasoline spills occur.

The Wilcox County Water Authority inherited some 50 customers from a previous supplier that also provided sewer service. During a grant review it was determined the authority needed to change its name to be in compliance. The Commission voted the name change to the Wilcox County Water and Sewer Authority.

The Commission approved a resolution declaring April as Fair Housing Month, which may be required for future projects.

Demopolis Delivery Service was the sole bid for the Summer Feeding Program June 3-July 12. The $12,500 bid is some $4,000 less than 2018.

A funding request from the Theo Ratliff Center in Demopolis was put off until the Commission passes its 2020 budget. The center is applying for a $500,000 grant and is asking the Commission for a 10 percent match.

The Commission made several motions after an executive session: