County workers to get hazard duty pay

               Marengo County employees will receive hazardous pay money based on their employment level, paid for by part of the county’s CARES Act distribution, thanks to action by the County Commission Tuesday.

CARES funding also will be used to repair the air-conditioning at the jail. Bids for a new roof for the facility will be accepted during the County Commission meeting next month, another CARES Act project.

EMA Director Kevin McKinney urged residents of the county to answer the census. Funding for E911 services is based on population, he said, and the number of people responding to the census has a direct impact on revenue.

Speaking on the COVID-19 pandemic, McKinney said while the number of people who have tested positive in the county is rising, many of those have recovered. The daily average of people in quarantine is now 80, while a month ago the number was 50.

He said the figures for testing can be deceptive since those who are positive must have at least two negative tests before being pronounced cured.

The National Weather Service has declined any action on locating a weather radar closer to Demopolis, McKinney continued. The service said the radars at Mobile, Birmingham, and Columbus and Jackson, Miss., are sufficient to cover Demopolis.

The issue isn’t over, he said. A state group in monitoring the situation and pursuing any solutions to giving better coverage to the county.

New Demopolis Area Chamber of Commerce director David Lyons introduced himself to Commission members. Lyons, a native of Decatur, comes to the area from West Point, Ga.

“We’re all in this together,” he said. “I’ve been doing chamber, tourism and economic development for the last 25 years of my life,” he told commissioners.

WestRock Mill Co. was granted a 10-year tax abatement on expected capital investment of $18.4 million. The abatement will be for all sales tax except for what is designated for education.

Probate Judge Laurie Hall, after reporting the primary election in the county was running smoothly, asked the Commission for guidance on continuing the credit card waiver for licenses and renewals.

The 2.5 percent fee is being absorbed by the county during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has impacted income. The county lost $839.13 in April and $1,418 in May, she said.

Commissioners voted to continue the waiver for another month while members study the effect on the county.

Bids were opened for road work in the northern and southern parts of the county. Asphalt Contractors was the apparent low bidder for the northern section at $851,683, and H.O. Weaver for the southern part at $266,431.87. The low bids are subject to verification by county engineer Ken Atkins.

In other action, the Commission approved:

• Hiring Shannon Parten in the Commission office and Robert Alston III in the road department.
• Appointing to the DHR Board Willie Dorsey, District 1; Charlotte Webb, District 3, and Shirley Hutchins, District 4.
• Reappointing Commissioner Calvin Martin to the ACCA Legislative Committee.