[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6313634,"mediaKeyId","2387313-c4f3d8c7898050e75084bb9e33af6b3b","parentId",2387313,"title","Commission hears animal shelter staffing crunch; commissioners to consider emergency hires and contract approvals","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",2444950,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2387313-c4f3d8c7898050e75084bb9e33af6b3b&start=2444&end=2444","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2387313-c4f3d8c7898050e75084bb9e33af6b3b/thumbnail_2444950.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6313634/Chilton-County/Alabama/Commission-hears-animal-shelter-staffing-crunch-commissioners-to-consider-emergency-hires-and-contract-approvals","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6313634-b8d45ef47b752fb60e68356370315c3f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146528&Signature=UeeEOW7iMaIxSrrHIIEr8ffK3mScRDhkiPIjIJc7qRVGFekwrOFt1qjde8IROHiY3WJyEVwVkJxNnoiVq-uEonXyeLPP9B51FdxOF2AG4l51PDbar1HK4k3dU0WF~JOgI4gyOY89eqjEAZwhZ~3D6vwBGH6sinsOG4E9UdJTlGx1Y~lhIlEQs6qEAUsqMjObmJCEs2BfBLwMYD3pNW7iZBd7-KT2pzb9BTLi3HxaXNnB0LYSvjC~aBMEhh4X2x-AEd-VlOCopvCNei3iQbqO3gxeEqIkOH6kGi4TzJvn541ToRo--BfiLtfV0vjvYEaV-OaQdVGPhJNnlYofsic8fA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Chilton County Alabama","date","2025-02-25T13:42:17Z","article","Commissioners received an update on the county animal shelter’s operations and infrastructure needs and were told the facility is over capacity.

Commissioner Childers reported the shelter is “being overrun with animals,” estimating roughly 48 adult dogs plus additional puppies and cats and said staff must operate seven days a week. Childers said she will recommend at the next regular meeting an emergency part-time hire for animal-care tech help because current staff are stretched and the director has been performing daily technician duties rather than program-level work.

Childers also reported progress on facility repairs: siding and roofing work was approved and scheduled to start early the next morning, painting and gutters have approval, and grading work has been completed to move water away from the building. She said HVAC and security quotes require additional review because of high costs and the shelter’s changing internal layout to accommodate many puppies.

The commission packet included a recommendation to accept the lowest bid (Window World) to replace four windows. Childers said she would recommend acceptance of that contract with authority for the chairman to sign.

No formal hiring motion was adopted at the work session; commissioners said they expect a resolution on emergency part-time staffing and on procurement items at their next regular meeting.

Separately, county staff presented several procurement and project items for future action at the regular meeting: approval of water improvement project invoices for Cassidy Company, award of a dumpster service contract to Republic (lowest bid) with one- to three-year options, and authorization to move site-prep dirt-work costs for a new emergency equipment building from the general fund to an appropriate gasoline fund account. Emergency Management Agency (EMA) staff said new bids lowered project costs by about $250,000 from initial bids and that the building footprint remains a 40-by-80 structure shared with the sheriff’s office for storage.

The commission did not take final procurement votes at the work session; staff asked commissioners to consider the listed resolutions at the regular meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Chilton County Commission Work Session February 24, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioners were told Chilton County's animal shelter is over capacity and staff are working seven days a week; the commission heard requests for an emergency part-time hire, approved exterior repairs and will consider HVAC/security quotes and several procurement items at the regular meeting.","taxTitle","Chilton County, Alabama","taxId",13259,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6313639,"Commissioners propose three-month suspension to rewrite subdivision rules, seek clearer developer/individual distinction",569,2680550,3250000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2387313-c4f3d8c7898050e75084bb9e33af6b3b&start=2680&end=3250","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2387313-c4f3d8c7898050e75084bb9e33af6b3b/thumbnail_2680550.jpg","/articles/6313639/Chilton-County/Alabama/Commissioners-propose-three-month-suspension-to-rewrite-subdivision-rules-seek-clearer-developerindividual-distinction","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6313639-fed462f1c379b1b8078206b1bef667f1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146528&Signature=aO1LzDmD9CoZO0AYC0H9lC2vizV3~F2njG-a3odoaCCjFplVkVvhMc59GW6h~~j0hCJkw84Nw4n7pg5J7eW12-GaKGVkWLHcjWbYy1rsunNA0C~yHh4VxxgijBvG6vt-c55p~ccBOYNl3AgX1W7daztttGkktM8g2HhrYgwXM~75U0HjPlfTp4vwMGd4KFZ5QP11JOX8TnVxmV3YQwcBnOdQeAEKRbUPhbEJ1eTGLKCWGeYIzL3vQP41gNSa8j5Y8dRmv59E1BiBAeaBoDE3xXFB45zGUki4BP3NoCzE~OD8ZNqIlnbS8DY1ajaH-kStqyPr2kUxpJx9au4KfnyHyA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commissioners discussed proposed changes to Chilton County’s subdivision regulations and one commissioner said he will ask the board to suspend enforcement of the 2015 rules for three months to allow revisions that clearly separate individual landowners from commercial developers.

Commissioners said the 2015 regulations treat individual residents seeking to split a parcel the same as large developers building multiple lots and roads. “We want the rules to be on the developer and not those on the individual,” one commissioner said, describing the intent to use exclusions, definitions and thresholds to differentiate routine parcel splits from developer-led subdivision projects.

The proposed suspension would be a temporary halt to enforcement, not a repeal. Commissioners said they gathered public input at a recent public meeting and received “constructive ideas” and also encountered misinformation circulating in the community. They intend to incorporate public comments and follow-up research into rewritten regulations and asked staff to prepare language for the commission to consider.

One commissioner proposed the three-month suspension and another commissioner said, “I’ll second that.” Commissioners said they would vote on the suspension at their next regular meeting; no formal suspension vote was taken at the work session.

Commissioners and members of the public who spoke at the meeting urged protection of individual property rights while retaining standards for commercial subdivision development, stormwater mitigation and minimum safety requirements set by state law. Commissioners emphasized they are not discussing zoning authority or expanding state statutory requirements and said state regulations — for example, water/septic standards — would continue to apply.

If approved, staff said they will use the three-month pause to draft clearer definitions of “developer,” refine enforcement triggers and propose procedures for notice and review. The commission did not adopt any new rules at the work session and set a timeline to return a draft for consideration.","After public input and a contentious public meeting, commissioners said they will seek suspension of enforcement of the 2015 subdivision regulations for three months to rewrite rules that distinguish individual landowners from commercial developers; commissioners planned to vote at the next regular meeting.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6313644,"Maplesville residents cite alleged vehicle 'chop shop,' sewage and safety concerns; commission refers some issues to other agencies",523,854530,1378000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2387313-c4f3d8c7898050e75084bb9e33af6b3b&start=854&end=1378","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2387313-c4f3d8c7898050e75084bb9e33af6b3b/thumbnail_854530.jpg","/articles/6313644/Chilton-County/Alabama/Maplesville-residents-cite-alleged-vehicle-chop-shop-sewage-and-safety-concerns-commission-refers-some-issues-to-other-agencies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6313644-48a50112c8ff1da4f02333135d001f80/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146528&Signature=b8QLOks2aMkDrPtkavV-Cr0oNGuIQQCi6yL9isjhsmYFLBrVVPGoRUQbICnJgnKZdOmwv15hJcWsiIHRUC0Wol3pQRNRvT2VvfRfpPuLauaXA~oKvJ5cRB1rNrFwVrmLvTWmF-Y5PhWvyzj6qnkHMGnaC22NnXMvSPAskkxOD5SADWR7gRbh-W~OVmqHfRCTRWd2arjgkfEQT0Elu~hys1YKLOzTjr6tCspTQs89UdcICR3-akChfNrorI5SLWE2tXo4woqizNO94RtgRgiNz~CAv68RIjHjE8jxtBLr-u6h28VNUpsuvBiehr34S0Iau~pkFr3JZPOaFwGIZG88hw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cassandra Velarde, who said she and her sister own property at 70 County Road 312 in Maplesville, told the Chilton County Commission during public comment that an adjacent business has been operating as a vehicle “chop shop,” repeatedly disassembling vehicles, storing batteries and tires, and bringing in fill dirt that she said is pushing sewage and runoff onto her property.

Velarde said operations run 24 hours, include grinders and heavy equipment, and that residents in an adjacent mobile site apparently live on the property. She said Chilton County Health Department staff visited and identified a septic backup; she also said she has a civil lawsuit pending “before Judge Pinkston” over the matter.

“Now this oil, this diesel, this battery acid is flowing into the ground and is gonna get in the ground water,” Velarde said. She also said surveillance cameras at the site record activity along her fence line and that she and her sister have reported shootings to the sheriff’s office.

Commissioners and staff told Velarde the county has limited authority for immigration or federal employment-law enforcement; Chairman Williams and other commissioners suggested the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), the county health officer, the sheriff’s office and the tax assessor may have roles to investigate environmental contamination, public-nuisance concerns and licensing or business-registration issues. A county official recommended starting with county codes, the health department and the sheriff’s office, and noted the county would follow up on business license and tax-assessment matters as appropriate.

Velarde said she has filed suit and that a health-department inspection found a septic failure that flooded property. Commissioners acknowledged receipt of the complaint and said staff would follow up; they did not vote on or authorize county enforcement actions at the work session.

The commission advised residents to continue pursuing law enforcement and health-department channels for immediate threats, and staff said they would look into business-license and tax-assessor records and coordinate with appropriate agencies as needed.","A Maplesville property owner told commissioners a neighboring business is cutting vehicles around the clock, dumping debris and causing sewage and groundwater contamination on adjacent land; commissioners advised involving health and law-enforcement agencies and noted a pending lawsuit.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6313649,"Property owner raises drainage, backed-up ditch concerns at County Road 49 and County Road 24",363,29670,393000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2387313-c4f3d8c7898050e75084bb9e33af6b3b&start=29&end=393","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2387313-c4f3d8c7898050e75084bb9e33af6b3b/thumbnail_29670.jpg","/articles/6313649/Chilton-County/Alabama/Property-owner-raises-drainage-backed-up-ditch-concerns-at-County-Road-49-and-County-Road-24","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6313649-46999a1ec74c7045e802d4cfe9981d3b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146528&Signature=IxhRrURXeWN32BNJzqhSO4gNqceYTjnCn2czpbyHxYRlpgMz5GBHwUCj0HyEHtKR0BzsfJaafZ6c~rcU5Ejw6mjP7SWYBG6VDyiwRpi5wibGH6n-jgGOtxNhKwtTgHfcAGxixr846ynQsDfUPikUK7f1sI9nrYAzgT1j87HQ5PULWguDfnyB6pzirHfatc9f~Y9CiWI8ktcWXGEYxtwXdFySNBBIhJhcBO-alYwMouIrnO5pjnGovox~WhAgx1UaecJu4CcIsBC7P9rf6j7Eci~mL67B76~WC3GZs7c~DA1pJmd1o7-35mbv2xGcvuuFsijj3fOIdeU3AA9Z7fd8Yw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A property owner told the Chilton County Commission during public comment that drainage changes tied to neighboring construction and a filled ditch at County Road 49 and County Road 24 have caused water to back up onto his property and enter new buildings during heavy rains.

The property owner said a neighbor above his parcel “moved some dirt” that redirected water flow and that a convenience store rebuilt below his land closed about 65 feet of open ditch and installed pipe that reduced the ditch’s storage volume to an 18-inch conduit. “Now we’ve got water getting in our buildings when we get a heavy rain,” he said.

The county’s chairman, identified in the record as Chairman Williams, told the speaker the county engineer would be asked to inspect whether the roadside ditch and associated elevation need cleaning or adjustment. “Ask our engineer to look at it and see if they need cleaning out the elevation. If the elevation is wrong, then we clean them out,” Williams said.

Commission discussion noted limits to county authority for some problems the speaker raised. A commissioner told the owner that if the issue involves pollution or actions that fall under state environmental law, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) could have jurisdiction. The owner himself referenced an Alabama statute he said prohibits stopping up water running off another’s property.

Commissioners and staff discussed technical details the owner provided: the historic ditch footprint visible in 2016 satellite imagery, a roughly 65-foot length of pipe placed where the ditch used to be, and an 18-inch receiving pipe that now carries concentrated flows. Commissioners suggested possible short-term approaches such as splitting drainage to provide an additional outlet and said county crews could clean or regrade ditches in the public right of way if the elevation or flow line is incorrect.

The owner said he has tried to work with neighboring property owners and has sought but not yet received help from the county engineer. Chairman Williams and other commissioners said the engineer (Jason Roberts) would be asked to inspect the site and determine whether county-maintained right-of-way work is needed; they also cautioned that some remedies could require ADEM review or private negotiation among property owners.

The commission did not take formal action during the work session. Commissioners directed staff to have the county engineer inspect the roadside ditch and report back; they did not commit to any immediate construction work or funding at the meeting.

The commission’s engineering review is the next expected step; the owner and commissioners indicated further action would depend on that review and whether any aspects fall under ADEM or private dispute resolution.","A Chilton County property owner told commissioners a closed ditch and new construction have redirected stormwater onto his land and into buildings during heavy rains; commissioners said the county engineer will inspect right-of-way ditches and noted potential Alabama Department of Environmental Management jurisdiction for other issues.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission hears animal shelter staffing crunch; commissioners to consider emergency hires and contract approvals

Commissioners propose three-month suspension to rewrite subdivision rules, seek clearer developer/individual distinction

Maplesville residents cite alleged vehicle 'chop shop,' sewage and safety concerns; commission refers some issues to other agencies

Property owner raises drainage, backed-up ditch concerns at County Road 49 and County Road 24