[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":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,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6211201,"mediaKeyId","3699330-d020d9b03a0b446313a63d92d9626369","parentId",3699330,"title","Houston County Commission sets June agenda including DHR replat, Gordon funding swap and subdivision approvals","audioSeconds",465,"startMs",81000,"endMs",546000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3699330-d020d9b03a0b446313a63d92d9626369&start=81&end=546","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3699330-d020d9b03a0b446313a63d92d9626369/thumbnail_81000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6211201/Houston-County/Alabama/Houston-County-Commission-sets-June-agenda-including-DHR-replat-Gordon-funding-swap-and-subdivision-approvals","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6211201-96c1f22f03f05a29abda28f91324219e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140351&Signature=f6tl9RHQ2yKXX7ZvTbulU4GU8eASfsSx-BWMNej1r0EuF4MzVAWEMNTmeYSKMCGra5JZUd0DwL5krVyXSkU-Mu~p0HHhaI~8XGCMFxEblDAGW-N399S~Nw9QI9~Vw5OTAoVp-sTbTMw5WvbYpFyTIW7WkgKNf~LBhtfU6gJ5yhJz7fS1RoirBsf-hdwDG7xOwpK1LhKYLeFdBImAmpzmAgbIhJ1bts1mEdy79vU~-CRilLj~ZxLOhp8csQyEwTYO5frI2CczPcAQ9jGT7fEp0gFxwofVdwS813vqArThiOvisyiDviiHjNZDqz194dyaQ3~B8-KtXr3rk7zumj352Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Houston County Alabama","date","2025-06-06T03:16:40Z","article","The Houston County Commission on Monday placed eight items on its June meeting agenda, including a $7,500 budget amendment to complete a replat of a Department of Human Resources property, a $30,000 budget adjustment tied to Buy America restrictions for the town of Gordon, preliminary plat requests for new subdivisions and several local infrastructure items.

The agenda-setting meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. by the commission’s chairman, who said the session was to set the agenda for the June meeting and that “we have 1 item under awards and presentations, 8 items, closed for the agenda.”

The most immediate budget item is a $7,500 amendment to pay for a replat of the DHR property on Prevatte Road. The commission said it had already purchased the site for “200 and something thousand dollars,” and county staff told commissioners the replat cannot be paid from bond proceeds; NorthStar will survey the lot so the county’s public building authority can proceed to the bond market. County staff projected the bond sale in the fall and estimated construction would start after the new year, with construction lasting about a year to 18 months.

The commission also placed on the agenda a $30,000 amendment for municipal and recreation improvement projects in the town of Gordon. Commissioners said the county previously approved $40,000 in LATCF funding for a metal storage building and a golf cart; the town spent about $10,000 on the golf cart, leaving $30,000. Because the LATCF award includes a Buy America provision that would complicate the metal building purchase, the county plans to use $30,000 of general-fund money to replace the LATCF portion so Gordon can proceed without the Buy America restriction; county staff said the swap will leave the county’s net position unchanged.

On land-use matters, the commission agreed to place two subdivision items on the June agenda: a 12-month extension of the preliminary plat approval for Flowers Plantation (the preliminary plat had been approved in July 2023 and the developer is under construction but will not meet the 24-month deadline) and a request to approve the preliminary plat for Martin Farms, a proposed subdivision of about 211 lots in the Rehoboth area. County staff said Martin Farms is expected to be annexed into the town of Rehoboth and will be built in phases; sewer service was confirmed as planned for the development.

The commission also added a resolution for an MPO project to resurface North Broadway Street from Highway 84 to Main Street, a request for the town of Rehoboth to assist with demolition of a restroom/concession building at the recreation park on County Road 203, and a request from the town of Rehoboth and Houston County Schools to assist with a drainage deficiency affecting Rehoboth Elementary School and the adjacent walking trail.

Personnel items were also added: the second-quarter service anniversary presentation by Sherry Garner, the county personnel director, and concurrence with the proposed 2026 county holiday schedule, which will formally list Juneteenth as a county holiday.

Commissioners voiced no objections while placing each item on the June agenda, and staff indicated the DHR replat should be the last county expenditure before the bond financing proceeds. The administrative meeting concluded with the chairman entertaining a motion to adjourn.

The June meeting agenda will include the listed items for formal consideration and any votes or additional discussion will be recorded at that meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Houston County's Personal Meeting Room","oneSentenceSummary","The Houston County Commission on Monday placed eight items on its June meeting agenda, including a $7,500 budget amendment to complete a replat of a Department of Human Resources property, a $30,000 funding swap for the town of Gordon because of Buy America restrictions, preliminary plat requests and infrastructure assistance for Rehoboth.","taxTitle","Houston County, Alabama","taxId",2539,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6211196,"Resident urges audit of charity bingo funds; commissioner says attorney general looked into it",427,563000,990000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3699330-d020d9b03a0b446313a63d92d9626369&start=563&end=990","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3699330-d020d9b03a0b446313a63d92d9626369/thumbnail_563000.jpg","/articles/6211196/Houston-County/Alabama/Resident-urges-audit-of-charity-bingo-funds-commissioner-says-attorney-general-looked-into-it","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6211196-7eb57a9a2124e331b44f396ac4e8b718/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140351&Signature=n3LS5aQm8i1Y6h~0Hw7018KSue5oQCRg-jrCMO1Dxx~NVkcvzO1wLFsyib~20Qu8b6R8s4x7V6021jF31tipesujSQNlDy7uITFDV4p5U3MNNMBuaVqliNwOu5aBMRGZYsGIK6boMqWZyHFkNJ5YuAHKXEOWz2r4mH7jUkbAVXOXL6IEDrDiYk3ds0BWeDmes7VpFcbwfMw5VNeFiZzCxULG7qWAmlK5aI61AhcVexmHroeCpA14F575rGvfaNCmfsoHIhhUowI1tX5~F6YNjZwV7W8BWHTkYEMeW7Pgmee9iXz1QefpwfFxA6M~iXcwsowPB70qiCiKptLA83CDhQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Gary Knight, who was granted five minutes of privilege of the floor at the Houston County Commission’s administrative meeting, urged the commission to require openness and accountability in the spending of funds generated by charity bingo activities and asked for a third-party audit.

“What I’m doing is asking that the commission go ahead and abide by act number 569, which is your charity bingo,” Knight told commissioners. He said county rules and reports on bingo spending have been “ignored” and alleged funds were being diverted from charity bingo “into private coffers,” including purchases and transfers he characterized as inappropriate. Knight said he had previously brought documentation to county officials and to federal investigators and that public meetings and clearer reporting were needed.

A commissioner who responded at the meeting said the issue had been examined. “We looked into this. I sent all the paperwork that you had to the attorney general’s office of state of Alabama,” the commissioner said. “It has been looked into. They are the ones who's got the blessing throughout everybody in state of Alabama who's doing things appropriately.” The commissioner added that if Mr. Knight has specific evidence of illegal activity he should present probable cause, and noted an audit would require county funds.

The chairman had introduced the floor request and noted Mr. Knight would have five minutes for his remarks. After the exchange, the administrative meeting concluded and the commission adjourned.

The transcript records Knight’s claims and the commissioner’s response but does not include any formal motion to open a county audit or any commitment by the commission to pursue one; the commissioner said the attorney general’s office had reviewed the matter and that the county would need probable cause or more documentation to justify further action.","Gary Knight used his five minutes of privilege of the floor to call for an audit and full transparency of charity bingo finances. A commissioner responded that the matter had been reviewed by the Alabama attorney general’s office and asked that Mr. Knight provide probable cause if he believes illegal activity persists.","actionData","errors"]

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Houston County Commission sets June agenda including DHR replat, Gordon funding swap and subdivision approvals

Resident urges audit of charity bingo funds; commissioner says attorney general looked into it