St. Clair County Commission approves hires, contracts and project changes; multiple routine motions carried

The St. Clair County Commission carried a slate of routine and substantive motions at its regular meeting on April 20, approving hires, project contracts and equipment purchases while receiving updates on ongoing road work and facilities.

The commission approved the meeting agenda and minutes of the prior regular meeting by voice vote. County Engineer Dan Dahlke summarized multiple road projects and recommended several personnel hires; the commission approved the hires in a single motion. Recommended new hires included Mark Ellenberg (Road Worker I), Gary Duncan (Skilled Mechanic), Anthony Tidwell, Hunter Brown and Dustin Horn (Intermediate Road Workers) and Thomas Bowers (general labor). The commission approved an additional part-time temporary rehire for retired employee Thomas Woods, subject to standard county attorney review for contract form.

On capital and consulting items, the commission approved entering a consultant agreement proposal from George F. Young for preliminary engineering and grant development related to a safety project at the intersection of County Road 33 and County Road 26; the proposal’s budget line in Dahlke’s report was $49,959. The board approved a change order on the Trails Inn road project to add groundwater drainage and slope stabilization work, described in the meeting as $28,949 in additional work; Dahlke said the overall project cost would be “a little over $1.6 million” as currently estimated.

The commission approved the sale of 3,994 square feet of roadside right-of-way to BJ Oil LLC (operator of a gas station on Logan Martin Down Road) for $5,054, after staff and commissioners confirmed the county would retain adequate right-of-way for potential future road widening and federal match requirements.

The commission approved several technology, telecommunications and facilities contracts: a three-year jail TV service renewal (estimated at $291.86 per month), a one-year Finder Software Solutions LLC subscription ($5,670.47), a dark-fiber agreement with Sparklight for the coroner’s facility (budget amendment, $7,800 annually covering two locations), a Windstream fiber add/upgrade for an Asheville property ($1,195 per month), server-rack support and other technology quotes (budget amendment; amount described in the meeting), purchase of a 2021 SUV law enforcement vehicle (bid award to McSween, $40,695) and a 14 kW generator quote for the pandemic center ($6,722.35). The commission also approved a courthouse HVAC coil replacement quote (amount discussed in work session; recorded as $99,406.89) and a jail food warmer replacement quote ($3,384).

A contract for a licensed dietitian to provide professional services to the jail was discussed; the county attorney said contract form and job classification are being finalized, and the commission agreed to defer formalization to a future meeting pending the county attorney’s review.

Other routine and community items carried included approval of a retail license application for a barbecue business at an island location, approval of memorializing letters of support for a children’s-trust grant for a diversionary day program, and authorization for several surplus and disposal actions. The commission also approved assistance to the Town of “Townsville” (referenced in the meeting as Town Steel/Townsville) on construction work at former tennis courts being converted to pickleball, where the county would provide labor and equipment and receive $19,825 from the town under the presented agreement.

The meeting closed after members discussed community events, a planned county building tour/work session and other informational reports.

Votes at a glance (selected motions recorded in the transcript): - Approve agenda — carried by voice vote. - Approve minutes of previous regular meeting — carried by voice vote. - Approve recommended hires (multiple positions listed by Dahlke) — carried by single omnibus motion. - Approve consultant proposal (George F. Young) for County Road 33 / County Road 26 safety project, budgeted at $49,959 — motion moved, seconded, carried. - Approve sale of 3,994 sq ft of right-of-way to BJ Oil LLC for $5,054 — motion moved, seconded, carried; commissioners recorded that adequate right-of-way remains for future needs. - Approve Trails Inn change order (groundwater drainage/riprap), additional $28,949 — motion moved, seconded, carried. - Approve part-time temporary contract for rehire Thomas (Thomas Woods) — motion carried. - Approve Townsville/Town Steel assistance agreement for conversion of courts (county labor/equipment; town pays $19,825; county share about $15,200 as described) — motion moved, seconded, carried. - Approve various technology/telecom contracts and budget amendments (TV service renewal, Finder software subscription $5,670.47, dark fiber agreement $7,800/year, Windstream upgrade $1,195/month, server support, Mateo license purchase, etc.) — motions moved, seconded, carried. - Award bid for 2021 SUV law enforcement vehicle to McSween, $40,695 — motion moved, seconded, carried. - Approve generator quote for pandemic center, $6,722.35 — motion moved, seconded, carried. - Approve courthouse HVAC coil replacement quote (amount discussed as $99,406.89) — motion moved, seconded, carried. - Approve jail food warmer replacement quote $3,384 — motion moved, seconded, carried. - Approve surplus and disposal requests for county property — motions carried.

The commission took no final vote on the jail dietitian contract at this meeting; the county attorney said he will return with contract language at a future meeting for formal approval.