Choctaw County approves ALDOT-linked guardrail project, hires heavy-equipment operator and discusses vegetation, equipment purchases

Choctaw County commissioners at a June meeting voted to adopt a resolution authorizing guardrail improvements under the Alabama Department of Transportation’s Local Road Safety Initiative and approved hiring a heavy equipment operator, the county engineer said.

The resolution, which the county engineer described as an ALDOT-required step to secure funding for safety work at specified sites, was approved on a motion by Commissioner Jackson and seconded by Commissioner Dahlgren. “Basically, from what I understand, this is an agreement that’s required by ALDOT,” the County Engineer said. “If we either pass a resolution to do it and get the money, or not pass a resolution not to do it, [we] don’t get any money.” The commission voted aye; the motion carried.

The decision matters because the resolution formally references an executed agreement and initiates work at the listed sites, the engineer said. Commissioners were told paving work on another county project is nearing completion; the engineer said crews expect to finish paving…