Chilton County declares local emergency after March storms; orders storm-path debris pickup and approves consent agenda

The Chilton County Commission on March 25 declared a local emergency for damage from storms that began around March 14 and continued through March 16, then directed county agencies to begin debris collection for properties in the storm ffected path and approved a large consent agenda of personnel and project items.

Chairman Williams read a proclamation declaring that "emergency conditions exist throughout Chilton County," citing the Alabama Emergency Management Act of 1955 and county code provisions authorizing emergency procurement and activation of the emergency operations plan. The proclamation sets an expiration date of June 17, 2025.

The declaration matters because it authorizes county agencies to use emergency procurement procedures and directs coordinated recovery actions that may qualify the county for state or federal disaster reimbursement. Heath Sexton, county engineer, clarified that debris pickup will be limited to areas "deemed in the path of this storm, not past storms," and that FEMA requires vegetative and construction debris be separated for collection.

The commission directed the road department to make two passes for debris pickup in affected areas and said crews…