Limestone County Commission approves leases, service agreements, staffing changes and subdivision plats

The Limestone County Commission unanimously approved a package of contracts, staffing changes, subdivision plats and other routine business at its Jan. 21, 2025 meeting in Athens.

The approvals included a lease with the City of Athens for property at 322 9th Avenue for construction of a community storm shelter, a service agreement to continue a juvenile-court liaison, and a contract with Athens Limestone EMS for ambulance services for inmates at the county jail. Commissioners also approved amendments to an existing memorandum of understanding with Heritage Health Solutions to remove a future processing fee for inmate medical claims, a license for rental space at the county’s Community Corrections facility, and a budget revision. All motions carried unanimously.

The package of actions affects emergency response, corrections services and land development in Limestone County. Commissioners approved five subdivision plats — Kilby (minor, five lots, District 1); East Limestone Acres replat of Lot 11 (minor, two lots from one, District 2); Highland Village North (minor replat, consolidation of lots 34 and 35 into one, District 3); Putman Estates (minor, two lots, District 4); and Abbey Brook Phase 4 (major final, 56 lots, District 2). County staff advised that the plats met county regulations, and the commission voted to approve them.

Key approved items and procedural details

- Approve minutes (Jan. 6, 2025): Motion by Commissioner Samet; second Commissioner Townsend. Vote: Samet — yes; Townsend — yes; Turner — yes; Gatlin — yes; Gallant — yes. Outcome: approved.

- Claims: Approved payment of claims totaling $2,492,590.16. Motion by Commissioner Gatlin; second Commissioner Turner. Outcome: approved.

- Lease with City of Athens: Approved a lease between the City of Athens and the Limestone County Commission for property at 322 9th Avenue, Athens, Ala., 35611, for the construction of a community storm shelter (referred to in the meeting as the LLS property). Motion by Commissioner Townsend; second Commissioner Samet. Outcome: approved.

- Juvenile-court liaison service agreement: Approved a service agreement between the Mental Health Center of North Central Alabama and Alton Limestone Consulting Center to continue providing a juvenile-court liaison; stated contract term is retroactive to Oct. 1, 2024, through Sept. 30, 2025. Motion by Commissioner Gatlin; second Commissioner Samet. Outcome: approved.

- EMS inmate transport agreement: Approved an agreement with Athens Limestone EMS to provide ambulance services for inmates at the Limestone County Jail. Motion by Commissioner Townsend; second Commissioner Turner. Outcome: approved.

- License with North Central Alabama Substance Abuse Council: Approved a license agreement allowing rental space at the Community Corrections facility through Sept. 30, 2025. Motion by Commissioner Samet; second Commissioner Townsend. Outcome: approved.

- MOU amendment with Heritage Health Solutions: Approved an amendment to an MOU dated July 15, 2024, terminating any future processing fee for inmate medical, mental-health or dental claims. Motion by Commissioner Gatlin; second Commissioner Turner. Outcome: approved.

- Budget revision: Approved the presented budget revision. Motion by Commissioner Samet; second Commissioner Townsend. Outcome: approved.

- Staffing-plan amendments and job descriptions: Approved changes to the staffing plan to convert a recycling part-time labor position to two positions, add a communications and media facilitator and an IT trainee, and amend a legal/grants communications job title. Separately approved job descriptions for the communications and media facilitator, IT trainee, and grants/legal specialist positions. Motions: staffing-plan amendment by Commissioner Turner; second Commissioner Gatlin. Job descriptions motion by Commissioner Gatlin; second Commissioner Townsend. Outcomes: approved.

- Credit card usage policy: Approved the county credit card usage policy. Motion by Commissioner Samet; second Commissioner Turner. Outcome: approved.

- Merit increases: Approved merit increases as presented. Motion by Commissioner Townsend; second Commissioner Samet. Outcome: approved.

- Subdivision plats: Approved five plats as listed above. Motion by Commissioner Samet; second Commissioner Turner. Outcome: approved.

- EMA purchase of uniforms and clothing: Approved a request to allow the Emergency Management Agency to purchase specified uniforms and clothing. Motion by Commissioner Gatlin; second Commissioner Townsend. Outcome: approved.

- Junk-and-debris lawsuit filings: Authorized filing of junk-and-debris lawsuits for properties at 9833 and 9804 Poplar Point. Motion by Commissioner Gatlin; second Commissioner Samet. Outcome: approved.

- Sale on GovDeals: Authorized the sale of an item on the GovDeals online auction platform. Motion by Commissioner Gatlin; second Commissioner Townsend. Outcome: approved.

Items reported but not acted on formally included county storm response and road projects; a staff report noted an ALDOT Atrip2 grant application to add turn lanes on Highway 53; and community announcements including a Bryant Bank sponsorship of animal shelter adoptions (reported sponsorship amount $3,000 to cover adoptions on two days during Valentine’s-week events) and a forthcoming naming ceremony discussed for a stretch of roadway to be called the Tommy Carter Highway. Commissioners thanked county crews for snow and tornado response. The commission adjourned to its next regular meeting on Feb. 3, 2025.

Votes at a glance

All recorded motions at this meeting carried unanimously (5–0): minutes; claims; lease for storm shelter; juvenile-court liaison service agreement (Oct. 1, 2024–Sept. 30, 2025); EMS inmate transport agreement; license for Community Corrections rental space (through Sept. 30, 2025); MOU amendment with Heritage Health Solutions (July 15, 2024 MOU); budget revision; staffing-plan amendments and associated job descriptions; credit card usage policy; merit increases; five subdivision plats (including Abbey Brook Phase 4, 56 lots); EMA uniform purchase; junk-and-debris lawsuit filings for two Poplar Point properties; and authorization to sell an item on GovDeals.