The Cullman County Commission declared a state of emergency and approved closing county facilities on Jan. 10, 2025, citing a National Weather Service forecast calling for accumulating snow and ice.

The action, taken at an emergency meeting called by the commission, followed county officials’ review of weather forecasts that predicted at least 2 inches and possibly up to 4 inches of snow with icing that could linger through the weekend. The commission also authorized administrative weather pay in accordance with the county handbook.

The declaration and the closure were approved by voice votes. The meeting record shows no individual roll-call votes recorded; five commissioners were present at roll call. The commission instructed staff to implement the facility closure for Jan. 10 and to apply the county’s established administrative-weather-pay provisions to eligible employees.

County officials cited the National Weather Service forecast and the prospect of prolonged icy conditions as the basis for the emergency declaration. The commission’s actions included three specific items on the emergency agenda: (1) declaring a state of emergency due to the predicted winter weather; (2) closing the courthouse and all county facilities on Jan. 10, 2025, with authority to extend the closure if necessary; and (3) authorizing administrative weather pay per the county handbook.

The transcript of the meeting records motions and seconds for the items and commissioners responding “aye” to approve them, but it does not show individual yes/no votes. The commission’s minutes list Chairman Clemens and Commissioners Watson, Marchman, Duke and Freeman as present during the roll call at the start of the meeting.

The commission also confirmed its calendar dates: a commission work session and a regular commission meeting scheduled for Jan. 23, 2025. The emergency meeting then adjourned.