St. Clair County Commission approves contracts, promotions and resolutions; votes summary
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Summary
The commission approved multiple actions including radio-system maintenance, a county lodging-tax redistribution resolution, a resolution supporting the current SSUT internet-sales tax distribution, several public-works contracts and promotions; the county’s 9-1-1 board rescinded a prior ARPA transfer and rescinded letting bids for a generator.
St. Clair County commissioners approved a package of resolutions, contracts, personnel promotions and project awards during a regular meeting that followed a short 9-1-1 communications district board session. Key actions included approval of a multi-year maintenance contract for the county radio system, a change to how lodging-tax revenue will be distributed to the commission, and support for the current state simplified sales and use tax (SSUT) distribution method.
The 9-1-1 communications district board — which the county commission also convened as the communications district board — voted to rescind a prior action to transfer $36,294.97 in ARPA funds and voted to rescind the previously let bids for a backup generator. Commissioners discussed the county’s centralized dispatch program and ongoing decisions about whether to add or replace local backup generators.
On county business, the commission approved internal personnel moves recommended by the county engineer, promoting Scott Higgins and James McGinnis to operator positions. The commission accepted the engineer’s recommendation to award Greer Contracting a contract to repair the Pindell Lake pipe under Shore Drive for $68,500, and approved a $21,800 project to smooth a valley gutter in front of Pell City’s new police station with the city paying half of the cost.
Commissioners adopted a resolution supporting the current structure for the state simplified sales and use tax collection (SSUT) and adopted a separate resolution to alter the county’s lodging-transient occupancy tax distribution so those funds are directed to the commission for future budget decisions rather than being earmarked by formula. County staff and the chairman said SSUT money supports programs including school resource officers; the meeting record notes roughly $3.4 million collected from SSUT in the county and that about $2.3 million of that is being used for an SRO program, as described by a commissioner during discussion.
The commission approved a three-year maintenance contract for the county’s new 2.25 GHz radio system with Motorola (total amount in the agenda packet listed as $719,494). Commissioners and staff said the contract language was adjusted to remove an 8.3 consumer-price-index escalation clause. County leaders said the radio system upgrade was funded in part by ARPA funds and that they may ask municipalities to help with ongoing maintenance costs in future budgets.
Other approvals included: - A $59,900 public-works contract with Graham & Sons to construct a sheriff’s shooting range at the county training center (lowest responsive quote; project will require a budget amendment). - Renewal of a DataWorks contract for the sheriff’s office for $7,200 for one year (pending county attorney review as noted in file). - A Raindrop car-wash fleet plan for the revenue commissioner at $198 per month (to be paid from the reappraisal fund); the motion passed after commissioners voted, with the meeting record showing the chairman breaking a tie. - A half-page $500 veteran-salute ad in Discover Saint Clair Magazine. - Multiple surplus and property-transfer approvals, including transfer of a 2013 Ford Explorer from the commission office to the maintenance division and transfer of a Ricoh copier to the district attorney’s office. - An amendment to the Harris Smart Fusion software contract to add users as personnel changes occur; the amendment passed.
Commissioners also set several schedule adjustments: a county work session was rescheduled to 9 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6 (to be followed by the November commission meeting), and the commission authorized a special work session on Thursday, Sept. 18 at 9 a.m. in Ashville to continue FY2026 budget discussions.
No roll-call vote tallies were recorded in the meeting transcript for most motions; minutes show multiple unanimous “aye” votes and several motions where a named mover/second was not recorded in the transcript excerpts. For a full list of motions and recorded outcomes, see the “Votes at a glance” list below.
Votes at a glance - 9-1-1 communications district board: Rescind transfer of $36,294.97 ARPA funds — approved. - 9-1-1 communications district board: Rescind letting of bids for proposed generator — approved. - County: Approve agenda and minutes — approved. - County: Promote Scott Higgins and James McGinnis to operator positions — approved. - County: Award Greer Contracting contract for Pindell Lake pipe repair — $68,500 — approved. - County: Approve Pell City valley-gutter/smoothing project — $21,800 (city to pay half) — approved. - County: Adopt resolution supporting current SSUT distribution method — approved. - County: Adopt resolution changing lodging/transient occupancy tax distribution (funds to be distributed by commission rather than fixed shares) — approved. - County: Approve Motorola three-year maintenance contract for radio system (agenda total listed $719,494); removed CPI escalation clause — approved. - County: Approve Graham & Sons contract for sheriff’s shooting range — $59,900 — approved (budget amendment required). - County: Renew DataWorks contract for sheriff’s office — $7,200 for one year — approved (pending county attorney review noted in packet). - County: Approve Raindrop car-wash fleet plan — $198 per month (reappraisal fund) — approved (chairman broke tie). - County: Approve Discover Saint Clair Magazine half-page veteran salute ad — $500 — approved. - County: Multiple surplus and transfers (including a 2013 Ford Explorer to maintenance, a Ricoh copier to the district attorney’s office) — approved. - County: Amend Harris Smart Fusion contract to add users as needed — approved.
What commissioners said and next steps Chairman Stan Bateman and county staff emphasized the county’s desire to preserve SSUT revenue flows and avoid changes that could trigger litigation or reduce funds used for school resource officers and public safety. Commissioners instructed staff to proceed with negotiated contracts and to prepare any necessary budget amendments for projects approved at the meeting.
Items flagged for follow-up in the record include finalizing the Motorola contract paperwork (county attorney and procurement review), preparing a budget amendment for the sheriff’s shooting-range contract, and reviewing whether municipalities should share future radio-system maintenance costs.
