Limestone County Commission hears $25,000 budget request from county food ministry, approves routine contracts, budget revision and subdivision plats

Limestone County Commission Chairman Daley and the commissioners met for a work session Aug. 15 in the commission chambers. The commission heard a public funding request from Limestone County Church and moved forward without objection on contract extensions, a budget revision and multiple land-use and personnel items.

Bill (no last name given), a representative of Limestone County Churches, requested a $25,000 allocation for the 2026 budget year on behalf of Limestone County Church. He said the organization is a daughter group of the Athens Limestone Ministerial Alliance and provides food and emergency financial assistance to county residents. "We provided emergency assistance equaling about a week's worth of food to at least 1,530 families equaling around 4,500 people," Bill said, adding that the group served 374 homeless people with food bags and hygiene kits and provided emergency rent and utility assistance for 332 families in early 2024. He said Limestone County Church is launching a capital campaign and that the majority of its funding has come from churches, local businesses and individuals. Sarah Chadwell, identified in the meeting as the group's board president, attended with him.

Why it matters: The request came during the public-comment portion of the work session and asks the commission to consider a direct allocation in the county's fiscal 2026 budget. Commissioners did not debate the request during the session; Bill and Chadwell offered to provide financial statements and answer questions.

On routine business, the commission announced…