The Covington County Commission met and approved a series of personnel, fiscal and facility actions including a retiree-insurance benefit schedule, a resolution to join a multi-jurisdictional legal intervention on the SSUT law, and new county license fees that match state charges.

Retiree insurance: County staff presented a tiered benefit for longtime employees. Under the adopted resolution, employees with 30 years of Covington County service would receive 75% of health-insurance premiums for 10 years of single coverage and five years of family coverage; employees with 25 years would receive 70% for the same duration. Medicare-eligible retirees’ single coverage would be paid at 100% for 10 years. Staff noted about 10 retirees remain on county coverage and four currently receive a county-paid benefit; three of those are scheduled to drop off next year.

SSUT litigation: The commission voted to enter an agreement with the county association to intervene in a lawsuit challenging the SSUT law. Staff said the association will provide legal counsel at no cost to Covington County and recommended counties and municipalities coordinate representation. Commissioners discussed concern that larger municipalities could reap a larger share of SSUT revenue, then approved joining the coordinated intervention.

ABC license fees: Commissioners adopted a resolution to levy county fees that match state charges for three recently created license categories. Staff’s summary listed a government venue fee of $250, an event-storage fee of $550 and a tourism/distillery license fee of $1,000; the resolution sets the county levies equal to those state amounts while leaving licensing approvals to the usual review processes.

Employee pay supplement and payroll items: The commission approved a one-time pay supplement budgeted in 2025: $500 for full-time employees and $250 for part-time employees. Staff said payments will be processed this Friday and apply to employees active when the payment is processed.

Procurement and facilities: The commission authorized the purchase of two budgeted sheriff vehicles (estimated $51,753.75 plus roughly $10,000 in equipment for a 4x4 Tahoe and $49,643.75 plus about $10,000 for a second Tahoe patrol vehicle), declared a 2010 Chevrolet Silverado surplus for sale, approved about $19,019.08 in flooring improvements for the admin building using capital-improvement funds, and approved improvements to the circuit clerk's office.

Contracts, sponsorships and grants: A request for a reduced contract for the Little Bridges Association failed for lack of a second; later in the meeting the commission approved a $1,000 Candyland "Meet Santa" sponsorship using discretionary funds after a separate motion. The commission also authorized solicitation of bids for shavings to support increased show activity and voted to enter a modified contract with the Kiwanis club following an executive session; it accepted the personnel-review board recommendation in a separate action.

Votes and procedure: Most votes were voice votes following motions and seconds; where a motion lacked a second it failed. The commission recessed for an executive session to consider two items and reconvened to take final action on items referenced in that closed session.