Morgan County Commission approves appointments, calendar, budget transfers and routine business
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Summary
The Morgan County Commission on Jan. 7, 2026, elected a president, approved the amended 2026 holiday schedule and a series of appointments, authorized a $30,000 transfer from carryover to the sheriff’s holiday pay account, and approved several grant and lease-related authorizations.
The Morgan County Commission met Jan. 7, 2026, and carried a slate of routine and time-sensitive actions, including electing a 2026 commission president, approving the amended holiday schedule and consent agenda, confirming several board appointments and hires, and authorizing a $30,000 transfer to the sheriff’s holiday pay budget.
Commissioners moved first to elect Commissioner Joel Tuttle as commission president for calendar year 2026; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The commission then approved an amended meeting agenda and minutes from the Dec. 17, 2025 meeting.
The body approved the 2026 holiday schedule with an amendment that the commission president, along with the governor, may issue proclamations granting additional days. Commissioners discussed the fiscal impact of extra holidays on department overtime pay before approving the schedule.
On personnel and appointments, the commission approved the hire of Michelle Lyons as a full-time peer recovery coach at the day report center and confirmed several board appointments: Alan Truex to a three-year term on the EMS board (term to expire 12/31/2028), Daniel Unger Jr. to fill the remainder of another EMS term (expires 12/31/2027), and Justin Michael as a representative of Berkeley Spring Volunteer Fire Department on the Morgan County Fire Board. The commission also approved the Berkeley Braves’ retrieval of wrestling mats determined to be their property and signed the annual Records Management Preservation Grant (RMPG) resolution for 2027.
The commission approved an agreement with state transportation officials on a trailhead grant that includes design and construction phases and discussed the county match amounts included in the packet. The body also authorized the county to sign an updated hazard mitigation plan for Region 9.
Financial and property items addressed included authorization to move $30,000 from county carryover into the sheriff’s holiday pay budget to address a projected shortfall and approval to allocate proceeds from the sale of reserve vehicles to the sheriff’s reserve budget, with the balance to general county funds.
The commission approved a motion authorizing the county commission president to sign a lease/finance agreement with CMB Bank contingent on receipt of the final term and rate sheet. The meeting concluded with approval of the consent agenda and routine adjournment.
Votes at a glance (motion outcomes recorded in meeting): - Elect Commissioner Joel Tuttle as 2026 commission president — approved (voice vote). - Approve amended agenda (to add late fire board appointment) — approved (voice vote). - Approve minutes (12/17/2025) — approved (voice vote). - Approve 2026 holiday schedule, amended — approved (voice vote). - Transfer $30,000 from carryover to sheriff holiday pay budget — approved (voice vote). - Authorize sale proceeds of donated vehicle to be placed in sheriff reserves (balance to general fund) — approved (voice vote). - Approve hire of Michelle Lyons, peer recovery coach — approved (voice vote). - Appoint Alan Truex (EMS), Daniel Unger Jr. (EMS), Justin Michael (Fire Board) — approved (voice votes). - Approve Records Management Preservation Grant (RMPG) resolution for 2027 — approved (voice vote). - Approve Trailhead agreement with DOT and matching terms — approved (voice vote). - Approve resolution to amend Region 9 hazard mitigation plan — approved (voice vote). - Approve consent agenda — approved (voice vote).
The commission did not record roll-call tallies for these motions in the transcript; outcomes are reported as the clerk’s voice-roll actions ("aye"/"motion carries"). The meeting then moved to regular business items and discussion.
