Autauga County Commission approves personnel moves, budget transfers and fee changes at May 6 meeting

The Autauga County Commission met May 6, 2025, in Prattville and unanimously approved a package of routine administrative actions including personnel hires and promotions, budget transfers to cover fuel use, and revised county fees.

Commission Chairman Jay Thompson called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.; Commissioner John L. Thrailkill led the invocation. Commissioners present were Thompson, Thrailkill, Bill Tatum and Terry Tanner. County staff listed as present included Treasurer/Administrator Scott Kramer, Deputy Treasurer/Administrator Audra Smith, County Attorney Kyle Shirley and Assistant County Engineer Rob Ellzey.

The commission approved resolutions recognizing recipients of the Autauga County Children's Policy Council "Character in Action" awards and approved the April 15, 2025 meeting minutes. The body also authorized payment warrants for invoices received through May 6, 2025.

As part of routine budget housekeeping, commissioners approved transfers totaling $5,830.99 to the general gasoline budget to cover April fuel use and a separate $272.46 transfer from the Reappraisal Fund. They also approved transfers totaling $3,552.18 to the sheriff's fuel budget covering Animal Control, SRO and jail usage.

The commission briefly entered executive session at 5:05 p.m. on a motion by Commissioner Terry Tanner, seconded by Commissioner Bill Tatum, and returned to open session at 5:25 p.m. No formal action was reported as a result of the executive session in the minutes.

Several personnel actions were approved. The commission voted to hire Darrius L. Matthews as a deputy sheriff (grade PS303, step 4), effective May 12, 2025, to replace a resigning deputy. Pay-step adjustments were approved for promoted corporals David Williams, Matthew Eller and Jacob Turner; John Shay McGuire was hired as a full-time correction officer; Amberly West was promoted to Clerk/Election Assistant; and one-year, one-step pay increases were approved for Corporal/K9 Duntrevious Esco and Appraiser Andrew Boone. The commission accepted the resignations of part-time mobile home inspector David Wurtz and Mechanic Apprentice/Parts Manager Gary Weaver and authorized advertising or hiring replacements where indicated.

The commission approved a budget adjustment for the sheriff moving $18,020.28 from line 52100-551 (purchase of vehicle) to 499 (miscellaneous expense). Commissioners also approved a $1,000 donation to the "Splash a Deputy/Cop" fundraiser scheduled for July 19, 2025 at Prattville City Fest (Mac Gray Park) to benefit Central Alabama Crimestoppers, and agreed to waive the arena fee on May 17, 2025 for the Bear Project, Billingsley Athletics.

On land-use and administrative items, the commission approved Booth Landing Plat No. 1 (District 3), adopted Resolution #2025-20 honoring the upcoming retirement of county employee Allen Woods (effective June 1, 2025) and authorized advertising to hire his replacement. The commission approved job descriptions for multiple Reappraisal positions and authorized soliciting bids for concrete pipe for the July 1–Dec. 31, 2025 term.

The body voted to rescind the recently authorized hire of Steven Williams as Operator I and approved a one-year, one-step pay increase for Jordan Bush (Laborer I). Commissioners approved an increase to Autauga County Environmental Health fees; the minutes record the motion and unanimous approval but do not list the line-by-line fee schedule in the minutes.

The commission adjourned at 5:44 p.m. and scheduled its next meeting for May 20, 2025 at 5:00 p.m.

Votes at a glance: all recorded motions in the minutes were carried by unanimous vote of the commission, with four commissioners present.