Autauga County Commission approves proclamations, 4‑H recognition, park change order and multiple personnel moves

The Autauga County Commission on April 15 unanimously approved a series of routine and administrative actions, including a proclamation supporting the national "Two Lights for Tomorrow" commemoration, adoption of a resolution recognizing National 4‑H Volunteer Week, approval of a Pine Level Park change order and multiple personnel promotions, transfers and hires.

Chairman Jay Thompson called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. and Commissioner Bill Tatum moved to approve the minutes of the April 1 regular meeting; Commissioner Rusty Jacksland seconded the motion, which carried by a unanimous vote of the five commissioners present. The commission also approved invoices received through April 15 and authorized warrants for payment.

The commission approved consent-docket items that included authorization for staff to attend upcoming trainings and conferences and transfers into the county gasoline budget for March 2025. The minutes list transfers totaling $6,355.52 due from the general fund and $167.38 due from the reappraisal fund; separate transfers to sheriff-related accounts were recorded for Animal Control ($449.53), school resource officers ($294.49) and the jail ($1,850.32).

The body adopted a proclamation endorsing the national initiative to display two lights on April 18, 2025, marking the Semiquincentennial commemoration known as "Two Lights for Tomorrow." The commission also approved Resolution #2025-19 recognizing April 20–26, 2025, as National 4‑H Volunteer Week and cited local program statistics recorded in the resolution: 190 group volunteers logging 875.5 hours, 43 individual volunteers logging 576 hours, a volunteer-hour value of $33.49 (equal to $48,610.74), and program participation exceeding 2,800 people.

The commission approved change order #1 for Pine Level Park; the minutes record approval but do not include a contract amount or contractor name.

A series of personnel actions affecting the sheriff's office and other departments were approved, effective April 12, 2025. Actions recorded in the minutes include transferring David Williams from animal control to deputy and promoting him to corporal (grade PS304: step 1), promoting Shaun Pearsall and Jordan Prieur from sergeant to lieutenant (grade PS306: step 1), promoting Ryan Holena to sergeant (grade PS305: step 1), promoting Richard Dorman, Duntrevious Esco, Matthew Eller and Jacob Turner to corporal (grade PS304: step 1), and transferring Justin Holt from deputy to animal control with no pay change. The commission also approved multiple hires to fill vacancies in public works and other departments, including hiring Brenda Tyus as a part-time driver (pending background and drug test) and approving a one-year, one-step pay increase for shop foreman Robert Perkins retroactive to April 15, 2024.

The commission suspended the rules to add and then rescind the part-time courthouse security hire of John Owens; the minutes record the rescission passed by unanimous vote. Additional hires were approved to replace a retiree and other separations.

The commission voted to enter executive session at 5:20 p.m. and to come out at 5:36 p.m.; the minutes do not disclose the subject of the closed session. The meeting adjourned at 5:41 p.m., and the commission scheduled its next regular meeting for May 6, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.

The minutes list those in attendance: Chairman Jay Thompson; Commissioners Rusty Jacksland, John L. Thrailkill, Bill Tatum and Terry Tanner; Treasurer/Administrator Scott Kramer; Deputy Treasurer/Administrator Audra Smith; County Attorney Kyle Shirley; and Assistant County Engineer Rob Ellzey.