Autauga County Commission approves personnel changes, awards ambulance contract and recognizes telecommunicators week

The Autauga County Commission met April 1, 2025 in Autauga County and, during a brief session called to order by Chairman Jay Thompson at 5:00 p.m., approved a slate of personnel actions, awarded an ambulance contract and adopted a resolution recognizing public safety telecommunicators.

Commissioner Bill Tatum moved and Commissioner John L. Thrailkill seconded approval of the March 18, 2025 meeting minutes; that motion carried unanimously. The commission then authorized payment of invoices received through April 1, 2025 and instructed the chairman and the treasurer/administrator to issue warrants, also by unanimous vote.

By motion of Commissioner Rusty Jacksland, seconded by Commissioner Terry Tanner, the body approved multiple travel and training requests on the consent docket, including Engineering attendance at the NACo annual conference (July 10–14, 2025, Philadelphia) and a pavement markings/MUTCD course (April 23, Auburn), the Probate judge’s summer conference (June 22–25, Gulf Shores), a sheriff patrol supervisor course (June 10–13, Stapleton) and a city & county governments seminar for the county attorney (May 2–3, Orange Beach). The commission also approved FY2025 merit increases for eligible employees.

The commission approved Resolution #2025-18 proclaiming April 13–19, 2025 as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in Autauga County and praising the Autauga County 911 Dispatch Center telecommunicators for their role in emergency response; the resolution was adopted by unanimous vote.

On procurement, the commission voted unanimously to award the county ambulance bid to Haynes Ambulance Services.

A series of personnel actions were approved by unanimous motions: acceptance of the resignation of Deputy Sheriff Charles Driscoll (effective Feb. 28, 2025) and authorization to hire a replacement; acceptance of the resignation of part-time courthouse security James Gunter (effective April 2, 2025) and authorization to hire a replacement; hires and transfers across departments including David Hill Jr. (part-time process server), John Owens (part-time courthouse security), Paul Whitfield George (part-time courthouse security, pending background/drug test), Christopher Mackey (deputy sheriff, pending background/drug test), Starla Rawls and Landon Reed (full-time correction officers), and Alyssa Wyatt (reappraisal clerk). The commission also accepted resignations of William Leatherberry (truck driver) and Bruce Conard (laborer I) and authorized replacements, and approved termination of mechanic apprentice Kenterrius Carter (effective March 27, 2025).

Emergency Management Agency staff were authorized to apply for two Mid-South RC&D grants—one for weather radios and one for light carts—by unanimous vote.

The meeting adjourned at 5:12 p.m.; the commission will reconvene April 15, 2025 at 5:00 p.m.

All recorded motions in the meeting were carried by unanimous vote of the five commissioners present.