Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Franklin County Commission seeks state change to coroner pay, awards elevator contract and approves emergency radio purchase
Loading...
Summary
At a March 20, 2023 meeting in Russellville, the Franklin County Commission unanimously approved a resolution asking the state legislature to convert a coroner expense allowance into salary, awarded a $71,500 elevator modernization contract, approved a Balch & Bingham legal review for the solid waste plan, authorized equipment procurements and hires, and approved purchase of weather radios via RC&D.
The Franklin County Commission on March 20 unanimously approved a resolution asking the county's legislative delegation to introduce local legislation that would change how the county compensates its coroner, while also approving multiple procurement and personnel actions including an elevator modernization contract and a weather-radio purchase to support county emergency preparedness.
Chairman Barry Moore opened the meeting in Russellville, announced a public hearing Thursday at Russellville First Baptist Church on a proposed polling-place consolidation, and noted an April ADECA broadband meeting; "ADECA is visiting all 67 counties to discuss broadband," he said. The Commission added two items to the agenda at the start of the session: soliciting bids for a used dump truck for the landfill and purchasing weather radios through RC&D for multi-county distribution.
Most consequential for county policy, the Commission approved a resolution asking lawmakers to amend local acts (Franklin County Local Laws 1973-446, 1971-491, 90-461) to convert portions of the coroner's expense allowance into salary. The resolution, which the panel approved by unanimous motion, supports text in a draft local bill that would set a coroner expense allowance at $9,700 per annum effective Oct. 1, 2023 and then make that allowance a $10,000 annual salary for the term beginning after the 2026 general election; the draft also states the coroner may participate in county health insurance and retirement plans on the same terms as other county employees.
The Commission awarded the courthouse elevator modernization contract to Mowrey Elevator for $71,500, accepting the lowest responsible bid. The bid tabulation showed two other bidders and optional cab-upgrade prices; the contract approval followed a unanimous motion to accept Mowrey's proposal.
On roads and equipment, commissioners authorized advertising for FY2023 Rebuild Alabama resurfacing and striping projects for three sites and approved purchasing the two 2018 Caterpillar motor graders the Highway Department had been leasing. They also authorized soliciting interest-rate quotes for two graders and two mini excavators and authorized advertising to hire a Roadway Maintenance Technician II.
County Engineer Jason Baggett asked the board to declare a 2020 Maddock roadside ditcher surplus and list it on GovDeals; that motion passed. The board also authorized soliciting bids for a used dump truck for the landfill.
In personnel matters, the Commission approved hiring Jennifer Mansell as a property clerk in the Revenue Commission Office effective March 21; it authorized the sheriff to advertise to fill a deputy vacancy and approved hiring Sarah Kimbrough as a part-time corrections officer/dispatcher (effective March 6) and Alexis Browning as a permanent corrections officer/dispatcher (effective March 8). The Commission reappointed Chris Ozbirn as Director/County Archivist for a two-year term beginning March 14, 2023, and reappointed Mike Mayfield to the Riverbend Board of Directors for a six-year term starting April 1, 2023.
The Commission approved a legal engagement with Balch & Bingham LLP to advise on local-approval procedures and potential amendments to the county Solid Waste Management Plan, estimating fees of roughly $6,000–$8,000 and memorializing hourly billing rates for assigned lawyers.
On emergency preparedness, the Commission approved purchasing weather radios through Northwest RC&D. The RC&D plan calls for 1,150 radios divided among Colbert, Franklin, Marion, Winston and Lauderdale counties; Franklin County's listed share (383 radios) was shown at $10,015.45 with reimbursement procedures described in the RC&D correspondence presented to the board.
The meeting concluded after unanimous approval of the day's items and a motion to adjourn. The Commission recorded each approval as made by motion, second and unanimous vote; no roll-call tallies were provided in the minutes beyond "unanimously."