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Etowah County Commission approves hires, contracts and liquor‑license actions
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Summary
At its March 10 meeting the Etowah County Commission approved a consent agenda that included personnel hires in the sheriff’s office and county engineer’s department, a change order lowering a sewer contract by $201,438.92, several service agreements and two final ABC license transfers plus a first reading for a restaurant liquor license.
The Etowah County Commission on March 10 approved a slate of routine personnel moves, contracts and liquor‑license actions, including a change order that reduced the final price of the Northeast Alabama Regional Megasite Sewer Transmission Main Project by $201,438.92.
The commission opened the meeting at 9:00 a.m. under President Jeffery Washington. By the minutes, commissioners Tim Ramsey (District 4), Johnny Grant (District 2), Jeffery Washington (District 5) and Craig Inzer Jr. (District 6) were listed as present, District 1 was recorded as vacant and Commissioner Jamie Grant (District 3) was absent; the minutes record that a quorum was present.
Why it matters: the consent agenda bundled staffing for public‑safety operations, multi‑million‑dollar public‑works contracting and multi‑year service agreements, moving them forward without separate debate.
Key approvals and details - Consent agenda: The commission approved the consent agenda by motion (moved by Commissioner Craig Inzer, seconded by Commissioner Tim Ramsey), recorded in the minutes as passing with all members present voting "yes." The consent agenda included approval of prior meeting minutes and the proposed March 10 agenda and the reported financial transactions for February 2026.
- Personnel actions: The commission approved multiple hires and appointments in county departments. Notable items include the County Engineer’s request to hire Charles Campbell as Equipment Operator, effective March 16, 2026, to be paid from the Gas Tax Fund at $16.54 per hour; multiple hires and reassignments in the Sheriff’s Office (including Sawyer Phillips as detention deputy at $18.25/hour effective Feb. 25, 2026, and Thomas Justin Morris as Sergeant (Certified) – Temporary at $25.15/hour effective March 8, 2026); and a list of additional detention deputies approved at the listed hourly rate of $15.36.
- Contract change order: The commission approved a change order and final summary for the Northeast Alabama Regional Megasite Sewer Transmission Main Project with Apel Machine and Supply Co., Inc., decreasing the contract by $201,438.92 and setting the final contract price at $4,736,813.85 (attachment book 16, page 16-002, per the minutes).
- Agreements and amendments: The body approved a three‑year Participation Agreement with the ACCA Liability Self Insurance Fund, Inc. (effective Jan. 1, 2027–Dec. 31, 2029), a one‑year Controls Service Agreement with Comfort Systems USA for courthouse, judicial building and detention center HVAC systems, a first amendment to the SEEDS Grant site development agreement extending expenditure deadlines from March 2026 to March 2027, and an amendment to the County’s Hospital Services Agreement with Gadsden Regional Medical Center, LLC extending the contract term until modified or terminated by the parties.
- Procurement and surplus: The commission authorized purchase of a 2027 T280 Spray Truck through a Sourcewell bid at $249,750 (FY 2026 budgeted) to replace a 2000 GMC spray truck, and declared one gray metal desk as surplus.
- ABC license actions: In new business the commission approved final readings for two ABC license transfers: Express Mart 57 (Retail Beer Type 050 and Table Wine Type 070) at 4725 Highway 179, Boaz (a transfer in unincorporated Etowah County), and Food Mart 34 at 10291 Centre Road, Gadsden (District 2). The commission also held the first reading for a Restaurant Retail Liquor license (Type 020) for The Kitchen at Pine Crest, LLC, located at 1570 Bruton Gap Road in Attalla (District 3). Motions for these items include mover/second and were recorded as passing with all members present voting yes.
Other business and adjournment Shane Ellison, the county CAO, presented County Engineer Robert Nail with a 20‑year service certificate during the meeting. Public comments included an appearance by Chris Davis of the Raptors Youth Athletic Club; the minutes record the appearance but do not provide the substance of the comment. Commissioners praised the ESU and partnerships with the sheriff and judge, welcomed news of a company locating at the old steel plant site in Gadsden, and congratulated new mental health officers. The meeting adjourned at 9:47 a.m.
What the minutes do not say The minutes record that a quorum was present but contain inconsistent language about the number of commissioners "present" (see audit notes). The minutes do not quote speakers verbatim and do not record the content of the single public comment listed.
Next steps: Several items approved are now authorized for execution by the CAO or commission president as noted in the minutes; the SEEDS grant amendment extends an expenditure deadline to March 2027.