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Covington County Commission approves multiple road closures, jail communication fee, alcohol levies and courthouse roof; hires EMA director
Summary
At its Feb. 24 meeting the Covington County Commission approved several road closures (with easement work to be handled with landowners), adopted an FCC-authorized facility cost recovery add-on of up to $0.02 per minute for jail phone/video services, approved 2026–27 alcohol-licensing levies, authorized a new courthouse roof with a 15-year warranty and hired Alan Syler as EMA director contingent on an MOU.
The Covington County Commission on Feb. 24 voted to close several county roads, approved a facility cost-recovery add-on for jail phone and video services, adopted the county's alcohol-licensing levies for fiscal 2026–27, authorized a new courthouse roof and hired an emergency management director.
Chairman Michael Smith presided over the meeting in Andalusia. Commissioners present were Ben Courson (District 1), Lynne Holmes (District 3) and Tommy McGaha (District 4); Commissioner Robbie Weaver (District 2) was absent. County Administrator Karen L. Sowell and County Attorney Morgan Arrington were in attendance.
The commission acted on multiple public petitions to close roads in District 4 and elsewhere. After hearing from county engineer Lynn Ralls and Mason Farley of the Covington County Water Authority about existing infrastructure and the need for easements, the commission voted to close a portion of Lloyd Mill Road where James Lee Road turns toward the bridge; the county will retain ownership of the bridge and a permanent barricade will be installed. The panel also approved closures of Tobacco Road, an unnamed road off Boston Road and an unnamed road off Rockhole Bridge Road/Andy Road; in each case the approvals included direction that easements for the water authority be negotiated with affected landowners.
Resident Jeremy Norton urged the commission not to close Sassy Lane, saying the county-maintained quarter-mile is the only access to his home and that closing it would remove his family's ingress and egress. "This road is the only access I have to be able to get on or off my property," Norton said. After discussion and a review of an easement email (which Administrator Sowell said should be examined before any closure), the commission moved not to close Sassy Lane.
The commission approved an agreement with Combined Public Communications after Sheriff Turman described the FCC's rule and the facility cost recovery option: "This is an FCC requirement which adds $0.02 per minute to the phone and video visitation at the jail," he said. The commission voted to implement the add-on; funds collected will be placed in a separate account restricted to communications-related jail costs. The attestation packet in the meeting materials references the FCC Final Rule governing incarcerated people's communications services and the optional facility cost recovery additive.
The board adopted the county levies for alcohol licensing for fiscal 2026–2027 as presented by Administrator Sowell and referenced the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board guidance. The packet included the county fee schedule and a memorandum outlining statutory limitations on maximum county fees for specified license types.
Maintenance Director Phillip Anderson told commissioners that a previously approved reseal revealed gashes in the courthouse roof. The contractor offered a $5,000 patch with no warranty or a full replacement for an additional $4,500 with a 15-year warranty; the commission approved the new-roof proposal.
After taking an executive session under Alabama Code Section 36-25A-7(a)(3) to discuss hiring, the commission reconvened and voted unanimously to hire Alan Syler as the county's EMA director, contingent on the sheriff's department MOU.
Votes at a glance
- Close portion of Lloyd Mill Road (easements to be worked out with landowners): motion by Commissioner Tommy McGaha, seconded by Commissioner Lynne Holmes; outcome: approved (unanimous of members present). - Close Tobacco Road (easements to be worked out with landowners): motion by McGaha, seconded by Holmes; outcome: approved. - Close unnamed road off Boston Road: motion by McGaha, seconded by Holmes; outcome: approved. - Close unnamed road off Rockhole Bridge Road/Andy Road: motion by Holmes, seconded by McGaha; outcome: approved. - Do not close Sassy Lane (leave county-maintained access in place): motion by Ben Courson, seconded by Lynne Holmes; outcome: approved. - Approve agreement with Combined Public Communications (FCC facility cost recovery additive up to $0.02/min): motion by Tommy McGaha, seconded by Ben Courson; outcome: approved. - Adopt county alcohol-licensing levies for 2026–2027: motion by Lynne Holmes, seconded by Ben Courson; outcome: approved. - Approve courthouse roof replacement (contractor option with 15-year warranty): motion by Lynne Holmes, seconded by Ben Courson; outcome: approved. - Hire Alan Syler as EMA director (contingent on MOU with sheriff): motion by Ben Courson, seconded by Lynne Holmes; outcome: approved.
The commission also announced expiring SARCOA board appointments and noted forthcoming retirements and staffing transitions in the engineering and bridge departments. The meeting adjourned at 10:35 a.m.
Next steps include staff follow-up on water-authority easements, finalizing the CPC attestation/administrative implementation, formalizing the EMA director hire contingent paperwork and scheduling applications for SARCOA board vacancies.
