Harpersville council hires full-time police officer, approves lead service-line sampling contract

Harpersville’s Town Council unanimously approved two measures on Jan. 5, hiring a full-time police officer and authorizing a contract with GMC Services to begin water lead service line sampling under an ADEM-funded program.

Councilmember Ryan Harry moved to approve Resolution 2026-01-05-01 to hire Mrs. Owens as a full-time officer for the Harpersville Police Department; Councilmember Martin Dates seconded and Mayor Theoangelo Perkins declared the motion passed by unanimous voice vote. The council did not record individual roll-call votes in the minutes; all councilmembers present were recorded as supporting the motion.

Later in the meeting Councilmember Malynda McLaughlin moved to approve Resolution 2026-01-05-02 authorizing an agreement with GMC Services to perform lead service line sampling. Councilmember Beverly Johnson seconded; the motion passed unanimously by voice vote. The council’s written minutes indicate the sampling work is tied to ADEM funding and that GMC will prepare a contractor bid package to collect samples throughout town.

Town project consultant Keith Strickland told the council that once the GMC agreement is executed, samples collected by the contractor will be reported to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), which will determine the extent of funding the town is eligible to receive based on the findings. Strickland also said the town is awaiting a notice to proceed from Shelby County on a CDBG project and that an ADEM-funded water line replacement project is under survey and plan preparation, with a bid package expected in about 30–45 days. He said contractors will have the option to price upsizing the line along Highway 280 to at least 10 inches to boost capacity for projected growth.

The council did not record any dissent on either resolution. The meeting adjourned at 5:42 p.m.