Chilton County debates new uniform options for road crews; commissioners weigh safety, rental vs. purchase

Heath Sexton, who represents the road department, presented two alternate uniform options for road crews at the work session: a lightweight, breathable high-visibility t-shirt and a vented button-up 'cap shirt' with pockets and back venting. "It's a t shirt, Very lightweight and breathable," he said while describing the options.

Commissioners focused on worker safety and whether a chosen shirt would eliminate the need for vests. One commissioner noted they had consulted Shelby County's safety director and said certain high-visibility shirts would remove the requirement for a vest. "I believe that would do away with the vest if they wore the t shirt," Sexton said, while others asked staff to confirm that with the safety director.

The group also debated whether to keep the current rental program (where the county provides, washes and replaces shirts, pants and jackets) or move to a purchase model. Benefits of the rental system — regular cleaning and replacement — were weighed against employee preference and longer-term cost savings from purchase. Commissioners asked staff to collect samples and vendor quotes and to return with more detailed cost estimates before the September contract decision.

Next steps: staff will obtain samples, quotes and procurement details from vendors (Galls, UniFirst and others) and report back to the commission for a final recommendation and potential contract change.

Why it matters: uniform selection affects worker safety, compliance with visibility requirements, and ongoing county procurement and operating costs.