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Projects to repair a closed bridge on Lowndes County Road 7 and repair a section of County Road 17 that is reduced to one lane will begin soon.

At the July 22 Lowndes County Commission meeting, County Engineer David Butts told commissioners that the contractor had signed the contracts.

“Commissioner (Carnell) McAlpine will sign off on the contracts for the county and the contractor will begin in august,” Butts said. “We’re going to begin work on County Road 7 since it has been closed for several months. The work should take six to eight weeks.”

Commissioner Robert Harris expressed concerns about County Road 17 with school buses and the beginning of school. Butts replied that work on County Road 7 was being completed first because the road was closed completely.  County Road 17 is reduced to one lane in an area where a washout occurred several years ago.

Butts also updated the commission on a variety of road projects throughout the county.

“County Road 37 from Fort Deposit to Alabama 97, a 12-mile project will be bid soon,” he said. “We should know something soon. We’ve had some interest in the project. We’re also drawing up documents and accepting bids on a project on County Road 32. The deadline for bids will
Sept. 11.

“Our last project of the year will be paving County Road 37 from Alabama 97 to U.S. 80,” Butts said. “It is an eight or nine mile stretch. The first round of comments is not back yet, but we’re pretty much on the timetable.”

Butts also asked the commissioners to think about projects in their districts.

“We need to work on a strategic plan this year that will extend for the next two years or three years,” he said.

In other action during the meeting, the Commission:

• Approved an appropriation of $1,300 to the Lowndes County Community Life Center.
• Approved a memorandum of understanding with Central Alabama Electric Coop that would begin the process of establishing broadband service in rural areas.  Gov. Kay Ivey has urged local governments to approve the MOUs.
• Approved an $8,000 appropriation to the Sandy Ridge Volunteer Fire Department.
• Approved a $7,768 appropriation for the Hayneville Volunteer Fire Department.
• Approved a $14,000  for the Burkville Volunteer Fire Department.
• Approved paying the county’s invoices for June 2019.