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At the beginning of the Lowndes County Commission’s first meeting after the Nov. 5 election, commissioners stood in a show of solidarity to support justice for the late Sheriff “Big John” Williams. 

While William Johnson, accused of murdering Williams in 2019 awaits a retrial, Commission chairman Charlie King, Jr. asked commissioners to show their support for Williams’ family.

“I want to make sure that we as commissioners stand firm and solid on behalf of our fallen sheriff, ‘Big John’ Williams,” King said. “It seems to me like justice is sort of slipping away, but I want to say to you, help is on the way.”

In other business, commissioners:

* Set meeting dates for the second Monday of each month at 10 a.m. and the fourth Monday at 6 p.m.;

* Renewed the Chestnut’s contract with a rate increase of $35 per hour;

* Approved a measure allowing for a budget amendment to be approved by majority vote as long as the budget is in balance;

* Appropriated $4,000 to the Lowndes County Christmas Committee;

* Heard the status of completion for seven pipe-replacement road projects County Engineer David Butts said he hopes will be completed by the end of the year;

* Approved signing a letter to authorize Butts to apply for a grant to fund a turning lane project;

* Appropriated $3,000 to Life Changing Community Outreach;

* Accepted a contract with Martin Environmental as written;

* Approved a letter of support, going on record to dismiss charges against Sheriff Chris West;

* Passed a measure requiring the South Central Alabama Broadband Commission, the Industrial Development Board of Lowndes County, the Lowndes County Unincorporated Wastewater Program and the Lowndes County Economic Development Commission to submit a detailed expenditure report and one full year of bank statements to the commission;

* Approved a motion to withhold funds from the aforementioned organizations until requested information is received; 

* Approved a requirement that all nonprofit organizations receiving county support provide a report of their expenditures;

* Approved a conditional pay increase for recommended employees of the engineering, tax assessment, probate and registrar’s offices if the budget is in balance;

* Approved the Sheriff’s office to purchase defibrillators using Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds; and

* Approved the Sheriff’s lease of office space for $1,000 per month.

The commission’s next regular meeting is slated for Nov. 25 at 6 p.m.