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By Fred Guarino

The Lowndes Signal

The Lowndes County Commission recently learned of efforts to make Lowndes County part of the state’s bicentennial and voted to support a 3 cents ATRIP-2 bond issue proposed by the Association of County Commissions of Alabama as priority legislation for the 2017 regular legislative session  that could bring $10 million to Lowndes County for road and bridge repairs.

William Scott of Tristatz, the company that produces the Lowndes County Commission newsletter, said at the commission’s Monday, Feb. 13 meeting that he will serve on the Alabama Bicentennial Commission to make sure that Lowndes County is represented in the tourism aspect of the state’s 200^th anniversary.

He also said he is also working to help promote restaurants and businesses in Lowndes County, as well as hunting and fishing. He said there are nine restaurants in the county.

Under the consent agenda, the commission approved a resolution in support of the Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program (ATRIP) 2 bond issue, which will generate $1.2 billion for Alabama’s 67 counties for road and bridge improvements and which could fund more than 12,300 miles of road resurfacing projects and 450 new bridge structures across the state.

County Attorney Hank Sanders said he did not know about percentages, “But I think the minimum Lowndes County will get will be $10 million.”

County Engineer David Butts reported that Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Projects including Mushatt Road, Lum Road, Till Road are complete. And said the county was waiting on pipe for Mims Road.

He said Lowndes County 23 in White Hall only lacked guard rails to be completed.

Butts also said Lowndes County Road 79 was waiting on the contactor to begin.

He said the federal aid project on Lowndes County 6 and Lowndes County Road 32 are in the end stages.

Butts announced that live tests will be done on weather sirens in the county on the second Monday of each Month at 12 noon.

Butts received approval from the commission to sell trucks used by the County Highway Department through JM Wood Auction.

The commission went into executive session with Butts over personnel matters, but took no action at the Monday, Feb. 13 meeting.

County Commissioner Robert Harris received approval to appoint Katanga Mants to the Department of Human Resources Board.

Commissioner Dickson Farrior received approval for a letter to be sent to department heads “to make an effort to buy locally’ for their departments.

Commissioner Joseph Barganier asked that Butts try to come up with ideas to make repairs on Julian Town Road by the next commission meeting. He said, “I know that there are some situations… several miles where these small cars if they get in the wrong place, they’ll drag the bottom.”

Harris asked about getting Gary Faulkner of The Faulkner Group LLC who is assisting Lowndes County with economic development to have an office in Lowndes County. And Commission Chairman Carnell McAlpine asked Sanders to look at the county’s contract regarding Faulkner’s contract.

Harris said, “I think if he (Faulkner) was closer over here, then he would almost be hands on with the information that he needs to go out and solicit jobs or economic development for Lowndes County.”

Also under the consent agenda, the commission approved:

•Payment of invoices.

•Minutes of the Dec. 2016 and Jan.2017 meetings.

•A state cooperative agreement regarding the Emergency Management Agency.

•County levies for alcohol licensing.

•An appropriation to the 4-H Club Foundation in the amount of $2,500, which will hold its Youth Livestock Show Sunday, Feb. 26 at 3 p.m. at Mid-State Stockyards LLC. In Letohatchee from all commissioners giving $500 each.

•An appropriation for the Edmund Pettus Bridge Crossing Jubilee in the amount of $3,500.

•An appropriation to the Lowndes County Board of Education in the amount of $3,100 for the Accelerated Reader Program.

•An agreement with Advanced Correctional Health Services for the inmates at the jail.

•An appropriation to the town of Mosses of $600 from Commissioner McAlpine.