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On Dec.9 the Lowndes County Commission held its regular first-Monday meeting and learned that the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) office in Hayneville had proposed completing improvements to the facility leased from the county on Alabama Highway 21.

According to Lowndes County Attorney Prince Chestnut, the agency called to propose a memorandum of understanding with the county allowing improvements to their leased facility, work which could total up to $65,500.

“They are proposing to pressure wash concrete surfaces, clean the exterior of the building, replace the carpet, repair the walls, paint the interior walls, replace the countertops and add a sink,” Chestnut said. “And then, [they will make] other repairs necessary, up to $65,500.”

The public health department proposed an agreement which would approve the work beginning Jan. 1 and terminating June 30, 2026. Should repair costs exceed the approved amount, the department would increase the scope of work and cover the exceeding cost.

County Commissioner Dickson Farrior offered a motion to accept the proposal, and the commission voted to unanimously approve the measure.

Commissioners also debated making the upcoming bond payment due for the Fort Deposit Industrial Park. According to a 2003 agreement between the county and the town, the commission would pay whatever portion of the annual amount due that Fort Deposit was unable to cover.

Commissioner Joseph Barganier urged the commission to make the payment promptly after County Administrator Jacquelyn Thomas reviewed the payment schedule. Delaying the payment could cause the loan to go into default, Barganier said. 

Commissioner Charlie King, Jr. argued the commission should not be rushed into making the payment. Commissioner Robert Harris suggested that decision be delayed until the next meeting to allow time for the review.

Barganier offered a motion that payment be made after Thomas’s review. Harris interjected a motion to table the vote, but Harris’s motion failed by a 3-2 vote. Harris and King voted yes, Barganier, Farrior and Commissioner Fletcher Hayes voted no.

After Harris’s motion failed, the commission voted 3-2 to approve Barganier’s motion, a vote supported by Barganier, Farrior and Hayes and opposed by King and Harris.

In other business, the commission:

* told concerned citizen Barbara Evans that commissioners each have $30,000 discretionary funds at their disposal;

* tabled discussion of which roads would be part of a Rebuild Alabama project request due in January to the commissioners’ next meeting;

* declared a county employees would receive a paid holiday for Christmas Day, Dec. 25 and permission to use vacation leave on Dec. 26;

* approved payment of November invoices;

* appropriated $1,000 to the Calhoun School band with $500 coming from the discretionary funds of Commissioners Barganier and Farrior; and

* granted $1,000 to Harvest Tyme Food Ministries from Barganier’s discretionary fund.