Commission Listens to Complaints of Gunshots Creating A Nuisance and Requests for Pause on Abatements

Calhoun County, AL – The Calhoun County Commission held a regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, July 13th

• Call to Order
  • Fred Wilson – Present
  • Danny Shears – Present
  • Carolyn Henderson – Present
  • Terry Howell – Present
  • Lee Patterson – Present
• Invocation/Pledge of Allegiance
• Adopt Agenda – Unanimously Approved
• Elected Official/Department Head Comments – No Comments
• Adopt Minutes – Unanimously Approved
• Old Business
  • Nuisance Abatements – Unanimously Approved
    • 215 Russell Avenue, Anniston –Neal, Mattie
    • 1136 Rhodes Street, Anniston  – Robertson, Randall & Tamela
    • 4215 Wellborn Avenue, Anniston – Robinson, Wanda (Est.) c/o Johns, Dere
  • Nuisance Dismissals – Unanimously Approved
    • 38 Jacks Drive, Anniston – White, Charles & Dorothy c/o Waldrop, Bobby
    • 211 Russell Avenue, Anniston – Bedford, Howard & Danny & Darrell
    • 4305 Wellborn Avenue, Anniston – Forsyth, Nual & Lena
  • Nuisance Invoice
    • 4500 Asbury Avenue, Anniston – McKinney, Grace c/o Bryant, Brandy
      • Amount is $426
    • 3210 Oakridge Avenue, Anniston  – Barr, Judy c/o Benny
      • Amount is $1,026
    • 3218 Oakridge Avenue, Anniston – Barr, Judy c/o Benny
      • Amount is $2,326
• New Business
  • Nuisance Declarations – Unanimously Approved
    • 174 Warrior Circle, Ohatchee  – Duran, Robert & Barclay, Angela
    • 814 S. Hollingsworth Drive, Anniston  – Haynes, Rachel c/o Mary
    • 5433 Rogers Avenue, Anniston – Smith, John
  • Nuisance Declaration – Unanimously Approved with Terry Howell Abstaining
    • 0 Creek Trail, Anniston – Indian Oaks Community Golf Course Inc./                                                                                                                            RCO Enterprises
      • Ronnie Cofield, President of Rio Enterprises read a letter and presented documentation showing ongoing litigation between Indian Oaks Community Golf Course Inc. and Rio Enterprises. He stated that while they are on the deed they do not have possession of the property and would to be excluded from the nuisance claim.
      • Larry Hensley also spoke. He owns two properties in the area and stated he doesn’t support punishing RCO when they have no control over the property. He requested the nuisance complaint be suspended until the litigation has completed.
• Bid Award Resolution
  • Use of County Property – Batting Cage Facility – Unanimously Approved
    • Grit Softball Academy was the sole bidder in the amount of $600 a month.
• Bid Extension Resolution – Unanimously Approved
  • Extension for one year.
• Surplus Property Resolution – Highway Department – Unanimously Approved
  • E-805 Bad Boy Elite to be sold on GovDeals
• Acceptance of Subdivision Plat – Cherokee Knolls Phase II Sector 2 – Unanimously Approved
  • The County Engineer as certified this proposed subdivision meets all regulations.
• Federal Bridge Investment Program Resolution – Unanimously Approved
  • This will be a joint application with Blount, Bullock, Butler, Chambers, Cherokee, Chilton, Choctaw, Cleburne, Coffee, Cullman, Elmore, Etowah, Fayette, Franklin, Greene, Hale, Henry, Jackson, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lee, Lowndes. Macon, Madison, Marengo, Marion, Marshall, Mobile, Perry, Pike, Shelby, St. Clair, Sumter, Tuscaloosa, Wilcox, and Winston Counties to apply for a grant. The expected cost to join the joint application is $1,212. The expected amount to be received would be $40,000.
• Certified Automatic Fire Sprinklers, Inc. Agreement – Highway Department – Unanimously Approved
  • Certified Automatic Sprinters, Inc will provide services for the sum of $1,175.00.
• Mid America Health MOU – Portable Inmate Dental Services – Unanimously Approved
  • The new rate will be $2,400 each time staff visits the facility for onsite dental services.
• Dosimetry Services Agreement – Court Security Radiation Monitoring – Unanimously Approved
  • Landauer is the serving company.
• ACCA Legislative Committee Appointment – Unanimously Approved
  • Lee Patterson was appointed in this role.
• ARPA Project Resolutions
  • Saks Community Center Sewer – Unanimously Approved
    • The estimated cost of the project is $62,750.00
  • Jail Medical Wing – Unanimously Approved
    • The estimated cost of the project is $8,000,000. ARPA Funds are allocated in the amount up to $3,300,000.
• Jail Medical Wing – 65% Design Level Resolution – Unanimously Approved
  • The commission agrees to also JMR+H Architecture to proceed with the 65% design level.
• Piedmont Rescue Contract – Unanimously Approved
  • Piedmont Rescue will provide and serve as a resource to facilitate EMS activities and to render aid, transportation, assistance and services to citizens and to other persons in Calhoun COunty who are in need of emergency aid, assistance, and service to promote the health, welfare, and safety of the residents of Calhoun County.
• Revenue Commissioner’s Report of Insolvent & Litigations – Unanimously Approved
  • The amount collected for prior year insolvents and litigations was $115,829.51
• Public Comments
  • Representative from the Agency for Substance Abuse Prevention discussed their community Resource and Back to School Fair on July 27th from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm. They also discussed an upcoming Barbers Against Bullets event that will be held in Talladega.
  • Larry Hensley spoke again concerning the Nuisance Declaration for 0 Creek Trail, Anniston. He against sated he supports suspending until litigation completes.
  • Joe Price wanted to formally note that the sounds of gunfire from the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Firing Range was a nuisance and he would like it looked at. He noted they often shoot on Sunday and he couldn’t enjoy his property due to the noise. The technical name for the range is Greenleaf Lodge and Shooting Range and is located in Jacksonville. It is a privately owned range.
  • Pat Brown, Director of Piedmont EMS thanked the Commission for contracting with them and stated he felt it was a good use of funds.
  • Johnny Warren, Owner of Anniston EMS, spoke and explained that they do what they can. He noted that there is a statewide and national shortage of EMS workers. He also noted that Anniston EMS handled 381 calls in Calhoun County and 30% created mo revenue. He stated they do what they do because they want to help not just to make money. He also tanked Reggie Stewart, Code enforcement, for the work he does.
  • David West with the Calhoun Count Extension Office spoke about the annual report day that each of the Commissioners has been invited to.
  • Audrey Maxwell with the Chamber of Commerce spoke about the many successful events this past 4th of July. She also noted the state funded hotel conference and training that was upcoming as well as mentioning an upcoming restaurant week at the end of August and working with Oxford Performing Arts Center to promote the Rubato Music Festival.
  • The Upcoming Free Dump Day was mentioned.
  • County Attorney Gloria request the commission go to execute session.
• Adjournment to Executive Session – Unanimously Approved
  • Next Meeting: Thursday, July 27th, 2023, 10:00 am