Tim Hodges Says Tearful Goodbye to the Calhoun County Commission – 9/23/2021

September 24, 2021  
Lee Evancho  

County Commission Meeting 

• Call to Order
  • Fred Wilson – Present
  • Tim Hodges – Present
  • Carolyn Henderson – Present
  • JD Hess – Present
  • Lee Patterson – Present
• Invocation
• Pledge of Allegiance
• Elected Official/Department Head Comments – No Comments
• Adopt Minutes – Unanimously Adopted
• Old Business
  • Nuisance Abatements – Unanimously Passed
    • 129 Warren Drive, Weaver – No Owner Present
    • 1320 Leyden Street, Anniston – Miller – No Owner Present
    • 0 Leyden Street, Anniston – Miller – No Owner Present
    • 2716 Simpson Street, Anniston – Hurston – No Owner Present
    • 5129 Arrow Avenue, Anniston – Petrie – No Owner Present
  • Nuisance Dismissals – Unanimously Passed
    • 1729 Circle Drive, Oxford – Phillips – No Owner Present
    • 3115 Oakland Avenue, Anniston – Morrow – No Owner Present
    • 1005 Duncan Avenue, Anniston – Vaughn/King – No Owner Present
• New Business
  • Nuisance Declarations – Unanimously Passed
    • 6309 Sherwood Drive, Anniston – Edwards – No Owner Present
    • 329 Rice Avenue, Anniston – Reeves – No Owner Present
    • 255 Longshore Drive, Anniston – Vinson – No Owner Present
    • 907 Vigo Avenue, Weaver – Harrast – No Owner Present
    • 1806 Pauline Drive, Oxford – Pate – No Owner Present
    • 1341 Dogwood Lane, Piedmont – Murphy –  No Owner Present
    • 322 S. Marshall Street, Anniston – Willingham – – No Owner Present
    • 4815 Bellvue Road, Anniston – Guardian Tax – No Owner Present
  • ABC Applications – No Action required
    • Smartmart LLC, dba Smartmart (1^st Reading)
    • Ricky Taylor, dba Alis Beverage Center (1^st Reading)
  • Surplus Property Resolution – Unanimously Passed
    • Telephone System Equipment – Dispose as Scrap
  • Surplus Property/Donation Resolutions – Unanimously Passed
    • Coldwater Barn Property
      • To be donated the City of Oxford
    • Dearmanville Barn Property
      • To be donated to the Back Country Horseman of America
  • Traffic Enforcement Agreement – Unanimously Passed
    • East Central Alabama Highway Safety Office – Overtime grant with the City of Opelika 
  • Bailey’s Bushogging Contract – Unanimously Passed
    • Fee to be $300 a day for 10 hours of bushhogging and $200 a day for 10 hours spraying and clearing
  • Informa Software Agreement Renewal Unanimously Passed
    •  $1,492.00 from 11/21-11/22.
  • Employment Contract Modifications – Unanimously Passed
    • Project Manager/Land Surveyor
    • Solid Waste Programs Manager
    • Data Processing Manager
  • Galls, LLC, Contract Extension Resolution – Unanimously Passed
    • Uniforms for Sheriff’s Office and Correction Officers
  • ACCA Investing In Alabama Counties Operations Council Appointment of Melisa Wood – Unanimously Passed
  • Coosa Valley RC&D Council Representative of Chairman Carolyn Henderson – Unanimously Passed
  • FY22 Budget Resolution – Unanimously Passed
    • Budget is currently balanced and is not in the red.
    • 5.9% increase in healthcare cost absorbed by the County
    • 3% Cost of living increase given to employees
    • $20.3 million in general fund
    • $84.2 million total budget
    • Commissioner Hess wanted to recognize all the staff for their hard work and dedication to get the budget prepared.
• Public Comments
  • Representatives from the Agency for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) spoke to discuss the national prescription drug take back day. They will be in four locations on October 23, 2021 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.  For more information contact ASAP at 256-831-4436
  • Audrey Maxwell with the Calhoun Chamber of Commerce spoke. She reminded all about the new tourism website that will launch in October. She also spoke about the Business Expo that will be held on October 19 at the Oxford Business Center as well as the Taste of Calhoun County that will also be happening. 
  • JD Hess wanted to take a moment to recognize one of his constituents, Orville McLeroy, who turned 90 years young. Councilman Hess also wanted to invoite everyone to the Sassy Tails event at camp McClellan this Saturday from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm. 
• Presentation to Tim Hodges – Chairwoman Henderson presented a plaque to Tim Hodges as this was his last meeting as a Calhoun County Commissioner. He will be leaving the commission to work with the Revenue Department. She stated what a pleasure it was to work with Tim and noted what a team player he was. Commissioner Hodges tearfully spoke and talked about how it was his pleasure to work with so many wonderful people. He spoke of all the transitions he has witnessed and how in eleven years there was only one vote that wasn’t unanimous. He was proud of what he was a part of and how wonderful each member of the commission was. Mark Tyner spoke and wanted to personally thank Commissioner Hodges for his leadership as chairman when the pandemic hit. He described that leadership as invaluable and important. 
• Adjourn – Unanimously Passed