CULLMAN — A new state bill could bring more than $200,000 in grant monies to Cullman County.

The Alabama Legislature has overridden the governor’s veto of a bill that would allow north Alabama counties to keep all the money paid by the Tennessee Valley Authority in lieu of taxes.

The House overrode the veto 56-21 on Wednesday and the Senate voted 19-10 Thursday, according to the Associated Press.

The legislation repeals a 1978 law that allowed 5 percent of the money paid by TVA in lieu of taxes to be distributed to counties that don’t allow alcohol sales and are located outside the TVA service area. That’s about $6 million annually, but the dry counties won’t do without, as the bill replaces the TVA money with $6 million from the state.

Gov. Bob Riley said the bill takes badly needed state revenue and will hurt state services.

The bill was co-sponsored by local Alabama Reps. Jeremy Oden and James Fields, among others.

For Cullman County, this means approximately $250,000 in additional funds could be available for the Cullman County Community Development Commission (CCCDC) to distribute annually.

The CCCDC was created through a House bill passed in the Alabama Legislature in 2009, which was sponsored by Reps. Oden, Fields, Ronald Grantland and Sen. Zeb Little.

According to an Alabama statute passed in 2006, all counties who receive certain monies were required to pass local legislation to distribute it. Cullman failed to comply, which prompted the creation of the bill.

“With this, we could be getting close to $500,000-per-year to disperse on projects in Cullman County,” Cullman mayor and CCCDC chairman Max Townson said. “That’s a great thing.”

The grant funds are accrued monthly in a county account, so more specifics should be known in time for the commission’s next meeting, set for 5:30 p.m. on April 2 at the Holly Pond town hall.

The CCCDC was originally scheduled to meet and distribute more funds this week, though the meeting was postponed to allow the grant account to accrue more monies.

“We’re not sitting on those funds,” CCCDC member Tommy Waldrop said. “It’s good to be able to help the community.”



Recent grants

The commission dispersed more than $100,000 in grant funds on Thursday to a half dozen local projects at a meeting hosted at Cullman city hall. The grants were approved last month, though money was not awarded until this week.

The town of Garden City received $25,000 for a new sewer washer, which will be used to manage raw sewage in the town’s treatment plant. The washer will compact the waste and make it easier to manage.

“We’ve been doing it ourselves for a long time, but this seems like the thing to do it,” Garden City Mayor Harden Davis said. “This is going to help our sewage plant stay in compliance with ADEM and the EPA.”

The town of Baileyton, Holly Pond High School, Sportsman Lake Park, the Cullman community band, and the Grandview community were also awarded funds.

The Cullman community band, which is sponsored by Cullman Parks and Recreation, received a $10,000 grant to purchase equipment.

“We’re going to get instruments and equipment so we can play for and represent Cullman County,” Nicole McKeever, with the parks department, said.

The town of Baileyton received a $25,000 grant to help with the construction of a new, 100-foot by 60-foot senior center. Work is scheduled to begin on April 1. Plans call for a brick building with handicap accessible restrooms, an office area, storage closet, spacious kitchen, large stage, three exits, nine windows and double front doors at the entrance. It will be located across from the town hall on Firestation Road.

Over the last year, the Baileyton Senior Center has grown from nonexistent to averaging more than 60 people per meeting.

“This grant is really what encouraged us to get started,” Baileyton Mayor Johnny Dyar said. “Most of my seniors out here are getting pretty old and they don't want to wait. They don't like to hear the word later.”

Holly Pond High School received a $31,860 grant to construct a bathroom and concession area at the school’s softball field.

“This is absolutely a major need,” Principal Kim Butler said.

The Grandview community received $10,000 to upgrade an 85-year-old community school, which is now used as a community center and election polling site.

“We’re refinishing the floors and the outside needs some work,” Grandview community member Gerry Wilhite said. “We’re also doing some work to improve handicap accessibility. It’ll be a great showplace when we’re finished.”

Sportsman’s Lake Park received a $5,874 grant for improvements to the park pier.

“Almost every child around here loves to go out on that dock and this will just enhance it and make it even better,” Cullman County Commission Chairman James Graves said.

Grant applications are available at most town halls in Cullman County, as well as on the Cullman County Web site (http://www.co.cullman.al.us).



* The Associated Press contributed to this report.



* Trent Moore can be reached by e-mail at trentm@cullmantimes.com, or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 225.