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December 12, 2006

Garbagemen honored for protecting wandering toddler

By Evan Belanger

Two garbagemen were recognized by the County Commission Tuesday for a valorous deed performed in the line of work and that could have saved the life of a local toddler.

According to Sanitation Department Director James Rollo, department employees Johnathon Parris and Richard Loyd were on garbage duty Nov. 28, when they noticed a small toddler wandering near the road.

On one of the coldest mornings of the year, the sanitation employees decided the toddler — who was dressed in only a diaper and a T-shirt — could not be left outside alone. They picked the child up, wrapping him in a jacket to keep him warm. They went door-to-door until they located his caretakers.

Rolo said the toddler had apparently slipped out of the house unnoticed while one of his caretakers was in the shower. He also said the two employees deserved recognition for their community dedication.

“We didn’t even tell them they were going to get this award,” Rollo said after the meeting Tuesday. “They looked pretty surprised when we called them up.”

During the meeting, associate commissioner Doug Williams presented each man with a framed certificate of appreciation on behalf of the County Commission.

“It was just such a great story we felt like they needed to be recognized in some way,” Williams said after the meeting.

According to commission Chairman Wiley Kitchens, it is important to recognize employees who do well, rather than just punishing those who do wrong.

“It inspires people to do better,” he said. “You can catch more flies with honey.”



Sanitation rate

increased

In other business Tuesday, the commission officially raised county garbage rates by 3.8 percent.

According to Rollo, the increase is in conjunction with four years worth of rate increases from Cullman Environmental, which holds the permit for the county landfill.

While the county Sanitation Department has successfully absorbed previous rate increases, Rollo said they could no longer afford to do so.

“As much as I hate to, I move that we go ahead and raise those rates,” said Williams during the meeting.

Under the new rate structure, the sanitation rate for residential customers will increase from $9.64/month to $10.01/month. The 3.8-percent hike applies to all commercial customers as well.



Industry expansion

Also during the meeting, the Cullman Community and Economic Development Agency announced a $3.6 million expansion for one local business.

According to CCED research analyst Cal Wray, Sherman-Dixie Concrete Industries, which manufactures concrete gutters, will begin a 17,000-foot expansion probably in January.

Once completed, the expansion will bring a new production line to the company, located on Ala. Highway 157 between Cullman and West Point. It will also bring between 15 and 20 new jobs to the area.

The commission granted the business a tax abatement Tuesday.

Sherman-Dixie already employs about 28 people.

“This expansion will bring them up to between 40 and 45 jobs,” Wray said after the meeting.



County engineer resigns

In unrelated matters, the commission formally announced Tuesday the resignation of county engineer Philip Widner.

Widner reportedly turned in his written resignation last month, working his last day about two weeks ago. He has been replaced by former assistant engineer Fred Penn, who also served as interim during Widner’s absence.

According to Kitchens, the county is not likely to hire a second engineer to be Penn’s assistant.

“We don’t really have to have two engineers,” he said after the meeting Tuesday. “It’ll save the county money by not having two.”

Widner’s annual salary was about $83,000, according to Kitchens, who said 70 percent of that was paid by the state.

In other business Tuesday, the commission:

‰ Accepted a grant agreement in the amount of $32,238 to benefit the Revenue Office’s Geographic Information System, used for mapping.

‰ Accepted a bid to start work on the new building for Cullman Area Regional Transportation System.

‰ Donated $1,000 to the Grandview Community Center.

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