The Cullman County Commission gave its lead partner in the construction of a new water source a little help Tuesday, clearing away an administrative hurdle by vacating portions of two county roads that will eventually be flooded by the new Duck River reservoir.
The commission had to move on the vacating of small portions of County Road 1651 and 1663, whose intersections will lie underwater once the dam, which recently broke ground, since the roads lie within the county’s road network.
A public hearing on the proposal, held prior to the commission’s action, yielded no opposition to the plan.
Cullman Economic Development Agency project coordinator Susan Eller said the plan to vacate the two areas has been integral to the long-range development of the project for a long time.
“This isn’t something new — it’s been in the works for a while,” said Eller. “It’ actually just a very small portion of the road. The reason we are having to close the portion of 1663 is that it runs into County Road 1651 at Tanner bridge.”
The bridge, which lies just north of U.S. Highway 278 and traverses one of the reservoir’s widest spans, has been slated for permanent closure since the lake’s property acquisition phase began early last year.
In other business at its regular meeting, the commission:
- Surplussed three water department trucks, to be sold on govdeals.com.
- Surplussed four road department trucks, to be old on govdeals.com.
- Extended an annual service contract for vehicles used by the sheriff’s office and other departments with Havoline Express Lube.
- Approved Cullman County’s participation in the upcoming statewide Sales Tax Holiday for school supplies. This year’s holiday will be held August 3-5.
- Authorized the surplus and subsequent transfer of an enclosed trailer, formerly housed locally by the State Mortuary Operations Response Team (SMORT), to the Colber County Commission. The surplus will make room for a new SMORT refrigerated trailer, used in the event of mass fatalities to temporarily store human remains, that has a greater capacity than the older unit. Like the trailer it replaces, the new unit will be stored until needed by the Cullman County Emergency Management Agency.
- Ratified the following personnel actions:
- A change in job status for Mark Logan of the water department, from full time temporary to full time permanent.
- A reevaluation of a job held by Rebekah Cash at the sheriff’s office.
- A transfer of Charles Powell from the commission office to Sportsman Lake.
- New Hires:
- Joseph D. Woods — full time to the sheriff’s office.
- Zachary D. Chrietzberg — full time to the sheriff’s office.
- Promotions:
- Kevin Bowers — full time at the sheriff’s office.
- Susan Barton — full time at the sheriff’s office.
- Cameron Berryhill — full time at the sheriff’s office.
- Resignations:
- Ryan Warren — full time from animal control.
- Joshua Thompson — full time from the sheriff’s office.
The next commission meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 24 in the first floor commission meeting room of the Cullman County Courthouse.
* Benjamin Bullard can be reached by e-mail at bbullard@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131 ext. 270.
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