The commission opened bids for repairs at the Chilton County Tag office but postponed making a decision about the bids until a future meeting.

Caton said out of nine bid invitations that were sent out, only two were returned including a bid from Blair Remodeling in Birmingham for roughly $44,000 and a $5,000 addition to the bid for structural engineering drawings.

The second bid was from Steel Built Systems LLC in Maplesville for a bid of $24,990.

Wesley Hicks spoke up during the bid opening process representing Steel Built Systems and told commissioners that he didn’t want them to accept his bid of $24,990.

Hicks told commissioners he didn’t want to make a “mockery” out of the situation but wanted the commission to understand the importance of specifications for certain projects.

Hicks explained that the original specifications sent out for the repairs at the tag office did not call for details on the roof that needed to be made.

“That bid I submitted is exactly what the specifications asked for but it is not everything that the roof needs,” Hicks said.

Hicks said he had submitted a different bid two weeks ago to the commission for what the specifications “should have been” and asked the commissioners to review the initial bid before making a decision about the repairs.

Caton told Hicks the only thing the commission could do was discuss the bids, review them and make a decision at a future commission meeting.

In other news, the commission:

•Voted to close a portion of County Road 217 during a public hearing requested by Gene Walker. Walker originally asked commissioners in June if a section of 217 that goes through his property could be closed. Due to no one objecting the closure of the road, commissioners unanimously voted to close a portion of 217.

•Went into executive session to discuss a pending legal matter.

•Voted to change County Road 48 from a minor collector to a major collector.

•Appointed both Eloise Mims and Tim Whatley to the Chilton Water Authority.

•Voted to issue a key card to an individual representing the Community Back to School Block Party, sponsored by various Chilton County ministries on Saturday. Powell told commissioners someone from the event had requested the use of the restrooms at the courthouse as well as the side parking lot at the courthouse. Everyone voted in favor.

•Heard from Otto Miller who asked the commission to consider the possibility closing of County Road 545 from County Road 59 going northwest about 0.58 miles to the start of County Road 480. Miller also asked the commission to consider closing 0.32 miles of County Road 480 from the end of County Road 545 to the Gutscher residence on County Road 480, totaling 0.9 miles. The road is commonly referred to as the Dixie Camp Road and Miller commissioners told Miller he would have to advertise for a public hearing before they could vote to close a portion of the road.

•Heard from Margie McMinn who shared her concerns for not having a hospital open in Chilton County during the public comment section of the meeting.

•Scheduled a work session for Aug. 29 at 6 p.m.

•Heard from commissioner Tim Mims who made a motion to place all departments in the county under emergency spending until Oct. 1 which is the start of the new fiscal year. Commissioners Caton, Greg Moore, Joe Headley, Mims, Heedy Hayes and Bobby Agee voted to put all departments under emergency spending mode with commissioner Shannon Welch voting against the motion.