The Chilton County Commission yesterday accepted a letter of resignation from Road Department Superintendent Jimmy Edwards.

The letter asked that Edwards be reclassified in the Road Department as an Operator 6, or bulldozer operator, under the recommendation of County Engineer Tony Wearren.

The commission approved the reclassification 5-2, with Commissioners Tim Mims and Allen Wyatt opposing.

Commissioner Joe Headley, who seconded the motion for discussion, initially seemed to think the commission was overstepping its bounds.

“[Commissioners] have said a lot of times that they don’t want to be road commissioners, but they want to run this guy’s department,” Headley said.

Wyatt indicated that Edwards’ reclassification was a political issue, but Commissioner Charles Bryant – who made the original motion – said that comment was “totally out of order.”

“What we got into is dealing with the general public, not roads,” Bryant said.

In related business, the Road Department has lost approximately 10 employees to higher paying jobs during Wearren’s tenure as engineer, Wyatt said.

Wyatt went on to commend Wearren for his leadership of the department, specifically in the areas of side cutting and equipment repair.

In other business, Chilton County Fire/EMS president Dan Wright announced a public meeting for the discussion of ISO/coverage issues between South Chilton and Plantersville fire departments on Aug. 19 at 6 p.m. at South Chilton Fire Department.

This will be the second of such meetings, the first of which Wright and South Chilton Chief Donald Davis were unable to attend due to prior engagements. Community members are encouraged to attend.

The commission also:

approved a transfer of interest in the amount of $122,000 from hospital trust fund to general fund.

gave the okay for Families First, a nonprofit organization, to pursue a grant through the Department of Youth Services. Families First provides services such as individual family counseling, anger management, and drug/alcohol treatment.

voted to make Michelle Wilson a full-time janitor for the Chilton County Courthouse.

agreed to remove Wendy Wright as administrator of the National Flood Insurance Program at Wright’s request.

filled vacant positions in the Sheriff’s Department with Jean Mayfield (jail cook) and Becky Gatlin (clerk).

held a brief executive session for pending legal matter and good name and character.