By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

Chilton County Commission unanimously approved several monetary and personnel motions during a meeting on May 21.

New hires were approved at the request of Chilton County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Gerald Mims.

The first was a part-time mechanic for emergency vehicles.

Mims said the current mechanic will be leaving the position.

Without an on-site mechanic, available, vehicles have to be taken to Montgomery to be serviced. Mims said having someone available saves the department money and time.

A part-time deputy and two full-time deputies were also approved.

County Engineer Tony Wearren requested $5,000 be transferred from the road construction materials budget line item to tires and tubes.

The request was approved unanimously.

Wearren also asked the Commissioners to submit any ideas for Community Development Block Grant projects, so the application could be completed before the deadline.

The Commission also received an update that the environmental study for the proposed industrial project near Interstate 65, Exit 212 is moving forward and meetings have been set to in craft a master plan for the site. Meetings will be held on the first and third Thursday of the month with a work session at 5 p.m. and regular meeting at 6 p.m. The meetings will be held in the Alabama Power building on Highway 31 near Interstate 65, Exit 205.

Also during the meeting, the Commission:

• Approved paying the bills.
• Heard a presentation from representatives of Liberty National for the types of life insurance the company could offer to the county.
• Heard a presentation from the company that had been collecting the lodging tax for the county about cost savings they could give by changing the fee rate in hopes of retaining the county’s business. The Commission had previously voted to end the contract and go back to having the state collect the tax and then distribute it to the county. Commissioner Jimmie Hardee said the change came at the recommendation of the county administrator. Chairman Joseph Parnell asked the company representative to get with the county administrator to discuss to further. Commissioner Steve Langston said he would like to negotiate for some of the fees to be less. This possibility was discussed.
• Approved the use of the Higgins Ferry pavilion by First United Methodist Church for lakeside church services throughout the summer .
• Approved adding County Road 1060 in the Chapel Chase Subdivision to the County Road List. Road requirements for subdivisions that have been grandfathered-in have been met.
• Approved three members to the Board of Equalization.