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A resolution was passed to send out for bids for the placement of asphalt for various county roads pertaining to phase one of the Chilton County Commission’s $5 million road plan.

At the previous meeting, Commissioner Steve Langston presented the Commission with several sealed envelopes containing bid packages from banks.

After having time to review the bids, Langston recommended River Bank & Trust to his fellow commissioners.

“It [River Bank & Trust bid] gives this county more flexibility,” Langston said.

The Commission voted to approve a 10-year loan with River Bank & Trust based on the details of its bid.

“There’s no pre-paid penalty, so there’s really no difference between the five-year and 10-year plans,” Langston explained.

According to Commission Chairman Joseph Parnell, the plan is to borrow a small amount of money up front and pay it back with the sales tax money as it comes in.

The county will have a pair of bonds drop off in the coming years. A $300,000 bond will end in 2021 and a $200,000 bond is set to expire in 2023.

Danny Thorockmorton’s bid of $16,511 to lay sewer lines on nine campsites at Minooka Park was also approved by the Commission.

The bid was made with the understanding that the county would be furnishing the stone needed.

In honor of Veterans Day, coming the day before the meeting, the Commission opened by thanking all the veterans in the county who have served and sacrificed to keep the nation free.

In other news from the meeting:

• Yura Gothard was added to the road department payroll as a mechanic co-op.
• EMA Director Derrick Wright announced that his department had recently been awarded a homeland security grant to purchase the P25 radios and another pertaining to software. According to Wright, the grants will be reimbursed.
• The Commission also gave the county EMA permission to purchase a thermal camera to be used primarily in search and rescue situations. According to Wright, the camera is within the department’s budget.
• Joseph Smitherman and Randell Bice were hired as part-time deputies with the Sheriff’s Office.
• Lauren Ziegler and Richard Ray were hired as part-time corrections officers with the Sheriff’s Office.
• Tyler Hayes was hired as a full-time corrections officer with the Sheriff’s Office.
• Jonathon Oliver was hired as a full-time deputy with the Sheriff’s Office.
• Kevin Davis was reclassified as an investigator with the Sheriff’s Office.
• A resolution to correct Trae Barfield’s reclassification and pay was approved.
• A resolution was approved to put a 2016 Ford Explorer back into service with the Sheriff’s Office.
• A funding resolution was approved for the Sheriff’s Office to spend $3,800 on an updated repeater system at the jail. It will come out of the jail maintenance budget.
• The Sheriff’s Office will seek bids for a jail camera system. It will come out of the jail maintenance budget.
• A resolution was passed for the chairman to sign the Axon contract for new Tasers with the Sheriff’s Office. It will come out of the jail maintenance budget.
• Certain departments at the courthouse will be closing for a Thanksgiving potluck lunch from noon to 1 p.m. on Nov. 27. Only departments participating will be closed at that time.
• A work session pertaining to meeting policy and procedures as well as other topics will be held at 5 p.m. on Nov. 19.
• The Commission approved the minutes from the Oct. 22 meeting.
• The Commission approved to pay its bills without a $74.71 payment for a staff meeting that included lunch. It was held off after the legality of such a payment was questioned.