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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

“I need to make sure someone in Georgia gets a copy of this.”

The Chilton County Commission established the month of June as Peach Month in Chilton County to celebrate the most important month of the year for the county at its regularly scheduled meeting on June 10. Chairman Allen Williams presented a proclamation to declare the month peachy in honor of the peach farmers and the county’s most precious crop.

“Whereas Chilton County is recognized across the state and beyond for its rich agricultural heritage and is especially renowned with producing the finest peaches in the southeast,” the proclamation from Williams said. “Whereas generations of farmers in Chilton County have cultivated peaches with care, dedication and pride contributing significantly to the county’s economy, culture and community identity … It is fitting and proper to honor the vital role that peaches and peach growers play in sustaining the local economy and preserving the agricultural legacy of Chilton County.”

Also, the initial first steps of finding an ambulance service by this specific commission for Chilton County were taken at the meeting. Butch Billingsley, who was absent from the meeting along with Commissioner Sheila Hall, had Commissioner Alan Childress present a motion regarding the future of the county’s journey to secure an ambulance service for the county.

“I make the motion that we charge Chairman Williams with the responsibility of locating an ambulance company certified in the State of Alabama, and negotiate to provide ambulance service for Chilton County,” the motion said.

The motion was approved unanimously.

Commissioner Roger Perkins presented changes to the Chilton County Parks General Operating Procedures Handbook that included alcohol changes to Higgins Ferry and Minooka Parks. Currently, alcohol was permitted at the campsites only in the parks. The change will now prohibit any alcohol to be in the park at any location.

“It removes the county from all exposure in that aspect,” Perkins said.

The motion to approve the change to no alcohol allowed was passed four to one with Commissioner Joe Headley opposing.

Perkins also requested funding of $15,000 from the Cekra revenue source to carry out the construction of the Minooka General Store at Minooka Park. The Cekra revenue source is funding that the county is receiving from rental property from a company that is redoing a bridge on AL Highway 22.

“We are able to use non-taxpayer money to develop the parks to where our taxpayers will receive a bigger benefit and future, and we did not have to expend anything out of our budget,” Perkins said.

The motion to approve the building of the store was passed four to one with Headley opposing.

Williams presented a motion to approve the Williams-Jenson Contract of $6,000 per month, or $72,000 per year, for the lobbying firm to work on behalf of the county in Washington D.C. in an attempt to get more money back to the county from the capitol. He added that the funding for the lobbying firm comes from the industrial development budget, and he and Perkins said they feel like this will benefit the county in the long run helping get more money back home. The motion to approve the funding was passed four to one with Headley opposing.

Childress shed light on the United Way of Central Alabama’s Community Project Grants that have become available during the month of June. The nonprofit organization is offering the grant opportunities to organizations to Blount, Chilton, Shelby, St. Clair and Walker Counties, and they are designed to “support short-term projects or one-time expenses that will have a meaningful and positive impact on residents within the county where the funding is requested,” the United Way’s website said.

Grants of up to $2,500 are available for request. UWCA funding can be used for two purposes — direct costs related to execution of programs, or one-time expenses that have a positive impact on the residents. Applicants must reside and provide services in the county they are applying for funding, and eligible applicants include public entities, registered 501(c)(3) nonprofits and community-based groups. Grants are awarded at the discretion of each county’s UWCA County Advisory Board.

All applications must be submitted through the UWCA’s online grant system, and first-time applicants will need to complete the new account set up form to access the grant system. Applications will be accepted by the UWCA until June 27.

The meeting concluded with Williams giving details of a WWII soldier finally making his way back home to Chilton County. Pfc. Norman R. Thomas was one of many U.S. soldiers recovered and later identified from a mass grave from the Cabanatuan Prisoner of War Camp in the Philippines. Thomas was killed on July 19, 1942 at only 20 years old.

Paperwork has been filed in Hawaii where his remains currently are, and after all officers sign the remains over, Thomas will be returned to Chilton County. He will have an honor guard waiting for him in Birmingham at the airport, and there will be a funeral service at Martin Funeral Home. Thomas will then be buried beside his mother and father at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in the Enterprise community. Thomas’ remains will be returned to Chilton County within the coming months, and more details about his arrival will be shared as they become known.

Also, during the meeting, the Commission:

• Approved a resolution to award a bid of $118,665 to Gillespie Contracting for the water project on County Roads 16 and 26, and authorize Williams to sign all award and contract documents to ADECA for the grant received for the project that will cover the costs.
• Confirmed a Town Hall Meeting at the Maplesville Public Library on June 17 from 6-8 p.m.
• Scheduled a round-table discussion on June 30 at 6 p.m. in the Commission Chambers between the Chilton County Commission and the Chilton County Industrial Development Authority. The meeting will be a roundtable-style meeting with nothing up for vote, and it will not be live streamed.