Commission approves repairs at Chilton-Clanton library (updated)

Published 10:10 pm Monday, June 24, 2013

The Chilton County Commission unanimously voted on Monday to give $4,659 for improvements at the Chilton-Clanton Public Library.

Library director Kelly Easterling addressed commissioners about various repairs needed at the library.

Easterling said in 2012 construction resulted in leaks in the roof throughout parts of the library as well as significant water damage.

“Our conference room has wood paneling and the rainwater came behind the paneling and buckled the paneling,” Easterling said. “We are worried there might be mold behind some of the panels.”

Commission Chairman Allen Caton said he and County Maintenance Supervisor Pete Davenport went to the library on June 20 to survey the water damage and determine what work needed to be done.

Caton told commissioners that the paneling in some places was “as thin as paper” and proposed a price to fix the damaged wall of $4,659 with Chilton Supply and Drywall.

“We asked a couple of contractors to give us some pricing,” Caton said. “Mainly to take the paneling down in one section and check behind it to see if there isn’t any structural problems or growth behind the paneling and then cover that wall where the water has damaged it with drywall.”

Commissioners Joe Headley, Caton, Shannon Welch, Bobby Agee, Greg Moore and Tim Mims agreed to take the money out of the Capital Improvement Fund to commit toward fixing the water damage at the Chilton-Clanton Public Library.

Commissioner Heedy Hayes was absent from Monday’s meeting.

Commissioners also addressed Laura Liveoak on Monday after hearing from county attorney John Hollis Jackson that legally, the commission would not be allowed to spend public funds for Liveoak’s request.

On June 10, Liveoak requested the commission help support the students at LeCroy Career Technical Center to compete at the national level in Orlando, Fla. The students will represent the state and country in the competition but need help raising the $5,836 needed to go.

Jackson was absent during the June 10 meeting so commissioners asked Liveoak to return on June 24 and they would provide her with an answer about donating some of the money needed.

Caton also addressed commissioners with an update regarding the courthouse security committee formed May 13 to address security issues at the Chilton County Courthouse.

The committee includes Caton, Chilton County EMA director Bill Collum and Chilton County Sheriff Kevin Davis.

The committee was formed after Collum told commissioners during the May 13 commission meeting the Department of Homeland Security found 10 measures that could make the courthouse more secure and it was up to commissioners to decide how much money they wanted to spend to secure the courthouse.

Commissioners voted to commit up to $10,000 from the Capital Improvement Fund toward addressing security issues at the courthouse.