Seven new storm shelters could be installed

Published 4:47 pm Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Excellence recognized: Maplesville football coach Brent Hubbert (fifth from left) and players Devan Wallace (second from left) and Terence Dunlap (third from left) on Monday were presented resolutions in honor of their team’s state championship by the Chilton County Commission, including (from left) Greg Moore, Allen Caton, Joseph Parnell, Bobby Agee, Shannon Welch and Joe Headley. (Photo by Stephen Dawkins)

Excellence recognized: Maplesville football coach Brent Hubbert (fifth from left) and players Devan Wallace (second from left) and Terence Dunlap (third from left) on Monday were presented resolutions in honor of their team’s state championship by the Chilton County Commission, including (from left) Greg Moore, Allen Caton, Joseph Parnell, Bobby Agee, Shannon Welch and Joe Headley. (Photo by Stephen Dawkins)

Chilton County could see the installation of seven new storm shelters.

Chilton County Emergency Management Agency Director Derrick Wright told the County Commission at its meeting Monday that the state could pull funds allocated for the storm shelters unless the county indicated that it planned to construct the shelters.

Eleven shelters were approved by the state, but only four were constructed before the county ran out of the funds set aside for the projects.

Wright said he had been contacted by the state, wanting to know if the county planned to proceed.

The county is responsible for a 25-percent match on any shelter installed, which could total about $175,000 for seven shelters.

County Administrator Connie Powell said there was about $120,000 remaining in the county’s Capital Improvement Fund that could be used for the projects.

More money should be coming into the fund and could be used to cover the remainder needed, Powell said.

Commissioners, except for Heedy Hayes, who was absent from the meeting, seemed to agree that they should take advantage of the funds while they were available.

“We won’t ever get this opportunity again,” Commissioner Joe Headley said.

The commission had a standing resolution to install a shelter at most every fire department in the county that does not already have one.

Commissioners asked Wright to inform the state that the county would be installing the shelters.

The shelters will be located at the following fire departments: Cedar Grove (2245 County Road 37 in Clanton), Collins Chapel (13274 County Road 29 in Clanton), Enterprise (9597 County Road 37 in Clanton), Enterprise No. 2 (3178 County Road 49 in Clanton), Gap of the Mountain No. 2 (1297 County Road 607 in Clanton), Union Grove (18050 County Road 42 in Clanton) and West Chilton No. 2 (950 County Road 213 in Jemison).

Shelters have already been installed at Gap of the Mountain No. 1 (768 County Road 55 in Clanton), Higgins Ferry Park (11019 County Road 28 in Clanton), Isabella (1960 County Road 29 in Maplesville) and Verbena (3885 U.S. Hwy. 31 in Verbena).

In other business, the Commission:

•Recognized Maplesville varsity football coach Brent Hubbert and players Terence Dunlap and Devan Wallace for their state championship season in 2015 and for awards they received. Commissioner Joseph Parnell read proclamations that were presented to Hubbert, Dunlap and Wallace. Commissioner Bobby Agee also moved to make April 30 Maplesville Red Devils and Coach Brent Hubbert Day in Chilton County, which was approved by the Commission.

•Approved the election of officers of the Chilton County Volunteer Firefighters Association, which were determined by election on April 4. Officers are: Allen Goree, president; Heath Nivens, vice president; Brian Smith, treasurer; Avery Dale, information officer; and Shannon Goree, secretary.

•Heard from Commission Chairman Allen Caton that residents had contacted the Commission about the re-opening of County Road 455 and the condition of County Road 748.

•Received an update from Engineer Tony Wearren about improvement projects on County Road 29 (preconstruction meeting was held April 22), County Road 48 (waiting on a letter to proceed from the Alabama Department of Transportation) and several bridges (moved to July letting due to ALDOT review of materials report). Wearren was not present at the meeting but passed along the update to Caton.

•Scheduled a work session for May 2 at 5 p.m. with Sheriff John Shearon to discuss concerns related to the county allowing sale of alcoholic beverages and other matters.