County will look for new Minooka Park ranger

Published 1:36 pm Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Chilton County will soon be looking for a new park ranger for Minooka Park.

The County Commission received notice at its regular meeting Monday that the city of Jemison will no longer provide a park ranger.

Jemison and the county had a contract for the city to provide a police officer as park ranger, but the city exercised a clause of the contract that allowed either party to terminate the arrangement with 90 days notice.

County Parks Director Gerald Arrington received approval to post the position.

Arrington said the new park ranger would not have arrest powers, which would be a change from the previous arrangement.

Commissioner Heedy Hayes said he was under the impression that the park ranger must have arrest powers, which necessitated the arrangement with Jemison.

Other commissioners said some officials thought arrest powers would be needed but not necessary, and that a lack of crime at the park likely indicates arrest powers are not needed.

In other business, the commission:

•Heard from two men who are planning to open a dirt track and dragstrip on 80 acres of land they own off County Road 76. Commission Chairman Allen Caton told the men that there are no zoning restrictions in the county, so the commission could neither support nor oppose their plans. However, commissioner Joe Headley said he has heard from residents who live near the planned site and do not want the operation opened there. Headley encouraged the men to discuss the matter with residents in the area.

•Approved a motion made by Headley that revenue generated by a tax on the sale of alcoholic beverages be earmarked for the striping of roads, at the discretion of Engineer Tony Wearren.

•Approved to resume funding to the Collins Chapel Fire Department upon receiving necessary paperwork from the department’s new board of directors.

•Approved a resolution of support for Senate Bill 7 being considered by the Alabama Legislature, which would amend Amendment 448 of the state Constitution to ratify, approve, validate and confirm the application of any budget isolation resolution adopted by the Legislature before Nov. 8.

•Closed nominations to the Chilton County Water Authority board, then tabled an appointment to the board until a forthcoming meeting.

•Approved a request from Wearren to allow the donation of vacation/sick time to an employee who does not have vacation/sick time because the employee has not completed a mandatory probation period.

•Approved Evelyn Morrow as probate clerk.

•Approved a software program upgrade for the revenue commissioner’s office.

•Approved the reclassification of two Sheriff’s Department employees. Janet Vigilante will be moved from part-time to full-time, and John Beutler’s status will be changed to courthouse security/bailiff.

•Held an executive session to discuss two pending legal matters.

•Approved paying bills.