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The Sheriff’s Office retired Eiko, one of its best service dogs, after the County Commission granted the request during its meeting on May 22.

During his time as a member of the force Eiko developed a reputation as one of the department’s best drug dogs.

“You won’t find a better one,” Chilton County Sheriff John Shearon said.

According to Shearon, a dog typically provides 10-12 years of service before problems such as arthritis begin to set in due to old age.

Eiko had been trained within the department since he was a puppy and will go to live with his handler.

“He’s going to live on the couch for the rest of his life,” Shearon said.

Shearon informed the Commission that he plans of starting an immediate search for Eiko’s replacement.

The public comments portion of the meeting was led by Barbara White, with the Disabled American Veterans and the VA Office, who brought to the Commission’s attention the problems that disabled veterans are having getting up and down the elevator in the courthouse.

Chairman Allen Caton informed White of the new DHR building that is in the process of being built. He mentioned that the old DHR building would become vacant at some point within the next year once the new structure is finished.

The current DHR building is entirely handicap accessible and would fix the problem that the VA Office is currently having in the courthouse.

The Commission advised White to get the VA Office on the list of departments interested in occupying the building’s space once it becomes vacant.

In other news from the meeting, the Commission:

• Granted the desired license for Landmart LLC to sell wine. Commissioner Hardee voted no.
• All but guardrail installation remains from completing construction on the County Road 32 and 352 bridges.
• A 60 working day contract will begin for clearing, grubbing and removal of old the old bridge on County Road 478.
• Added Jasper Little to the road department’s payroll as a truck driver at a rate of $14 an hour.
• Bill Gay is retiring due to a health reason from his position as a truck driver on the south crew effective May 31. County Engineer Tony Wearren was granted permission to hire a replacement from the existing pool of applicants that had been submitted.
• Hired Erika Cooper from the former pool of applicants as receptionist/clerk position.
• Resended the nomination of Sharon Patterson to serve on the Mental Health Board of Chilton and Shelby Counties and nominated Hardee.
• Agreed to continue running an advertisement for a building maitenence helper position.
• Approved the minutes and to pay the bills from the May 8 meeting.