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The Chilton County Commission signed a memorandum of understanding presented by 911 Director Dan Wright as part of the process of creating a public safety radio plan.

The plan would include purchasing of the proper equipment, such as P25 radios, which are two-way devices commonly used by first responders.

After discussion to clarify the wording in the document, Commissioner Jimmie Hardee motioned to approve the signing with the stipulation that all other parties involved, such as the City of Clanton, were in agreement as well.

According to Wright, the document was needed as a sign of good faith for the 911 Board.

“We’re up against a hard deadline,” Wright said.

Signing the document obligates the Commission, but a lease agreement would still have to be signed before moving forward.

The project’s first payment will not be required until February 2021. The money would have to come out of the public safety fund.

The Commission approved the decision to sign, with Commissioner Joe Headley abstaining from the vote.

The federal aid project to patch a stretch of County Road 37 from the Thorsby town limits to County Road 22 has been completed.

“It is a lot better,” County Engineer Tony Wearren said.

Although the news is positive, the commissioners stated that they were aware that there is still much work to be done with improving the shape of roads in the county.

Kellie Jordan came forth during the public comments section of the meeting to discuss her concerns of the deteriorating conditions of County Road 199, where she lives.

According to Jordan, the dirt road gets really bad when it rains.

“Two cars cannot get by at the same time without one bottoming out,” Jordan said.

Wearren noted the complaint and said that he would work on getting out there to check out the situation.

According to Wearren, they have put down a base on that road in the past, but due to it being solid rock, the base does not last because there is not enough traffic along the route to get it packed down.

In other news from the meeting:

• A request by Wearren for a subdivision variance for Jackie Logan exempting construction of a storm shelter for a trailer park was tabled. According to Wearren, there is a storm shelter within 50 yards of the park.
• The Commission approved Carol Fortuna with the Chilton County United Way to talk to employees about the option to donate through payroll withdrawal.
• Courtney Ash and Ryan Smith with Aflac spoke to the Commission about their employee benefits plan. The discussion was tabled.
• Christopher Robin and Carlos Pierce were hired as full time corrections officers with the jail.
• The Commission approved Sheriff John Shearon’s request to surplus the department’s 2015 Dodge 2500. He would like to trade it in for a half-ton pickup in order to save on fuel consumption.
• Hunter Hurst was hired as a part-time deputy.
• Billy Fulmer was reclassified as a part-time deputy.
• Kenneth Thorton was reclassified as a full-time corrections officer.
• Krystal Colon Franqui was hired as a part-time corrections officer.
• An architect contract agreement for the Minooka Park boathouse was approved.
• A resolution was passed for Chilton County Transit to enter into a contract with Chilton/Shelby Mental Health for fiscal year 2020.
• It was approved for Chilton County Transit to enter into a contract with the Arc of Shelby County from Oct. 2019 to Dec. 2019.
• Commissioner Jimmie Hardee was named to the ACCA Legislative Committee.
• Permission was approved for Chilton County Transit to advertise to hire a part-time driver.
• Van Forrester was appointed to the CAPTE Board with Whitney Barlow as his alternate.
• A resolution was approved for the appraisal and mapping budget. Commissioner Allen Caton abstained because he was not there when it was being discussed.
• Commissioner Steve Langston proposed Anna Lockhart for the Chilton Water Board. She was the board’s recommendation.
• The Commission approved the minutes from the Aug. 27 meeting.
• The Commission approved to pay its bills.