The Chilton County Commission honored Chilton County Circuit Judge Sibley Reynolds on Monday with a resolution acknowledging Reynolds being named the 2015 Citizen of the Year.

Commissioner Shannon Welch presented Reynolds with a framed copy of the resolution highlighting the work Reynolds has done in the county including his work to see a hospital open in Chilton County.

“We wanted to take the time to acknowledge someone who has been very active in his community,” Welch said.

Each year, a board made up of past Citizens of the Year nominates and selects a new recipient of the title.

Reynolds is the 12th Citizen of the Year, with past honorees including Hollis Jackson, Kenneth Moates, Bobby Martin, Curtis Smith, Jimmie Harrison Jr., Mickey Bates, Gay West, Tony Smitherman, Eddie Reed, Tom Brown and Allen Payton.

While Reynolds, a native of Chilton County has been a circuit judge for many years, he has also been instrumental in working as secretary of the Chilton County Healthcare Authority.

“I have been to a lot of meetings where he didn’t run the meeting, but the authorities in those meetings have a high regard for him and really respect him,” Welch said. “I felt it was a good thing for the commission to honor him.”

Those in attendance at the meeting applauded Reynolds as he accepted the resolution.

“Thank you all,” Reynolds said.

In one of the shortest commission meetings of 2015, commissioners voted to nominate Glen Pencoe and Billy Singleton to the Chilton County Airport Authority.

Commission Chairman Allen Caton told commissioners Pencoe and Singleton’s terms expire April 30, and it was the recommendation of the Airport Authority to re-nominate both men for the positions.

If no other commissioners have nominations for the board, commissioners could vote to appoint Pencoe and Singleton at the next commission meeting on March 23.

Caton also spoke to the commission regarding a recent meeting at Jefferson State Community College with a few local leaders who met to discuss incinerator waste with a company called WastAway.

Caton told commissioners the company is considering the possibility of opening a location in Chilton County.

“They told us they are looking at opening 10 plants across the United States, and they are interested in opening a location in Chilton County,” Caton said.

WastAway takes garbage from the trucks and loads it onto a conveyor belt to first shred the materials and then to extract metals that will be recycled. Glass and rocks are filtered out using high-pressure air, and then the remaining materials including things such as wood, plastic, or cardboard are shredded before being sterilized and decomposed into fluff.

“It was a really good meeting,” Caton said. “We don’t know how much more is going to come out of that meeting, but I wanted to let you all know. This is the future of garbage.”

Welch reminded commissioners of a prayer breakfast scheduled at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Birmingham on March 13 from 8-9:30 a.m.

Welch said he thought it would be important for the commissioners to attend.

“If anyone can come, I urge you to go and attend this important event,” Welch said.