The Chilton County Commission unanimously approved resolutions requested by Billy Singleton with the Chilton County Airport Authority during its meeting on Feb. 12.

The first resolution was the yearly authorization by the Commission to sign and execute the 2019 Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Program Grant document.

The program is designed to continue to focus on the capital improvement plan laid out by the airport.

“One of our goals is to be self-sustaining financially,” Singleton said.

According to Singleton, the county is currently only responsible for 38 percent of the airport’s operating costs.

“I think we’ll continue to see good things moving forward,” Singleton said.

A second resolution was passed that authorized the Chilton County Road Department to provide personnel and equipment needed for the demolition and removal of seven structures located on property acquired by the airport in 2018.

According to Singleton, there will be no time frame placed on the project, only when the road department has time permitting. It will not prevent from doing other county business.

It was also stated in the resolution that the specific expenses by the road department would be reimbursed through the 2019 Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Program.

The airport is anticipating $1.3 million in 2019 grants.

The Commission also approved Singleton’s final request to support the efforts of the Chilton County 150th Anniversary Committee in coordination with the Alabama Historical Commission or the Alabama Historical Association to obtain a historic marker dedicated to the establishment and history of the county.

An appropriate location for the marker will be selected by the Chilton County Commission in the future.

Commission chairman Joseph Parnell informed the public that the Association of County Commissioners of Alabama has asked the Commission for its support of a state gas tax.

However, the request was tabled until further details about the tax are ironed out.

According to Parnell, he does not want to back something without knowing the specifics.

In other news from the meeting:

• The preliminary plat of the North Pines subdivision was approved. It is a trailer park of three lots located off County Road 95 and is being developed by Timothy Logan. Commissioner Joe Headley was the lone opposition.
• The preliminary plat of the Blackberry Hill subdivision was approved. It is a trailer park of three lots located off County Road 213 and is being developed by Jackie Logan. Headley was the lone opposition.
• A line item transfer of $19,000 in gasoline was approved.
• Tony Pearson, Travis Marler and Fred Simmons were added to the road department payroll as truck drivers.
• Alex Davison was added to the road department payroll as a mechanic co-op.
• A 2006 F250 service truck was transferred from the road department to the courthouse maintenance crew.
• The final plat of the Arbor Pointe of Lake Mitchell subdivision was approved. It is a single-family development of three lots located off County Road 264 and is being developed by Andrew George.
• Probate Judge Jason Calhoun thanked the Commission for the replacement of the floor in his office, while Judge Chris Speaks thanked them for the new courtroom doors. “Y’all went above and beyond even what I was expecting,” Speaks said.
• The Sheriff’s Office was given permission to declare a 2016 Ford Explorer, 1988 Chevrolet maintenance truck and 2007 Toyota Camry as surplus.
• Billy Scarbrough was hired as a full-time deputy SRO with the Sheriff’s Office.
• Brian Stracener, Rachel Mims and Freeman Ellison were reclassified as SROs with the Sheriff’s Office.
• Nathan Bland and Justin Mims were hired as full-time deputies with the Sheriff’s Office.
• Robbie Smitherman, Selena Patterson, Cindy Shultz, Ashley Peters, Brandon Dennis and Josh Tatum were hired as part-time correction officers with the Sheriff’s Office.
• Christie Tillis was reclassified to full-time with Chilton County Transit.
• The Commission approved a request for Chilton County Transit to advertise to hire a part-time driver.
• The start times for the Feb. 26 Commission meeting have been changed. A work session is now scheduled for 6 p.m. with the meeting to follow at 7 p.m.
• Taylor Hatchett was appointed to the DHR Board.
• The Chilton/Clanton Public Library will have its contact link added to the county website. No cost will be required for the addition.
• A resolution was approved to add the signatures of the chairman and administrator to the road department loan with River Bank & Trust. The loan is $1,245,841.
• The ADECA signatory was updated with the current chairman and administrator.
• Jeff Williams was re-appointed to the Chilton Water Authority Board.
• A work session was scheduled for March 5 at 6 p.m. to discuss the finalization of the employee handbook.
• The commission approved to pay its bills.