The Chilton County Commission approved to help the Sheriff’s Office cover damage expenses occurred during the recovery of the crashed helicopter in Lake Mitchell in November.

The Commission approved the Sheriff’s request for $1,620 to pay for the damage that the heavy equipment and vehicles did to a local resident’s property during its meeting on April 9.

The crash site was in a difficult area to reach, and the resident offered up her property to be used by emergency personnel.

“It is on private property, but we are the ones that created the damage,” Commissioner Jimmie Hardee said.

The decision to help pay was passed with a 6-1 vote. Commissioner Joe Headley abstained, stating that he had not seen the damaged property in question and had not heard about the situation until the meeting.

The Commission also agreed to renew the call, text and email application system that the county has been using as their primary weather notification system.

It was approved to begin the process of taking down all the weather sirens in the county.

According to EMA Director Derrick Wright, the siren system is “not effective anymore” to properly alert people when a disaster strikes.

Commissioner Matt Mims asked county engineer Tony Wearren for an update on the County Road 51 paving project.

Wearren informed the Commission the widening and sealing was done on County Road 51. The next step will be laying the asphalt, which is expected to begin near the end of the week if the rain holds off.

In other news from the meeting:

• A lengthy executive session was held in the middle of the meeting to discuss a potentially pending legal matter.
• The Commission approved the preliminary plat for the Peach Meadows subdivision phase 2 located off County Road 49 and developed by Denny Carrol.
• Brian Everling spoke during the public comments portion about his hopes for the proposed farm center to collaborate to help bring a healthier and happier life to the people of Chilton County by finding ways to tie into improvements in research fields such as health, exercise and fresh water.
• Butch Billingsley was appointed to the Chilton County 911 Board as president of the volunteer fire association.
• Whitney Barlow withdrew her name from consideration for the Chilton/Shelby Mental Health Board. Terry Connell was nominated by Commission chairman Joseph Parnell and was voted onto the board.
• No nominees were named for the Board of Equalization. It was tabled.
• A resolution was agreed upon to sign a franchise agreement with Spectrum.
• A resolution was agreed to have administrator Sylvia Singleton continue to receive quarterly distributions from Renasant Bank.
• The Commission approved the minutes from the March 26 meeting.
• The Commission approved to pay its bills.