County agrees to ADEM requirements for second landfill purchase

Coffee County Commissioners agreed to purchase additional insurance related to the acquisition of the Brundidge Landfill during a July 22 meeting.

The credit enhancement is arranged through an agreement with Bond Safeguard Insurance Company for the purpose of financing the closure of the facility, if it was to close while under Coffee County's ownership.

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management requires this additional insurance, as an entity can only self-insure a single landfill and the county already owns and operates the Coffee County Landfill.

In other news, commissioners agreed to contribute $15,000 to offset the construction costs of the expansion at HS Automotive Alabama in Enterprise, which is planned to create more than 100 new jobs in the county.

Commission Chairman Tom Grimsley said the contribution was inexpensive compared to what is to be gained through the expansion.

In other business, commissioners agreed to allow the Coffee County Water Authority to apply for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to expand water services into the New Hope community.

the CCWA would only be required to cover $36,290 of the $386,290 project, if the grant is awarded.

At the request of county engineer Randy Tindell, commissioners also agreed to change the county’s policy on underground pipes.

According to Tindell, only corrugated metal or reinforced concrete pies would be allowed.

Residents requesting a driveway pipe must contact the engineer’s office to have someone from the department measure for an appropriately-sized pipe.

Residents can elect to obtain the pipe themselves or have the county furnish the pipe at a prescribed rate.

The pipes shall be a minimum of 30 feet width and a maximum of 100 feet in length.

Pipes greater than 100 feet must be approved by the engineer’s office to ensure proper roadway drainage is provided, and residents must also provide drop inlet structures for pipes exceeding the maximum length.

Commissioners also granted Sherriff Dave Sutton permission to adjust the salaries of three correctional officers and one sheriff’s deputy by 32 cents.

Sutton said an error in the department’s budget was to blame.

The increase would equal $2,100 for all four employees annually, but Sutton said the funds were available in the current budget and the increase wouldn’t require any additional funds.

Sutton also said a new refrigeration unit has been successfully installed at the Coffee County Jail, an upgrade approved at a previous meeting.

In other business, Coffee County Constable Glen Woodard addressed the commission with concerns of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, which he claimed the Sutton had failed to provide.

Woodard said he sent a request for the Coffee County Sherriff’s Department’s budget and additional information on gun permits and licensing on June 6.

“Alabama law provides citizens with right to inspect public record as long as they don’t compromise securities or facilities,” Woodard said.

Woodard said he’s been heavily involved in recent state level legislation pertaining to a change in Alabama’s gun laws.

“I was surprised at how often one of my colleagues reported seeing Sheriff Sutton at the Capitol Building when gun laws were the topic for consideration,” Woodard said. “Sheriff Sutton is an officer in the Alabama Sheriffs Association, a private entity of 67 county sheriffs, none of whom are the Sherriff’s constituents. I’m concerned our law enforcement dollars may have been used for his agenda and that private group.”

Woodard, a strong supporter of Second Amendment Rights, addressed the commission during a March working session about Sutton’s support of House Bill 55, and Senate Bill 129.

Grimsley told Woodard all of the department’s budgets are available to the public, adding County Administrator Rod Morgan would happy to help Woodard with the information he was looking for.

Woodard said he would still require extra information on gun permits, of which the sheriff’s department would have possession.

Other actions taken by the commission:

• Agreed to contract out the painting of steel underneath bridges on County Roads 410, 427, 473 and 342 using federal aid funds.
• Agreed to begin the process of applying for grants to purchase delivery vans for the county’s senior centers.
• Agreed to seek bids for cellular phone service
• Approved a resolution authorizing an agreement with the Choctawhatchee, Pea and Yellow Rivers Watershed Management authority to create a rip-rap flume on Coffee County Road 642, which would help prevent erosion.