By Hamilton Richardson
Elmore/Autauga News
Top Photo: District 5 Commissioner Larry Stoudemire holds up a copy of a request for information from a District 5 resident at Tuesday’s Autauga County Commission meeting.
There was a full house at this week’s Autauga County Commission meeting as county leaders discussed several matters pertaining to the Sheriff’s Office, Senior Services, County Extension events and comments from local residents.
After a brief approval of the April 19, 2022 meeting minutes, the approval of invoices through May 3, 2022 and the authorization for the Chairman and Treasurer to issue warrants for payment, the Consent Docket and the approval to send to the Legislative Reference Service proposed legislation in reference to alcohol and Sunday sales, Sheriff Joe Sedinger approached the commission.
Sedinger stood as Commission Chairman Jay Thompson brought to the governing body the approval to accept the resignation of Thomas Farris, Deputy Sheriff and to hire a replacement. Also discussed was the approval to hire Adam Grant, Deputy Sheriff, Grade 6: STPE 5 (pending background check and drug test), to replace Thomas Hill. Both items were approved.
Larry Nixon, Jail Warden, was next to approach the commission for the approval to accept the resignation of Martevion George, Full Time Jailer and to acknowledge the NJLCA Leadership for Sgt. Melinda Woods. Both measures were approved.
Also approved during the night’s meeting were the hiring of Mason Miller as Real Property Appraiser, the amending of certain budget line items for Senior Services, the approval of and the waving of fees for two events (Fall Festival and Farm City) presented by County Extension Coordinator Darrue Stewart and the approval to appoint Al Mitchell to the Autauga County Department of Human Resources Board to complete the term of Randy Tucker, expiring July 1, 2026.
Items 15 and 16 on the agenda involved the comments from two Autauga County residents.
First to address the commission was Jack Morgan, who began his comments by saying, “Last meeting we had a discussion and Mr. Stoudemire came up with an idea dealing with road condition to do a road per district every year and when he came up with the idea, no one jumped in and said ‘OK that sounds like a good idea.’”
Morgan said that roads that have been prepared to be paved have still not been paved and he asked why none of the other commissioners have come up with a plan.
Morgan then began to ask about parks and why improvement has not been done in Old Kingston Park in District 5.
Commissioner John Thrailkill spoke up to address the issue.
“Commissioner Stoudemire and I sat down with our administrator and we went over in depth the reason they said we were turned down for a grant. We acknowledged the things that need to be done—there was some rust on a swing set. We’re making a list and we acknowledged the things that need to be addressed. So, they’re going to happen and we want to reapply for that grant.”
To that, Commissioner Stoudemire agreed that what Thrailkill had said was accurate.
“We look forward to doing some things and applying for the grant for that park but they denied it for whatever reason,” Thrailkill said.
Morgan then said that there is money from The American Rescue Plan that could be spent and Stoudemire jumped in saying that other counties have spent ARPA funds already.
“We did not let the people know we have $11 million,” he said. “If we sit around a round table and everybody discuss things, we probably wouldn’t have these problems.”
The District 5 Commissioner then suggested that the commission begin to have work sessions to discuss issues before they get to the public meeting.
Thrailkill assured Morgan that commissioners regularly communicate with each other discussing important issues.
Next up was Jackie Speigner who said, “I came to you all about the ARP money. I asked you all have you decided or have a discussion on how you want to spend the money and you said no. I had submitted a form asking for how the money was going to be spent. I never got an answer.”
Speigner brought a copy of her paperwork to give to each commissioner to look over.
“I would like for you to read over it and I will come back to you at the next session and see if we can get some money to help us with this project of one of the oldest cemeteries in Autauga County. We’re asking for some of this $10.84 million– $100,000 is really just a drop in the bucket.”
Speigner also questioned the commission spending $325,000 for legal advice regarding ARPA funds from Investing in Alabama Counties (IAC) when the county already has a lawyer.
Thompson explained that IAC provides expertise on the usage of federal funds.
Speigner brought up information she said that she had read in a media news article that had listed all of the county’s priorities for ARPA funds and wondered why that hadn’t been made public. She also asked about whether $2 million had been given to the Pine Level Fire Department.
“Nobody’s made the decision to give anybody anything,” said Thompson.
Stoudemire said, “Anything to do with that ARP money, I know nothing about.”
Before the District 5 resident sat down, she questioned whether the commission could limit her comments to three minutes when there was no work session prior to the commission meeting.
Next on the agenda was a proposed discussion regarding the non-profit agency, Seat of Mercy, however the speaker listed did not show up.
Lastly, before the meeting was adjourned, County Engineer John Mark Davis stood before the commission for the approval of the Subdivision Interstate Business Park-Office Park on Jesse Samuel Hunt Blvd.
