A public hearing was held at the Crenshaw County Courthouse Monday morning concerning the possible closing of McDougle Road, an unoccupied, unpaved county road.

McDougle Road is located southeast of Luverne and extends from County Road 6 north to North Franklin Road. It is approximately 1.694 miles in length.

Even though a handful of citizens were present, there was no opposition during the public hearing.

The commission voted to officially close and vacate McDougle Road.

Crenshaw County Commissioner Ronnie Hudson said that Comm. Ed Beasley had been instrumental in &#8220getting this thing pushed through.”

County Engineer Benjie Sanders said that his department would begin the process of taking up any county signs.

&#8220It will be up to the private landowners next to the road to put up any barricades,” Sanders said. &#8220And, the maintenance of the road will also come from the landowners.”

In other business, Crenshaw County Sheriff Charles West told the commission that he wanted to hire two part-time deputies, but he requested that the county commission fund their salaries instead of having to pay those salaries out of the sheriff department's pistol permit fund.

County Commission Administrator Doris Thomas told West that it was &#8220not in the budget.”

Crenshaw County Emergency Management Agency Director Anita West addressed the commission concerning moving a generator to the new E-911 building.

&#8220The issue was that we would have two generators at the EMA building,” West said. &#8220But, we didn't know it would cost $10,000 to put it in.”

West said that in an emergency situation, the courthouse would be closed, and the EMA office would be an emergency command center.

The commission voted to use the existing generator for the EMA building and for E-911 and to determine at a later date the intended use for the additional generator.

West also reported that the old EMA truck would be transferred to County Engineer Benjie Sanders and the county highway department for $5,000.

She also said that Honoraville Volunteer Fire Department had received a $185,725 FEMA Fire Grant to buy new equipment.

Sanders told the commission that the resurfacing project for County Road 68had begun and that the main roadway work should be completed in approximately two to three weeks. However, he said that the entire project would take several weeks.

The county commission voted to give the tower at the old county jail to the Luverne Fire and Rescue.

Jack Jones came before the commission with a proposal to have the damaged ceiling tiles in the Tom Harbin Farm Center replaced.

&#8220The total project would cost approximately $1,000,” Jones said.

Commissioners Hudson and Beasley agreed that the work could be done with a $500 match with in-kind for RC&D, and that inmates might be used to complete the labor. This motion was approved by the commission.

In other business, the commission approved an invoice from Crenshaw Animal Clinic for $366 for unwanted animal care.

Also, a letter sent from Attorney Mike Jones on Aug. 16 petitioning the closing of a portion of Linda Lane and Chimney Road was denied.

The next regular meeting of the Crenshaw County Commission will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 23.