After a public hearing was held Tuesday evening in the Crenshaw County Commission Chambers, the Commission voted to close a portion of Horse Creek Road.

Property owners Mike and Tammy Morgan had brought the request to close a portion of the road to the commission during a work session on March 26.

At Tuesday evening's public hearing, all of the seats in the commission chambers were filled with residents who spoke for and against the road's closing.

&#8220We have a big problem with people dumping garbage along the road; they dump deer carcasses, and lots of teenagers go drinking and mud riding back there,” Tammy Morgan said.

Resident Lamon Killough stood up and spoke on behalf of his brother, Lomax Killough.

&#8220We've owned that land for 80 years,” Killough said. &#8220This road is used as part of running our farmŠ.Why shouldn't we be able to use a public road that already exists?”

The Morgans plan to put up gates along the road that co-exists with their land.

&#8220We have already told Mr. Killough that we would give him a key to the gate,” Morgan said. &#8220We're not trying to be ugly about this.”

Mike Morgan said that they would maintain the road.

The portion of unpaved road to be vacated by the county is located on County Road 77 north/Ivy Creek Road to Little Horse Creek Road. Approximately two miles of road will be vacated by the county.

County Engineer Benjie Sanders said that an easement could run from County Road 77 to Killough's property and then stop.

The commission unanimously passed a resolution to close that portion of the road.

In other business, the commission approved the purchasing of plywood and insulation and the hiring of someone to install it in three polling places, Danielville, Panola and Pleasant Home.

Also, the commission voted not to fund a victim service officer for the county. Janet Leigh Nichols, who has served as the county's victim service officer for the last two years, had asked the commission at its last regular meeting to consider helping to fund her position, which had been funding by a federal grant under a pilot program. The grant runs out Thursday, May 31.

All of the commissioners voted against funding for Nichols' position except for Commissioner Charlie Sankey, Jr.

Anita West was reappointed to serve on the South Central Mental Health Board.

The commission also unanimously approved adding a driver's license background check to the current personnel policy for county employees.

Commission Chairman Ronnie Hudson announced that local legislation had been approved by the State Legislature as of Tuesday, May 29. This includes the $2 fee increase on residents' water bills that will fund the county's E-911 system. None of these bills will appear on next Tuesday's ballot, however.

Also, County Administrator Doris Thomas will officially retire Thursday, May 31. The commission appointed the county's Assistant Administrator David Smyth as the new county administrator effective June 1.

Thomas will continue to work part-time in the Commission Office two days a week.

County Engineer Benjie Sanders presented the commission with the 2007 Maintenance Inspection Report for Crenshaw County.

According to the Alabama Dept. of Transportation inspection results, the paved roads in Crenshaw County received an overall score of 89.3, with 83 being the state average as of last year. Any road failing the inspection would have received a score of 70 or below. The county had no paved roads receiving a failing score.

Sanders has been county engineer since 2000.

&#8220I know not every road is in great shape, but we've shown improvements every year,” Sanders said.

Both Chairman Ronnie Hudson and Commissioner Ed Beasley congratulated Sanders on the report.

&#8220I commend you and your department,” Beasley said. &#8220The grades continue to climb.”

The next regular Crenshaw County Commission meeting will be held at 9 a.m. on Monday, June 11.