County commissioners agreed Monday to spend approximately $20,000 to give employees a “one-time pay supplement,” in lieu of a cost of living adjustment.

Commissioner Carl Turman, who made the initial request, said since the county was unable to budget a COLA, he felt the measure “was a good gesture.”

“I wish we could do better,” he said of the supplement, which equates to $120 per full-time employee and $55 per part-time employee. Elected officials and any state- or court-appointed official are exempt from receiving the supplement.

The supplements will be paid to employees “as soon as possible,” commissioners agreed.

In other business, the commission:

learned the Covington County Sheriff’s Office was recently recognized by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. The CCSO received a first-place award for contact participation in a recent traffic safety initiative.

gave authorization for the sheriff’s office to solicit grant funds for a new fingerprinting machine for sex offender registration. If awarded, the $25,000 grant requires no match from the county.

granted an easement to the Natural Resources Conservation Service to repair a ditch in the northeast Yellow River drainage area.

awarded a plant mix bid to Wiregrass Construction Company.

negotiated a contract price for steel pilings with Skyline Metal.

announced there will be no other meeting for December and set Jan. 11, 2010, as the next meeting date.