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The Covington County Commission adopted a preliminary list of projects to be paid through $7.2 million of ARPA funds received in response to the COVID pandemic at a regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday.

Those projects include working with LBW to resurface the college’s walking trail, renovating the jail, adding a building that will facilitate medical services, replacing the 25-year-old boiler system, investing in broadband infrastructure that will serve the rural parts of the county, and making improvements at the RV Campground and Park at Point A. “These are preliminary approvals for us to move forward with getting necessary professional services towards calculating estimates of costs and developing bids,” Chairman Greg White said.

The commission approved the Back to School Sales Tax Holiday this summer, which is scheduled to run from Friday, July 15 through Sunday, July 17, 2022. “I’m sure the cities will also approve it, so you’re talking about a 10 percent savings on whatever you buy that weekend.”

The commission approved a total of $1,250 ($250 from each commissioner) from discretionary funds to support the Covington County Youth Leadership Program.

The commission adopted two resolutions related to their participation in Improving Alabama Counties, which provides services to ensure compliance with federal and state laws, as they expend the ARPA funds.

“We elected to use the standard allowance for revenue replacement for the county’s ARPA (COVID) funds (which allows us more flexibility in the types of projects that can be funded) and also accepted a reduced administrative fee from our association for helping manage those projects,” White said.

In other business:

• The commission announced the appointment of a board member for OCAP (Organized Community Action Program), which meets in Troy quarterly.
• The commission approved the transfer of a 2007 GMC Envoy from the Senior Services Department to the arena for use in transporting inmates to and from the arena for work detail.
• The commission approved the purchase of two new Ford Explorers for the CCSO using the Sheriff’s discretionary funds with two vehicles currently in his fleet to be traded in toward those purchases.
• The commission approved the acceptance of two K9s by the CCSO from the Sheriff’s discretionary funds.
• The commission approved the purchase of a 12-month warranty for X-ray screening at the Covington County Jail.
• The commission approved a proposed contract with GovDeals.com, which is an online auction website handling the disposal of items through bids and auctions.
• The commission approved the emergency purchase of tires for the Engineer’s department.
• The commission approved the solicitation of bids for highway striping paint, reflective beads, and glass media.

The next meeting of the Covington County Commission will be held Tuesday, April 26, 9 a.m., at the Covington County Administration Building. The public is invited to attend.