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The Covington County Commission heard a review from the revenue commissioner and approved an addition to a voting precinct at a regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday, June 27.

Chuck Patterson announced the county had closed out the fiscal year 2022 with total insolvents, errors, and tax litigations at just over $14.4 million.

“We collected almost $14.5 million with last year’s property taxes. We sold 71 parcels at the tax sale and had one parcel go to the state that we did not collect on. Overall, it was a very good year for the county, and 2022 is finished. We are all in balance with the state, and everything is good for the year,” Patterson said.

The commission approved an addition to the Marvin Odom Voting House at the request of Probate Judge Stacy Brooks. The commission approved $7,000 from capital improvement funds for materials toward the project.

“This is the only small voting precinct we maintain. It is 14 by 16 feet with a handicapped-accessible restroom that takes up about 6 by 8 feet of the entire building. It is very small, and with the election equipment we have today, it is not adequate and very cramped. Closing is not an option, but we can put in a 10 by 16 foot addition on the front or back to have two separate rooms. One would be for signing in to vote, while the other would be for people to strictly vote,” Kevin Kennedy said.

Kennedy added that the project should be completed by next spring.

“The best time would be when the grass cutting is not so heavy because we do a lot of that. It probably won’t be done by this November, but we should be able to get inside it by March next year. The grass cutting would probably have to be done next fall.”

In other business:

• The commission approved retroactive out-of-state travel for the revenue commissioner to attend a conference. Commission policy states that any out-of-state travel by County officials or employees must be approved by the commission at an open meeting.
• The commission approved an appointment for Harold Clark to serve on the Covington County Personnel Review Board. A second appointment will be made at a future meeting.
• The commission approved improvements to the Covington Center Arena, which include modifications to the vent hood inside the arena. The total cost approved was $6,729 from capital improvement funds.
• The commission approved an election to receive a Title I/Title III distribution payment from the U.S. Forest Service.
• The commission approved a proposal and agreement for legal services with Morgan Goodwin Arrington to serve as the commission’s county attorney. Stephanie Cotton previously served as the county attorney but resigned to take a position with the Alabama Department of Revenue.
• The commission approved the adopting of a resolution with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management for a grant.
• The commission approved a process to start procedures on closing Perry Road in the southern part of the county.
• The commission discussed an appropriation for Opp City Schools. No action was taken at the meeting, and subsequent talks will resume at a future meeting.
• The commission approved a request from Sheriff Blake Turman on a budget amendment to shift $7,000 from fuels to training for a minimum of six deputies.
• Chairman Greg White announced the commission’s second meeting of July would be cancelled due to commissioners attending a conference in Texas.

The next meeting of the Covington County Commission will be held Tuesday, July 11, 9 a.m. The public is invited to attend.