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The Covington County Commission named two board appointments and approved a three-year term for the administrator at a regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday, Oct. 24.

The commission approved appointing Dwight Mikel to the Personnel Review Board to fill a term expiring July 15, 2025. Candidates for a second opening on the board will be discussed at a future meeting.

“I have an applicant I would like for you to consider: Dwight Mikel. He worked for parks and recreation here for 38 plus years as a public employee, supervisor, and administrator. I think he has the experience needed to review personnel (issues), so I would like to submit his name,” Dist. 3 Commissioner Lynne Holmes said. “I would like to second Lynne’s recommendation of Dwight Mikel after knowing him for so long,” Dist. 4 Commissioner Tommy McGaha added.

The commission approved the re-appointment of Donald Barton to the South Alabama Regional Airport Authority board.

“Donald has served for a number of years. He has a keen interest in the activities in and around the airport and is a faithful contributor to their meetings. I have the opportunity to attend several of their meetings, and he only misses when his health keeps him from going,” Chairman Greg White said. “He is always very active and energetic to keep in tune with everything going at the airport. I make a motion that we re-appoint Donald,” Dist. 2 Commissioner Michael Smith added.

The commission addressed a landowner’s request for a family cemetery.

“I have received additional facts since the commission received the initial request, and there is nothing relative to this request that this commission needs to do. There is no action here because this qualifies as a family burial plot. You (the commission) has no further role,” County Attorney Morgan Arrington said. “I think it would be smart for the family to file a description of the cemetery in my recording department, so it is on public record. I don’t know if there is anything that requires that,” Probate Judge Stacy Brooks added.

In other business:

• The commission approved a grant agreement for Covington Area Transit System with the State of Alabama. Under the agreement, the first $100,000 of the CATS budget is covered at 100 percent, which is a $20,000 savings to the commission.

• The commission approved an overtime grant with funding providing by ADECA for the Sheriff’s Department. CCSO Chief Deputy Todd Grimes said the time most commonly used by deputies is from 3 p.m. until midnight, and they must sign a provided sheet stating which hours they are requesting to work.

• The commission approved the solicitation of bids for three patrol vehicles in the Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff Blake Turman said local and state bids were unsuccessful, but an out-of-state option has become available.

• The commission discussed the $7,500 purchase of a new K-9 for patrol. This K-9 would serve as a narcotics dog and not an attack dog. No action was taken at the meeting, and the matter will be discussed further at a future meeting.

• The commission postponed discussion for out-of-state training in the Sheriff’s Department to the next meeting.

• The commission approved a contract renewal with an additional three-year term for Karen Sowell as the county administrator. Sowell will receive the same 5 percent COLA raise as other county employees in the current year.

• The commission approved the solicitation of bids for a new or used loader in the County Engineer’s department.

• The commission approved the declaring of a 2006 Ford F-250 truck with approximately 203,000 miles as surplus.

• The commission approved committing to the paving of Christy Lane, with the commission providing in-kind services, for a proposal to construct a 55-and-over retirement home in the area.

The next meeting of the Covington County Commission will be held Tuesday, Nov. 14, 9 a.m., at the Covington County Administration Building. The public is invited to attend.