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The Covington County Commission passed a resolution to transfer the county’s remaining American Rescue Plan Act funds into the general fund during a regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 3.

According to administrator Karen Sowell, all funds have to be obligated by Dec. 31, 2024.

“We are running out of time to do anything else as far as adding projects. I am asking (the commission) to consider a resolution that allows us to move money we previously discussed and for any remaining funds to be obligated as eligible by the law that governs this funding,” Sowell said.

“This resolution allows us to transfer the money into our general fund for equipment we have already purchased. It basically frees up the money to bring it into our general fund,” Chairman Michael Smith added.

The commission approved the Second Amendment Association of County Commissions of Alabama Membership Agreement.

“They help us with our ARPA funds and make sure we follow all the steps that are provided by the federal government. The agreement was enforced through December of 2024, but they have opted to increase it to Dec. 31, 2027. No additional fees are needed; they just need us to enter into the agreement. It helps with oversight to make sure we maintain the program all the way through the end of the reporting periods,” Sowell said.

The commission approved the purchase of a six-passenger, handicap-accessible van for the Covington Area Transit Service. Under an 85-15 cost-share agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation, the total purchase of the van is $88,937, and the county will only be required to pay $13,341.

“ALDOT is offering a buy-one, get-one option for a limited time. CATS does not qualify because we do not have a vehicle to turn in, but we have been told they would pay 85 percent towards one for administration to see the program grow,” CATS Director Tami Baxley said.

In other business:

• Chairman Michael Smith announced a vacancy on the seven-member E-911 board due to the resignation of Thomas Hugghins in November. Applications will be accepted and considered at the next meeting in January.
• The commission approved the awarding of a bid for local lime base/rock to CR Pate Logging/Brooklyn Limestone, which was the lone bidder.
• The commission authorized county engineer Lynn Ralls to negotiate with contractors for a red iron building. Ralls said no bids were received for the project by the deadline, and pricing options will be presented at a future meeting.
• The commission approved the awarding of a bid for steel piling to Skyline Steel, which was the lone bidder. Ralls said the steel piling would be used for the Indian Creek Bridge project, and the total cost would be approximately $54,663.
• The commission approved declaring several items in the Engineer’s Department as surplus. Items include two John Deere tractors, four 2006-2008 trucks with over 300,000 miles each, three Volvo excavators, and one roller. Ralls will advertise these items through an online auction such as GovDeals or JM Wood.
• The commission approved the purchase of a Mack 550 truck chassis at a cost of $54,068. Ralls said existing equipment from the old truck would be installed on the new chassis, which replaces the Engineer Department’s existing fuel truck.
• The commission allocated $219,094 to resurface approximately one mile of Edgar Farm Road in District 1. Dist. 1 commissioner Ben Courson and Dist. 2 commissioner Robbie Weaver voted in favor of the project, while Dist. 3 commissioner Lynne Holmes and Dist. 4 commissioner Tommy McGaha opposed the project. Smith broke the 2-2 tie vote in favor of the project.
• The commission granted permission for IT director Eric Jernigan to surplus 149 decommissioned phones and donate 10 phones to the City of Opp.

Following the meeting, the commission entered an executive session but did not take any action during the session.

The commission will hold its first workshop of the new year on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, at 9 a.m. The next meeting of the Covington County Commission will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 14, at 9 a.m. The public is invited to attend both.