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The Covington County Commission heard a special performance from the Pleasant Home School FFA String Band and approved several business items during a regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, June 24.

The meeting opened with the PHS String Band performing the same three songs that earned them top honors at the state FFA competition earlier this month. Sponsored by Karen Castleberry and Karen McGlaun, the group includes Presley Kelley, Kate Kelley, Vera Warner, Charlie Steele, Dalton Holloway, and Jacob Kelley. The commission recognized the band with proclamations celebrating their first-place wins at both the South District and State FFA contests.

Commissioners also presented a proclamation to the South Alabama Radio Club and declared June 23–29 as Amateur Radio Week in Covington County.

Under new business, the commission reviewed a resolution proposed by the Opp City Schools Board of Education. Superintendent Ted Watson had previously requested the resolution’s adoption to support a bond issue backed by an existing sales tax.

“The City of Opp is looking to secure a bond using a half-cent sales tax that was already passed in 2017. This resolution helps ensure the commission won’t revoke the tax,” Chairman Michael Smith said.

The sales tax resolution died due to a lack of a second.

The commission unanimously approved a Sales Tax Holiday Resolution, reaffirming participation in Alabama’s annual tax-free events for back-to-school shopping and severe weather preparedness.

“In this year’s legislative session, the state changed the process counties must follow to opt into local sales and use tax exemptions. Covington County has historically participated in these holidays, and this resolution simply updates our compliance with the new state requirements,” County Attorney Morgan Arrington said.

“This is essentially the same holiday participation we’ve had before but just a new form and language from the state,” Smith added.

Revenue Commissioner Chuck Patterson presented and received approval for the county’s 2024 report on insolvents, errors, and tax litigations. He also shared updates on property tax trends for 2025.

“We’ve wrapped up 2024 and distributed funds to all relevant entities. Unfortunately, some businesses, often small, local ones, were unable to pay their taxes, which is not uncommon,” Patterson said.

In other business, the commission:

• Approved change orders for the ADA ramp project at the courthouse, including upgrades to aluminum railings and replacement of all perimeter handrails.
• Authorized Administrator Karen Sowell to obtain an appraisal for real property.
• Reappointed Chairman Michael Smith and Sheriff Blake Turman to the Covington County E-911 Board. Their previous terms expired in May.
• Announced the upcoming expiration of four terms for the Personnel Review Board in July.
• Tabled a retail beer license request for Beat Da Beach, formerly Ole Country Store, pending further review and discussion.
• Approved a three-year employee contract for County Engineer Lynn Ralls who has worked with the county since 2000 and has served as engineer since 2016.
• Approving the solicitation of bids for coarse aggregate sandstone for the Engineer’s Department.
• Received updates from Ralls on ongoing bridge projects, road grading, and right-of-way maintenance. Ralls cited recent rains as a cause for delays and asked for the public’s continued patience.

The next workshop of the Covington County Commission will be held on Thursday, July 3, and the next meeting will be on Tuesday, July 8. Both are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. The public is encouraged to attend.