By Sherri Blevins
On March 8, 2022, the DeKalb County Commission met for its March meeting.
Road Superintendent Tom Broyles updated the Commission on happenings within his department. Broyles reported that the County had received all the new trucks previously ordered for the year, and the surplus trucks had been delivered to the auction site for sale on March 15. Broyles then updated the Commission on the progress with the County Road 835 project. He said that excavation began at the bottom of the road, but due to the wetness in the work area, he didn’t know how long they could work there. Finally, Broyles stated that his crews had begun the prep work for all the paving projects the County is slated to complete this year.
Broyles made three requests of the Commissioners, and they were approved. He requested the hiring of Donny Cruze at the road department and the posting of a new position for the District 1 crew. He also asked that a road department scraper be declared surplus and sold at the upcoming auction.
County Engineer Luther asked the Commissioners to award the Herbicide Application Bid for contracting the herbicide road treatments for the year to Kellis Vegetation Management at $154,500. A different company, Helena, had the low bid, but the company was not licensed, which disqualified it from being considered. Luther then explained the need for the Commission to approve the ALDOT Funding Agreement for County Road 835. Because the County needs to acquire additional land for the project, an archaeological study of the land must be completed for ALDOT to reimburse the County 80% for the cost of the study. The Commission approved both measures.
The Commission also approved the following requests:
• Hire Lonnie Harrell and Eddie Freeman for part-time as needed positions at the Courthouse for the Sheriff’s Department
• Hire Angie Cornell for the Revenue Department
• Award bid of $518,182.00 to Modular Connection to construct two multipurpose facilities; one at Kilpatrick and one at Cartersville
• Approve ARPA Communications Resolution committing up to $2,000,000,000.00 for the new County-wide Communications System (This is a joint venture between many parties.)
President Harcrow announced the dates for the spring clean-up opportunity at the Sand Lake Landfill, and he thanked David Hollinshed for the landfill’s contribution of not charging the County for the use of the dumpsters. Residents may bring their large unwanted items to the landfill on these dates: April 13-17, 20-23, and 27-30. County Sanitation Officer Roger Byrd will be there to oversee the operation. Participants may bring their items from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm on the announced dates.
The next meeting will be on April 12, 2022.