By Sherri Blevins
FORT PAYNE – DeKalb County Commission President Rickey Harcrow presented the DeKalb County Homemakers and Community Leaders organization with a resolution declaring the second week of October as DeKalb County Homemakers and Community Leaders Week. Harcrow welcomed the delegation of club members to the October 10 Commission meeting and congratulated them on their nearly 100-year history of serving the community. He thanked them for their time and effort in serving others. Over the past year, the organization has volunteered 32,170 service hours and donated over $6,800.00 to various local charities.
President Harcrow invited Council on Aging Director Diane Callahan to explain the benefits of the Senior Rx program. Callahan stated, “This Senior Rx program is for seniors age 55 and up or those disabled of any age. Program representatives act as liaisons between the patients and the drug companies to get name brand medications free or at greatly reduced prices from the drug manufacturers.” Callahan said the program was very successful in 2022, helping the seniors in DeKalb County save $3,086,609.44 on drug costs.
The Senior Rx program is a part of the Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments (TARCOG), which comprises DeKalb, Jackson, Limestone, Madison, and Marshall counties. The combined savings for all five counties from the program was $7,225,382.80. Due to the diligent efforts of Callahan and her team, DeKalb County citizens saved more than any other individual county. Commissioner Wootten added that because of her efforts, DeKalb County seniors saved twice as much money as those in Madison County. Madison County’s population is 388,000, and DeKalb’s is 72,000, making it an even greater accomplishment.
Harcrow commended Callahan on her job performance and all the assistance she provides seniors. He encouraged anyone with questions to contact Callahan to see if they qualify for the program. Individuals may qualify for assistance if they meet one set of the following criteria: At least 55 with no prescription drug coverage, have a chronic medical condition and meet the annual household income limits, or have a disability at any age. If individuals have been deemed disabled by Social Security or have Medicare and have reached the Medicare Part D coverage gap, they may qualify.
During the meeting, the Commission approved the following actions:
- Hiring Heath Burns for the Road Department
- Obtaining bids for new crew leader pickup trucks for the Road Department
- Updating the Floodplain Development Ordinance
- Accepting Sunset Trace-Phase II subdivision roads as part of the County roads
- Extending the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge Lease for three years
- Hiring Deloris White as manager of the Fyffe Senior Center
- Accepting the resignation of Autumn Ballenger as a corrections officer
- Accepting the resignation of Nurse Lori Jackson from the Sheriff’s Department
- Promoting Tyce Lawhorn to Sergeant
County Engineer Ben Luther stated his department will be working to ensure that the updated Floodplain Development Ordinance is followed. He said the County is “out of the good graces” with FEEMA, which regulates flood insurance. Luther said the public must come to the County office to obtain building permits if they plan to build on an area deemed a floodplain. He said his office would educate the public on what requirements are needed for the public to continue to be eligible for flood insurance.
The Commission will meet again on October 24, 2023.