At the regular meeting of the Greene County Commission, Chairman William Underwood told the commission that according to West Alabama Regional Commission two of the voting districts in the county needed to be redrawn.

“According to WARC, District One needs to give up 112 voters and District Two needs to acquire 112 voters,” he said.

Underwood offered two proposals designed by WARC that would even out the two districts. One was to take from Eutaw Elderly Village on U.S. Highway 11 to Eutaw City Hall and turning right and continuing North on Springfield Avenue  from District 1 and place these voters in District 2.

The other  proposal would not include the Elderly Village or Springfield Avenue but would take a portion of what he called outer Union from County Road 191 to Old Johnson Hill from District One and place the voters in that area in District 2.

The commission authorized the publication of the two proposals prepared by West Alabama Regional Commission.

Underwood explained that the proposals would first have to be publicized and then a series of public hearings held to get citizen input.

“After the public hearings were held, we can adopt one or the other. Or come up with another plan,” he said.

A motion was passed authorizing both the publication of the draft plans  and the public hearings.

During the public comment portion, Dr. Carol P. Zippert  asked that the commission make sure the public had been advised of and had access to the proposed plans for adjusting the districts before the pubic hearings were held.

Sheriff Benison changes

rules of bingo distribution

Tuesday morning, Courthouse employees were surprised to see posted on the outer door a copy of new rules and regulations from  Sheriff Joe Benison in regard to bingo.

Benison’s amendment was to reduce the money allotted to the County by 50% until the Sheriff had accumulated $40,000 which he says is to pay his legal fees.

The amendment concluded with the following statement:

“The Greene County Bingo Rules and Regulations, Section Four (4) are amended such that any  monies due to be paid to the County Commission will be reduced by fifty percent (50%),  with the reduction to be paid to the Sheriff’s Department until such time as the Sheriff’s Department has accumulated $40,000 from the reduction amount diverted from the County Commission. After Forty Thousand Dollars $40,000 is collected this amendment is null and void.”

The commission members were not at all agreeable to this change but were told by their attorney, Senator Hank Sanders, that under Amendment 743, the Sheriff of Greene County has broad powers which allow him to amend bingo rules and regulations.

“What can the county do from a legal point of view?” asked Underwood.

“There is very little the county can do,” replied Sanders.

“There has got to be a happy medium,” said Commissioner Allan Turner.

All the commissioners agreed that there needed to be a meeting between the commission and Benison to fully discuss the matter.

Prior to beginning the regular agenda, Commissioner Underwood asked that everyone rise for a moment of silence honoring County Payroll Clerk Ms. Vivica Spencer, who died recently. A resolution is being prepared honoring her life.

In her report to the commission, Ms.  Paula Bird, CFO, said that the financial report is not available. She said she is currently searching and entering all invoices from 2010 and 2011 and will have a report as soon as possible, but not for this meeting.

In his status report, Underwood announced that the Foster/Ralph Water Authority had agreed to provide the commission with a list of their customers in Greene County. This is necessary for the county to be able to include those citizens in the mandatory garbage pick-up.

In other business, the commission:

*Authorized sending a bill to the Sheriff for the approximately $4,000 needed to repair the road leading to the Greene County Jail;

*Reappointed two members of the Greene County Department of Human Resources.  District 3 Commissioner Elzora Fluker reappointed Mrs. Ethel Ross and District 2 Commissioner Tennyson Smith reappointed John M. Warren, Jr.

*Approved bids for materials needed by the Greene County Highway Department. County Engineer Arzo Abrams had recommended that the county reject bids received on petroleum products and go with the State Bid recommendations. This, he said, would be approximately seven cents a gallon cheaper than any other bid they had gotten.  This was also approved.

During public comment, Lester Brown suggested that there needed to be a county-wide meeting with the commissioners and Sheriff Benison and all interested citizens.

“We elected him but we are not holding him accountable,” said Brown