Willie Branch, new Assistant County Engineer

At the regular meeting of the Greene County Commission, Willie Branch was hired as assistant county engineer.

Branch said,  “I am looking  forward to working with and for the citizens  of Greene  County.”

Bennie Abrams  was appointed to the local Emergency  Planning Committee.  This brings the total number of members to this committee to 10, leaving one vacancy.

The commission approved the annual sales tax holiday prior to the opening of school.

In her finance report, Paula Bird  explained that there was $1,420,753.75 remaining in Citizens Bank; $698,372.83   in Merchants and Farmers Bank and $486,911.10 in the Bank of New York. Claims approved Monday night were a total of $387,525.48. This includes accounts payable and payroll.

Alonzo Thomas was appointed to the E-911 Board to replace William Underwood. Johnny L. Isaac was reappointed.

The contract with Revenue Discover System (RDS) was renewed. RDS is responsible  for the collection of sales, tobacco and gasoline taxes.

After hearing an explanation of the need for temporary workers from County Engineer Arzo Abrams, the commission approved hiring six people on a 90 day basis to help free up some skilled workers for work that needed done. Abrams explained that funding for  repaving CR 20 had been approved by ATRIP. The road was blocked and he needed flag men there as well as other non-skilled tasks.

The commission approved the purchase of a tire changer for the Public Works Department, with the cost not to exceed $18,000.

 Revenue Commissioner Brenda Goree said that all collection was done with the exception of $17.60.  She also said that mobile homes should be assessed along with the land on which they are located. This year there is a difference of $9,000 which will be paid by the state.

Budget amendments were approved  for the General Fund, Homeland Security, the jail, highway improvements and capital improvement. Sheriff Joe Benison wants to hold the amendment for the jail in abeyance.

A travel request was approved for CFO Paula Bird to attend a technology conference for accountants in Birmingham on June 14-15.

Advertising for the position of Accounts Payable Clerk was approved. The commission wanted someone with at least a two year associate degree. One of the duties of the position is to make sure bills are paid on time.

The commission approved paying minimum wage for an intern in the Public Works Department. Whoever is selected will work during the summer break. Abrams asked they appoint the person who had worked last year  as a volunteer. He is in school at Alabama A&M.

During the public comment portion of the  meeting, Morgan Sellers asked why the tree trimming machine had not been in the Union and North of Union area.

Spiver Gordon spoke of the need for jobs and asked that appointments by the commission be made all over the county, not just in one or two areas.  “We need to look around the county more. Inclusion is important,” said Gordon. “Don’t just look in your district. Get the best person.”

Eugene Purse asked why the county did not patch all of the roads at the same time.

Leon Pierce asked how the county was coming along with black topping the roads. He also asked what were the chances of finishing CR 60. “This needs to be completed to the Tuscaloosa County line,” he said.

At this point, E-911 manager Iris Sermon announced that a severe thunderstorm warning had been announced for Greene and Sumter County with winds up to 70 mph.