At the regular meeting of the Greene County Commission, CFO Paula Bird told the commissioners that the county would have to take some money out of the Bond Warrant Funds to complete the  year, but that she expected  to get  it back  from other sources. She indicated that  she saw no problems at this point in the year. The county had money in  Citizens Bank, the Bank of New  York and  Merchants and Farmers Bank.

Sheriff  Joe  Benison had to put  $101,000 into his account with the county out of his discretionary funds to cover the overage in salaries for his deputies.

The finance  report was unanimously approved by the three commissioners  present – Commissioner Allen  Turner, Commissioner Elzora Fluker and Commissioner Marvin Childs.

In other business, the Commission:

*Tabled any discussion of an appointment to the City Fest Committee  until the other two commissioners, William Underwood and Tennyson Smith, were present. City Fest was formerly known as Unity Day.

*Okayed approval of an ABC license for Colin McRae dba The True Vine Foundation.

*Okayed a resolution and agreement to participate in the County Joint Bid Program’s Regional Debris Removal and Monitoring Services Joint Bid Project.

*Approved travel for the commissioners to attend the NACO Conference in Pittsburg July 13-18.

*Discussed the cost of the medical care  for prisoners  in  the Greene County Jail, which exceeded the budget, but reached no conclusion. Bird told them that the medication for one prisoner was more than what was allotted for the month for all prisoners.

*Discussed allowing citizens to buy  dirt, gravel, stones and pipes from the County Engineer’s Office. Commissioner  Allen Turner introduced the discussion by saying that the citizens wanted to do this and “they had the money for it.”

County Engineer Arzo Abrams  said he hadn’t worked up all the prices and, if this was approved, it would have  to be revisited on an annual basis. “It goes up each year  as we bid. The  cost of petroleum will drive the prices up.”

Paula Bird said she felt that the commission needed to get a legal  opinion  before selling anything to the public. “I know what the auditors would say,” she told the commission.

Commissioner Fluker said she knew  that there is  a need in the community, but  since there is  a question  as  to the legality of  the process,  she intended to ask County

Attorney Hank Sanders for an opinion.

Sanders, who was  present  at  the meeting,  said he needed  to  “thoroughly research the matter.”

With that in mind,  the commission voted unanimously to table  the matter.

Levi Morrow told the commission that he had read in the paper that  the  county had only one operator. “Maybe you should pay them more so that they will not  leave.”

 He also said that one of the county workers had  asked him where to get good gravel. “We’re getting  gravel  here with too much sand,” he said. “We’ve got two good gravel pits here  – one of them in West Greene and one in Boligee,” said  Morrow.

There being no further business, the  Commission adjourned.