Cherokee County Commission Meeting Summary – May 12

The Cherokee County Commission held its regular monthly meeting on Monday, May 12, beginning with a planning session at 9:00 a.m. and followed by the formal meeting at 10:00 a.m. in the Commission Chambers. Commissioners Jones, Nichols, Shaw, Teague, and Chairman Burgess were all present, establishing a quorum.

The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, offered in honor of the Alabama National Guard Alpha Shooting Team, who recently won the 2025 U.S. Army Small Arms Championships at Fort Benning. Competing against over 200 marksmen from across the Army, Alabama Alpha outscored 45 teams with a combined score of 4401-60x across 11 matches. This marks the 10th consecutive year a National Guard team has won the championship. Team members included Sgt. Maj. Stephen Murchison (coach), Master Sgt. Joseph Spradlin, Sgt. Gavin Blackwood, and Spc. Cameron Drake.

Alabama also claimed the Rifle Team Champion title, with Michigan’s Blue team placing third overall. The event, known as “All Army,” is a premier live-fire marksmanship competition hosted by the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit.

Following the pledge, Commissioner Jones led the invocation.

The Commission approved the meeting agenda and consent agenda, which included the minutes from the previous meeting and approved payables. There were no staff or agency reports, public hearings, or items of old business.

Under new business, the Commission declared several pieces of equipment from the Highway Department as surplus, to be sold at a future public auction. These items included:

• Massey Ferguson Tractor with side boom cutter

• Hole auger

• Chrome toolboxes (2 side, 3 full-size)

• Tire machine, air jack

• Fountain low-boy

• Plasma cutter, wire welder, stick welder

• Clark flatbed trailer

• Air compressor

• Case loader 721B

• GU Truck

• Cleaver Brooks asphalt emulsion tank

• Two pressure washers

• Miscellaneous possible scrap items

The Commission then entered an executive session, approved by the county attorney, to discuss the purchase or sale of property. A roll call vote was held and passed to enter the session.