County Commission Gets Update on New Courthouse Construction Project
During a “planning session” of the Cherokee County Commission Meeting on Monday, County Administrator Daniel Steele, told Commissioner’s the project is going well with very few issues.
Steele gave the Commissioners a video presentation of a drone fly-over – so they could “see” the progress. He said that the second floor decking is now undergoing work and when that’s complete, concrete will be poured and walls will begin to be blocked up.
Payments to the contractor now total – two million, two hundred eighty two thousand dollars of the seventeen million dollar bond money. Prior to the bond financing being in place, the Commission paid some money to the Contractor – and some architect expenses – so Steel has requested nine hundred forty five thousand dollars be returned, to the Commission account from the bond proceeds.
He told the Commission he met with representatives from the Raymond James Company, the Bond Manager for the project, and they invested ten million three hundred twenty four thousand dollars in U.S. Treasury Bonds which will yield approximately one hundred forty-two thousand dollars by the time the proceeds are needed to pay the contractor. Steele stated the latest projection completion date for the Courthouse is August of 2025.
County Employees Get Two Dollar per Hour Pay Increase
During the regular meeting the Commission adopted a budget for the upcoming fiscal year of October 1st through September 20th of 2025.
The total budget is twenty four million nine hundred seventy thousand dollars which is a 2.4% increase of the current year and the upcoming budget includes the vacation buy back for employees if they do not wish to take all their vacation time. There is also a cost of living increase across the board for all employees in the amount of two dollars per hour which will also be reflected in the starting wages for new hires.
A new Superior Broom with mid mount ride was approved for the highway department in the amount of $83,612. The purchase will be from the Thompson Tractor Company. Several resolutions were approved including the placement of the remaining ARPA funds to be placed in the County General Fund as provided by the U.S. Treasury Department Final rule. The amount is $9,000. Another resolution designated the County Administrator as the Public Officer to carry out the directives of the State’s Open Meeting Act and to adopt procedures for accepting Public Records Requests. A new policy was adopted by the Commission for the use of Electronic Signatures. The Renewal Amendment for the Contract for Services to aging Customers with the East Alabama Regional Planning Commission for the upcoming fiscal year in the amount of $13,254.
The County also approved a lease purchase agreement with ABS Business Systems for 6 copiers in the amount of $1,157.34 per month. The STAR Program through the Department of Youth Services Grant agreement in the amount $225,520 was approved. This is a pass through grant with no cost to the county. The large cooler in the County Detention Center’s kitchen needs to be replaced according to the company providing repair services to the 28 year old unit. The cost for the replacement unit is $25,000 which was approved by the Commission.
The next County Commission meeting is set for Tuesday, October 15th at 9:00am for the planning session.