Commission hears update on renovations
Story by Emily Kirby
[email protected]
Eddie Tigue, captain of the Scottsboro Jackson County Rescue Squad, addressed the Jackson County Commission on Monday night to ask for help with the purchase of a new vehicle for the volunteer organization. Tigue said the squad, which was started as a result of needed services during the blizzard of 1993, lost a transportation vehicle during the recent winter weather event last month. A large portion of the squad’s volunteer work during weather events consists of transporting dialysis patients to life-saving appointments up to three times a week.
Tigue said it’s imperative they replace the loss, as it was one of the main vehicles used for transport.
“Many of these patients are transported by the public transportation system, the buses, and as you know the buses don’t run during those times,” he said. “So, our guys are willing to step up and provide that service for the county. I think during this time, we [transported] about 56 patients, some as many as three times a week.”
During January’s icy weather and frozen roads, Tigue said the truck he was driving was totaled after an 18-wheeler was driving down a mountain road in his lane. Despite trying to avoid a collision, Tigue said the truck was totaled and the liability insurance did not cover the damages, and neither did the other party’s insurance.
Now, the volunteer rescue squad is looking for help from the county commission to be able to get back on the road to help the community.
“Any support we could get would be greatly appreciated,” Tigue said.
The commission thanked Tigue and the rescue squad for their service to the community, and moved the item to be discussed as new business during the next meeting on Wednesday, February 28, 2024.
Courthouse Renovations
The commission heard an update Monday night from Kevin Baughn, project lead with JMR+H Architecture, on the upcoming structural and renovation work at the Jackson County Courthouse and design for the Liberty Lane Building.
“These projects at the moment are packaged up into one package with two separate bid items,” said Baughn. “We want to try to make sure that the general contractors who are capable of performing this volume and magnitude of work on these projects are fully able to utilize the workforce and business opportunities with local contractors there in Jackson County.”
The project package will be presented to and reviewed by the commissioners at the next meeting before being put out to the public for bids.
“Our objective here is to inform local businesses that would have an interest or an opportunity or the capability to participate in this and let them know,” said Chairman Bill Nance.
The final budget according to Baughn totals $1.5M for the courthouse and $2.5M for the Liberty Lane Building renovations.
“These projects are being funded by [American Rescue Plan Act] funds for the most part,” assured Nance. “All of the funding for the projected cost of Liberty Lane is funded by ARPA, and $800,000 of those funds are allocated for a share of the cost of our courthouse.”
Nance also thanked Senate Majority Leader Steve Livingston and State Representative Mike Kirkland for their help in gaining $700,000 in funds from the state legislature for these projects.
After review, the project will be advertised for three consecutive weeks, bids are then opened, and mobilization begins approximately 15 days after the bid is awarded. The projects are expected to be completed within 12 months of the start of construction.
The commission also:
- adopted the minutes from the February 12, 2024 commission meeting and work session.
- presented awards to employees of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office for longevity and training. See the next edition of the North Jackson Press for photos and information.
- adopted a resolution in support of Amendment I, which will appear on the ballot in the Primary Election on March 5, 2024. The resolution encourages the public to support the amendment, if passed, would “exempt local laws or local constitutional amendments from the budget isolation resolution process, which requires that the legislature must pass education and general fund budgets prior to enacting any other legislation, unless the legislation receives a 60% majority vote from the legislature.”
- approved to surplus two of the Solid Waste Department’s oldest Mack garbage trucks.
- approved to surplus a camper at the Jackson County Park.
- approved to hire a Maintenance Apprentice at Grade 6.
- agreed to move the following items to the next meeting:
– the surplus of two, five-year-old trucks from the Solid Waste Department.
– the jail staff’s request for money to be moved from the cash balance to the regular budget to accommodate the many updates and renovations needed at the jail. Chief Corrections Deputy Hal Nash requested the commission approve the transfer of $400,000 to accommodate much-needed maintenance to the building. Nash said in addition to building maintenance and water-proofing, the jail is also in need of an addition for dry storage, kitchen steam cooker and steam kettle replacements, lawn mower, camera server, ProPress tool for copper pipes, and safety equipment for the staff. The commission agreed to hold the decision until the next meeting on Wednesday.
The commission did not adjourn Monday night’s meeting, but recessed until the next meeting planned for Wednesday, February 28, 2024 at the Public Works Building. The commission will resume with a work session and discuss the items moved from the Monday meeting, along with presenting the County Road Plan. The North Jackson Press newspaper went to press before the Wednesday night meeting, but look for an article concerning the road plan in a future edition.
