The Cherokee County Commission entered into an Executive Session during their regular meeting on Monday afternoon for the sole purpose if discussing a security measure. Once the meeting reconvened, Commission Chairman/Probate Judge Tim Burgess posed the question as to whether there would any action as a result of the Executive Session and Commissioner Marcie Foster made this motion.
As stated, that recommendation will be sent to the Cherokee County Board of Education for consideration. The School Board is set to hold their next regular meeting on Tuesday October, 1 at 6:00 p.m.
In other business, during the Planning Session held just prior to the regular meeting some discussion was given regarding the construction of a proposed Judicial Building to be located on property located on East Main Street. Engineers from Volkert and Architects with McKee and Associates met with the Commission to discuss the original plan and a second concept.
The original plan was for a three story facility which would have housed the Tag/Probate Office, Department of Motor Vehicles and the Circuit Clerks Office in addition to a multi-purpose space and a sally port area used to bring individuals to and from court. The second floor would have housed the Revenue Commissioners Office, County Commission Chambers and the Probate Suite for the Judge. The third floor would have been for the courtrooms for District and Circuit Court, Judges Chambers and Suites for the District Attorney’s Office.
The plan turned out to around 50,000 square feet, much larger than the original 30,000 square feet that had been discussed. The original budget discussed was around 12 million dollars. This plan ran the cost up an additional 5 million dollars, a cost that Judge Burgess said simply would not work.
The more feasible concept seems to be a two story version of the original plan which will house EMA Office, Circuit Clerks Office and the District Attorney’s Office on the lower floor. On the upper floor would be the District and Circuit Courtrooms and Offices. All other functions would remain at the current Administration Building with some renovations being done to accommodate expansion for departments such as the Drivers License Office and the Tag Office. This would be around a 30,000 square foot facility which brings it in line with the initial plans. The commission will take the information presented and then make a decision regarding moving forward with the project.
The commission also adopted an Amendment to Section 2 of the 2014 Resolution governing the distribution of landfill royalties and tobacco and adopted the annual budget for the Fiscal Year October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2020.
The commission also voted to declare a 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe from the Sheriff’s Office as surplus to be sold at the next available public auction.
Also approved was the opening of a bank account at People’s Bank for the Rebuild Alabama Act Funds as is required. Annual Highway Department bids were also accepted as presented by County Engineer Corey Chambers.
The next Cherokee County Commission meeting will be Tuesday, October at 10:00 a.m.