Greene County Democrat

Tag: County Engineer Willie Branch

  • County Commission prepares for annual budget hearings

    Shown L to R: Commission Chairperson Allen Turner,Jr., William Webb, County Engineer Willie Branch, Commissioners Corey Cockrell and Roshanda Summerville, Assistant Engineer John Isley with recently purchased Motor Grader and three new Dump Trucks.

    At the Greene County Commission’s regular monthly meeting held Monday, August 10, 2020, newly selected CFO Mr. Macaroy Underwood announced that budget packets had been delivered to all county government department heads. Underwood stated that in preparation of the budget for the next fiscal year beginning Oct.1, 2020, the county’s annual budget hearings will begin by September 1.
    The commission approved the following budget amendments presented by CFO Underwood.* Request for Capital Improvement Fund Budget amendment to fund HVAC Building Control System; and request for Southeaster Temperature Controls, Inc. proposal/agreement for Honeywell HVAC controls upgrade at base price of $48,578.
    Request for Capitol Improvement Fund Budget to purchase two Brush Cutters, two 15 ft. Rotary Cutters from Coblent Equipment & Parts Co. at cost of $30,614.60. All equipment is included on State of Alabama Bid list.
    *Added new CFO to bank signatory powers on all bank accounts.
    Extended vacation time for county employees until April 1, 2021.
    Rebuild Alabama Plan.
    The commission tabled a request from the Greene County Water Authority to lease land for a senior facility.
    The financial report presented by Ms. Brenda Burke, indicated total accounts payable for July at $589,889.35; payroll transfer at $255,565.82; and fiduciary at $31,920.01. Electronic claims totaled $88,809.19. Burke stated that approximately 17% of the general fund budget remains.
    County bank account balances for July were reported as follows: Citizen Trust Bank – $3,924,802.36; Merchants & Farmers Bank – $2,006.068.35; CD Bond Sinking Fund total -$1,068,681.90; Bank of New York – $359,047.46.

  • County Commission approves purchase of new equipment for Public Works Department

    The Greene County Commission met in regular session, Tuesday, October 15, 2019 and authorized the purchase of several work vehicles for the County Public Works Department. These included the following: Three – 2020 Mack Dumps GR64F at $124,474 each; three -21 yd Dump Bodies at $25,084 each; one – 55 ton Lowboy Trailer at $54,375 and one – Motor Grader at $239,049.
    According to County Engineer Willie Branch, the Dump Trucks are operated for a year and sold, usually retrieving the cost paid. Branch explained that the Motor Grader and the Low Boy are used until they stop running.
    The commission made the following board appointments: Marilyn Jennings for the Greene County Hospital Board (District 2); Carolyn Morgan Young for the DHR Board (District 2). In other actions the commission approved the following:

    • Contract with Knox Pest Control, providing all necessary paperwork is submitted.
    • 2020 Severe Weather Preparedness Tax Holiday – Feb.21-23, 2020.
      • Travel: Engineer to ACCA Legislative Conference, Dec. 4-5, Auburn University; Engineer, Assist. Engineer and office personnel to CIMS User Training, Nov. 6-7, Anniston, AL; Two equipment operators – Flagger Training and Field Exercise, Oct. 29, Columbiana, AL;
    • Payment of claims.
      In her financial report, CFO Paula Bird noted the following bank balances as of September 19, 2019: Citizen Trust Bank – $3,132,651.79; Merchants & Farmers Bank – $2,192,308.10; Bank of New York – $358,782.51; Bond Sinking Fund – $1,049,464.99

  • County prepares administratively for new gasoline tax

    The Greene County Commission held its regular monthly meeting, Monday, September 9, 2019 and took official action on various items discussed at its work session held the previous Wednesday. With the new gasoline tax in effect this month, the commission approved adding two new special revenue funds as it related to the Rebuild Alabama Act. The commission authorized a resolution for bank depository for the new gasoline tax and authorized the chairman to sign all necessary documents.
    The commission approved entering into an agreement with TG Earnest & Associates for a culture resource assessment for the bridge replacement on County Road 69, allowing the chairman to sign all necessary documents. At the previous work session, County Engineer Willie Branch advised the commission that expenditures would not exceed $3,500 for the project.
    Also based on the engineer’s recommendation, the commission approved hiring one equipment operator and one part-time laborer.
    The commission approved the contract with the Alabama Department of Youth Services. Veronica Evans, representing ADYS, made a presentation at the previous work session, detailing the services rendered to youth of Greene County and the related costs. Ms. Evans was requesting that the commission consider budgeting more resources for ADYS in the upcoming fiscal year.
    The commission and a delegation from the Town of Forkland, agreed to pursue appropriate action for the sale of, or transfer of, the Forkland park from the county to the Town of Forkland.
    Apparently, the park cannot be sold without authorization from ADECA. The county’s attorney was authorized to send the appropriate letters noting the county’s intent.
    J & S Bartending, LLC was granted a special events ABD license by the commission.
    Commissioner Roshanda Summerville reappointed Mrs. Glenda Hodges to the DHR Board from District 5; and Commissioner Tennyson Smith reappointed Steven Abrams to the E-011 Board from District 2.
    The following travel requests were approved:

    • Judge of Probate and one clerk and Board of Registrars to Election Conference, October 30-31, 2019 in Tuscaloosa.
      Overview of County Government for Assistant Engineer on October 9-10, 2019 in Prattville, AL.
      The commission also approved payment of claims and various budget amendments.

  • Commission salutes Henley on retirement; Greene Team seeks hospital support from county

    Commission and Henley.jpg

    Shown Left to Right: Commissioners Lester Brown and Tennyson Smith, Alexander Henley, County Engineer Willie Branch, Assistant Engineer, John Ensley and
    Commissioner Allen Turner, Jr.

     

    At the regular meeting of the Greene County Commission, Monday Sept. 11, 2017, Mr. Alexander Henley was recognized for his long and diligent service to the county. Henley was presented a Certificate of Retirement for 29 years with the county’s Highway Department. Henley noted that during that period of time with the county he worked under 18 County Engineers and Assistant Engineers. “I enjoyed my work and made many friends. Until recent years I had no illness that kept me from my job,” he stated.
    During public comments, Mrs. Johnnie M. Knott presented members of the Greene County Hospital/Nursing Home Auxiliary (Greene Team) and other local citizens who had come to the commission’s meeting seeking support for the Greene County Hospital. The general purpose of the group was to ask the commission to provide leadership in helping to keep the hospital and its varied health services operating. Several individuals gave testimonies of how the Greene County Hospital had basically saved their lives by stabilizing them during a health crisis until they could get specific care at another health facility. Many others spoke out in support of the county finding ways to keep the hospital operating. The commission listened but made not statements since that body cannot provide specific commitments during public comments.
    In other business the commission acted on the following.
    *Approved 2017-2018 Budget, including employee pay adjustments as indicated in the budget.
    *Approved liquor license for Jackpot Food Beverage, LLC (Palace Bingo Facility).
    *Approved long term detention subsidy contract with Dallas County Detention Center.
    *Approved annual bids from Highway Department including bids for timber, corrugated metal pipe, plastic pipe, etc.
    *Approved thermostat replacement and installation paid from general fund bingo account.
    *Approval various travel requests for Engineer and Assistant Engineer.
    *Approved budget amendments and payment of claims.
    County CFO, Paula Bird reported that as of August 17, 2017, the county had $1,962,092.35 in Citizen Trust Bank; $4,488,356.17 in Merchants & Farmers Bank and $792,094.11 in the Bank of New York. According to the CFO’s report, of the $3,236,960.59 expenditure budget for the current fiscal year, $2,905,759.82 has been expended to date, approximately 90%.
    The commission announced that its October meeting will be re-scheduled for Tuesday, October 10, due to the Columbus Day holiday.