Shelby County Today

The former Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace and County Attorney building (pictured above) was torn down August 19, 2020.

August 20, 2020 - Shelby County Judge Allison Harbison proposed to the commissioners seeking bids on the installation of an elevator in the Courthouse Annex building, where the District Attorney's office is located.

"I think that we can get an elevator over there for less than $100,000, but it will be over $50,000 so we need to go out for bids officially on it," said Judge Harbison.

She explained it will make the building handicap accessible to meet all ADA requirements. 

"The public hears this, sees spending that, they also need to hear what it's going to cost to rent a building and how rent for two or three years would help pay for that," said Roscoe McSwain, Commissioner Precinct 1. "Get our own building in compliance and using it." 

At this time if an individual is physically unable to climb stairs, they cannot reach the District Attorney's office because it's on the second floor of the building.

"Even if eventually we use that second story for storage, or filing, you still need some way to get everything up to that second floor," said Judge Harbison.

A motion carried by the commissioners to seek bids by September 4, 2020 to have them available at the September 9 meeting.

The bleachers at the Shelby County Expo Center have been a focus of improvement for years now and Judge Harbison proposed seeking bids for the purchase and installation of used bleachers.

"Bobby Daw has contacted a company and has finally found someone that does the bleachers for football stadiums and things like that and we kind of have a line on some," said Judge Harbison. "We're going to have to go out for bids on it, because it's going to be just slightly over $50,000."

Charles Barr, Commissioner Precinct 3, mentioned there is money in a bleacher fund and Judge Harbison said that amount is $37,000. He also asked if there were some other funds set aside for that purpose.

Ann Blackwell, Treasurer, stated she has spoken with the Klein family about donated money and the remaining balance.

"There was an $11,000 donation by a Ms. Walker, it was specifically for bleachers. They have that and they also have the balance that was in their account when they shut down and gave the facility back to the county," said Blackwell.

She said the remaining balance was around $10,000, and Judge Harbison remarked there is potentially $58,000 already accumulated toward the project. With the possible addition of more funds from the county.

"These would be aluminum bleachers with all of the safety features a four foot walkway, raised bleachers with a handicap accessible ramp and they will have railing all the way up," said Judge Harbison

If possible, Judge Harbison said they would like to have a smaller set for the other side of the arena. She said the bleachers being considered are raised off the ground and 10 rows high.

A motion carried to seek bids for the bleachers by September 4 for the September 9 meeting.

By state law, a commissioners' court is meant to make a sworn annual report during the ninth month of the county fiscal year.

The report is to include the condition of each road or part of a road, bridge, and culvert in the commissioners' precinct. The report is also to include what amount of money is reasonably necessary for maintenance of the roads in the precinct in the coming fiscal year; should there be any, the number of traffic control devices in the precinct defaced or torn down any new road that should be opened in the precinct, and any bridges, culvert or other improvements necessary to place the roads in the precinct in good condition, as well as the likely cost of improvements.

Ultimately the report is to be presented before a grand jury, before that the report itself is then meant to be entered into the minutes of the commissioners' court to be considered in improving public roads and determining the amount of taxes to be imposed for public roads.

In addition, the report is to be submitted together with each contract made by the court since its last report for any work on any road, to the grand jury at the first term of the district court occurring after the report is made to the commissioners court.

A motion carried by the commissioners' court to accept the grand jury acknowledgement of receipt of county road reports.

The commissioners continued to discuss the possibility of closing CR 2020. Gary Rholes, County Attorney, was not able to be present for the meeting; however, he let Judge Harbison know he didn't think putting gates across the county road were an option and if the commissioners wanted to take action they need to either abandon the road or leave it open.

"He feels like the county putting up a gate and giving keys out to certain people isn't fair," said Judge Harbison. "If the county abandons it, the landowners want to put up the fence that's up to them and not the county."

A motion carried to table the action on CR 2020 until the next meeting.

The list of 2020-2021 election judges for a two-year term was presented to the commissioners' court and they were:

• 1N - Ms. Lenora Walton
• 1S - Mrs. Rose Specter
• 1SE - Ms. Sandrel Slaughter
• 1SW - Mr. Bubba Bell
• 1W - Ms. Carolyn Cochran
• 2 - Mr. L.D. Eddins
• 3 - Mrs. Mary Culver
• 4 - Mrs. Etola Jones
• 5 - Dr. Debrah Worsham
• 6 - Mrs. Shirley Brittain
• 7 - Mrs. Renita Hudman
• 8 - Mrs. Linda Perry
• 9N - Mrs. Marilyn Corder
• 9S - Mr. Shannon Ramsey

A motion carried by the commissioners to approve the list of 2020-2021 election judges.

Toward the end of the meeting, McSwain complimented his fellow commissioner for recent work.

"I want to publicly express my appreciation for Charles [Barr] for working so hard to take care of the JP office and stuff, getting all that done, and for getting this JP building torn down," said McSwain.

Barr thanked McSwain and stated Tom Bellmyer, Commissioner 4, had been helping as well.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:55am.

Agenda items approved during the meeting include:
1. Pay weekly expenses.
2. Current payroll.
3. Go out for bids on an elevator to be installed in the Courthouse Annex.
4. Go out for bids for the purchase and installation of used bleachers for the Shelby County Expo Center.
5. Accept Grand Jury Acknowledgement of Receipt of County Road Reports.
6. County Election Judges for 2020-2021.
7. Adjourn.

Agenda items atebled during the meeting were:
1. Taken action on closing a portion of CR 2020.