Recorded In: OFFREC  STATE OF ALABAMA Book: Recorded: 1235 6/20/2024 Page: 43 4:25:41 PM COUNTY OF GENEVA Geneva Toby Seay, Probate Judge  REGULAR SESSION May 28, 2024  County, Alabama Inst Num: 20027101 - 4 Pages No Tax Collected Fees: $0.00 Total: $0.00  The Geneva County Commission met in regular session on Tuesday, May 28 Chairman Seay called the meeting to order and welcomed guests present. Commissioner Wilks opened the meeting with prayer. Chairman Seay led the group in  2024, at 9:30 a.m. at the Geneva County Courthouse in Geneva, Alabama.  the Pledge of Allegiance.  There were no elected officials requesting to make public comment. There were no citizens requesting to make public comment. Chairman Seay called the roll, and the following members were present: Commissioners Todd Brannon, Bart Wilks, and Wade Fulford. County Attorney, Phil Eldridge; Engineer, Justin Barfield; Assistant Engineer, Mike Shirah; EMA Director, Brian Smith; Revenue Commissioner, Mary Ann Ellison; and County Administrator, Cindy Williams was also present. The following business was transacted:  MINUTES OF THE MEETING  NEW BUSINESS:  1.A Approve Minutes of May 10, 2024. Commissioner Wilks made a motion to approve the minutes of May 10, 2024. Commissioner Brannon seconded the motion. Vote was 3- 2. Senator Donnie Chesteen and Representative Jeff Sorrells were present to announce that during the last legislative session, they were successful in obtaining funding for a multipurpose arena at the Geneva County Farm Center. Both were able to obtain $1,000,000.00 to build the multipurpose arena for Geneva County. Senator Chesteen thanked the Commission, Mrs. Nikki Dyess and Mrs. Amber Thornton for being instrumental in seeking such aj project for Geneva County. The Commission thanked Senator Chesteen and Representative Sorrells for their willingness to assist in the growth 3. The Road and Bridge office has suffered three lightning strikes in the past two years. The cost after this last strike is at $2,000.00 and there are several pieces of equipment and appliances that have not been replaced at this time. Mr. Todd Medley with our IT provider and his assistant Mr. Josh Tindall have both recommended the old wiring be replaced with fiber to eliminate issues with recurring lightning strikes. Mr. Josh Tindall has given an estimate of $4,500.00 to replace all the old copper wire with fiber. Chairman Seay stated that he had complete faith in the recommendation from Mr. Medley and Mr. Tindall and did not believe they would just be trying to see the County anything unnecessary. He also stated that Mr. Tindall has already been very instrumental in saving  0.  of Geneva County.  1    STATE OF ALABAMA COUNTY OF GENEVA  REGULAR SESSION May 28, 2024  the County money on telephone bills by going through each one and telling us what was no longer necessary. The Commission asked Chairman Seay to obtain a lightning engineer to come out and give an assessment to see: if any other changes ori improvements can bei implemented to also assist with lowering the risk of future lightning strikes. Commissioner Wilks made ai motion to allow Mr. Josh Tindall to replace the old copper wiring at the Road and Bridge offices with fiber at a cost of $4,500.00. Commissioner  Fulford seconded the motion. Vote was 3-0.  OLD BUSINESS: None  STAFF REPORTS:  Sheriff: Sheriff Helms was not present.  County Administrator: Administrator Williams had nothing to report. County Engineer: Engineer Barfield stated that the Reappraisal office is trying to remove an old road. The road is off] Buck Holland Road, many years ago it is believed it was called McDuffie Road. Attorney Eldridge stated that the road is off Buck Holland Road west of Highway 27 which has not been maintained by the County or used by the general public since the early 1980's. In a 2014 deed to property owned on the backside ofthe road by Mr. Magoun, it shows the road as a twenty-foot private easement. Mr. Eldridge stated that inl his research it appears the road was called Stagecoach Road and said it looks like it was probably once aj public road, but it has been abandoned and not used by the general public for more than twenty years. On the tax map the road has been identified for many years as a private road and is called McDuffie Private Road. He prepared a resolution that sets out the facts and that the Commission has determined the road is abandoned by non-use by the general public for more than twenty years. The Engineer has discussed with him that he would like to begin declaring all easement or field roads to be removed from the County maps. Attorney Eldridge read the resolution to determine McDuffie Private Road abandoned. Commissioner Wilks made ai motion to adopt the resolution determining McDuffie Private Road has been abandoned. Commissioner Brannon seconded the motion. Vote was. 3-0. Work on the three FEMA bridge replacements continues. Equipment for clearing has been moved in since the bridges have been out since 2020. The bridge on Line Road has shifted and part ofiti is on the neighboring church property. Mr. Barfield is meeting with Mrs. Stafford this week to have a temporary construction easement signed. Right-of-way mowing is complete on County Roads 48, 49 and 99 and will begin next After the last Commission meeting Mr. Barfield reached out to Representative Sorrells and Senator Chesteen for assistance with the bridge on L. Vaughn Road. They have submitted application for a grant in the amount of $300,000.00 under the Rebuild Alabama program. Notification of award should be received by middle to end ofJune.  week throughout the County.  2    STATE OF ALABAMA COUNTY OF GENEVA  REGULAR SESSION May 28, 2024  The bridge on Gallberry Road has been out for two or three years. This bridge is a fifty- foot bridge. Mr. Barfield stated that Covington County was successful in obtaining a tank bridge that they used to cover an old bridge. The Engineer is searching for ai tank bridge that can be used to place over the bridge on Gallberry Road which would be more There are approximately seventy cross drains ini need of replacement. Mr. Barfield has been notified that work is scheduled to begin on the Highway 52 four- County Attorney: Mr. Eldridge stated that at the construction meeting last Thursday for the Farm Center and Courthouse the contractor gave an estimate of completion on the Farm Center of August 1,2 2024. The contractors stated they had issues with the records in the basement below the Courthouse and requested they be moved. Chairman Seay stated the contractor was aware of all that during the bid process and at that time it wasn'tan issue. We are doing what we can to shuffle records around SO they are not under pea traps and drains, it should not be an issue. Also, the Sheriff has told the contractor they cannot access the evidence room which is where the main sewage linei is located. The contractor isasking the Commission to speak with the Sheriff about moving the contents of the evidence room. Mr. Eldridge stated that Ms. Rhoades with JMR+H reminded the contractor that there was a liquidated damages clause on the Courthouse that the County intended to enforce if they are not complete by December 31, 2024. Commission Chairman: Chairman Seay stated that hel had nothing to report but asked to convene an executive session at the end of the meeting to discuss negotiations involving matters of commerce, in which the County may bei in competition with other governmental bodies on the location ofa a business in Geneva County, and Chairman Seay isi involved in the location efforts in Geneva County and readvised that discussions would have a detrimental effect on the location oft the business entity in Geneva County if  economical than replacing the bridge.  lane project today.  disclosed outside of an executive session.  Revenue Commissioner: Ms. Ellison had nothing to report.  EMA Director: Mr. Smith advised that seven of the counties thirteen weather sirens are currently down. The only company that repairs them gives them low priority. Mr. Smith believes some ofthe issues are due to the implementation of new emergency digital The EMA Director is trying to get citizens enrolled in the HyperReach program for  radios and the sirens runs on analog.  weather alerts.  Solid Waste Director: Mrs. Smith was not present. E-911: Mr. Williams was not present. Auburn Extension: Ms. Marks was not present.  3    STATE OF ALABAMA COUNTY OF GENEVA  REGULAR SESSION May 28, 2024  Commissioner's: Commissioner Wilks asked what the timeline is for the Commission tol begin work on the multipurpose arena at the Farm Center. Chairman Seay stated that he had spoken to Mr. Rutland with. JMR+H and they have worked on projects like this before and would be interested in assisting the County with this project. Mr. Rutland gave several suggestions to move forward with the preliminary work. Commissioner Wilks made ai motion to allow Chairman Seay to contact JMR+H and begin work to move forward with plans for the multipurpose arena at the Farm Center. Commissioner Chairman Seay polled the Commissioners to go into executive session. The Chairman stated the executive session would last approximately fifteen minutes. Commissioner Brannon - yes, Commissioner Wilks -yes, Commissioner Fulford-yes.  Brannon seconded the motion. Vote was 3-0.  Chairman Seay polled the Commissioners to enter back into the regular scheduled Commission meeting. Commissioner Brannon - yes, Commissioner Wilks-yes, Commissioner Fulford made ai motion to adjourn. Commissioner Brannon seconded the The above constitutes the minutes oft the meeting oft the Geneva County Commission held  Commissioner Fulford - yes. motion. Vote was 3-0. on Monday, May 28, 2024. M4  Aaslian  Cindy Williams County Administrator AB Commissioner Todd Brannon Commissioner Wadel Fulford HLKE  Commissioner Weston Ws Bat Wilk Commissioner Bart Wilks  Spivey  4