The February Dade County Commission meeting got off to a rough start as County taxpayer John Huffman addressed commissioners during Citizens Participation. Huffman used his five minutes, in what more than one commissioner referred to as a “rant”, to voice his objection to the five minute time limit. Huffman accused commissioners of limiting the people and repeatedly accused commissioners of laughing at those who came to speak to them. Huffman also accused commissioners of not respecting the flag, showing favoritism in whether or not they stick to the five-minute speaking guideline, and stating repeatedly that they worked “for the people and not the other way around.” Huffman cited the five minute time limit as the reason the public does not attend meetings and said the commission takes pride in low attendance. Huffman said he was at the end of his five minutes and turned to leave the podium while Commissioner Melissa Bradford attempted to get his attention. Huffman kept stating his five minutes were over. Bradford angrily asked Huffman if he had ever called her. She asked the question multiple times throughout the next few minutes of conversation where Huffman quizzed Bradford on her name on her marriage certificate, implied she was lying, and asked if she had Googled herself.
Huffman finally answered, “I don’t think you can do anything for me.”
Huffman went on to list the issues he had regarding Bradford and stated the only reason she had the position was because of her name.
Commissioner Robert Goff called Huffman out on his comment about not respecting the flag and told him not to ever say he (Goff) did not respect the flag. Commissioner Phillip Hartline asked Huffman what he wanted them to fix or what he wanted from the Commission. Huffman would not state what he wanted then told Bradford if she wanted to do something for him she could fix the five minute time limit. Bradford later apologized for getting angry with Huffman during her monthly report.
Capital improvement and renovation projects continue in the county as Trenton Fire Chief Jerry Kyzer asks Commissioners for $12,000 for renovations to the North Dade Station 4 fire hall. Kyzer said most of the work would be done by fire department volunteers and the plans are to add bedrooms for volunteers during storms and a kitchen/living space while fixing water problems and other issues. Kyzer said they have seven volunteers assigned to the station with four living close by, with a total of 21 volunteers for Trenton Station 1 Fire Department. Hartline asked for a list of everyone running calls in the last six months. Commissioners approved an amount not to exceed $15,000 for the renovation at North Dade Fire hall.
Discussion on the new Elections Building continued as Commissioner Hartline asked County Executive Ted Rumley for a budget for the construction project. Rumley said he was looking at $275,000 to $300,000 which would be offset in part by the sale of the building currently being used by the Public Defender’s office. The majority of the funds would be coming out of SPLOST. Hartline said he had spoken with other contractors and they were estimating $1 million for the 6,000 sq ft. building the county had planned – $200 per sq ft if done by a construction company, $150 a sq ft if county did some of the work. Rumley said almost all could be done by the county. Hartline said he was not sure $600,000 would even touch it. Rumley said they could set a budget of $500,000 if they wanted numbers.
Bradford said she was concerned about time and the building not being what it needs to be. Rumley assured Bradford that the county had been working with the state and the Elections Office making sure they had everything they needed to have.
“It’s going to be what we need it to be,” Rumley said.
The land has been cleared and stripped down and is ready to be graded, hopefully in the next week Rumley said. Hartline said he just wanted people to know that when they came in asking for SPLOST and the Commission said no, it was because the elections building is a priority and has to be built so the county is in compliance with state election guidelines. Currently the county is not in compliance by holding elections in the Administrative Building.
Repairs and renovations at The Depot from the fire are getting closer to being completed and will come in very close to the budget with insurance. Rumley said they hope for the project to be done and the two offices moved in by mid March.
Courthouse renovations also continue forward as the entire first floor of drywall has been completed. A meeting with a contractor to go over the cost of doors and hardware is scheduled for Monday.
The Sewer extension project for Trenton Pressing with the IDA and City of Trenton is complete the Commission approved paying $42,126.85 from SPLOST as requested by the IDA and City of Trenton.
Commissioner Hartline requested an ordinance or guidelines set by the county regarding attaching to City sewer. Hartline said that as the city sewer has expanded, houses being built are being added to the Sewer by using gravity lines, a pump and a tank. Multiple houses are being attached to one pump and tank and then to the Sewer. Hartline said his concern is that when there is an issue with the pump or the tank, then those in the homes do not want to take responsibility for the issue and may start coming to the county. Hartline requested that the county set a guideline that all homes constructed in the future that will be added to city sewer need to have their own pump and tank. That way it is clear who is responsible. Rumley asked Hartline to work with County Attorney Robin Rogers on the issue.
County residents Tom and Melissa Hyde who live in the area behind Magby Gap Church of Christ on Sand Mountain, also spoke to Commissioners about creating a new ordinance. The Hydes said they have spent years dealing with a disgruntled neighbor who uses the lack of a noise ordinance in the county to harass them. The Hydes say they have dealt with loud music at all hours being blasted through speakers purposely aimed at their home, animals being moved to the fence line under their bedroom windows so they are bothered by the noise, and other issues. The Hydes have called law enforcement multiple times, but since there is not a noise ordinance there is nothing they can do. They are about to go to their 3rd civil court appearance with the neighbor. They have had a Peace Warrant in place before, but as soon as it is over the noise starts again. They Hydes asked the Commission to consider some type of noise ordinance to help prevent people from using loud noises to harass others. Rumley referred to problem to Rogers who will be working to see what ordinance could be put in place.
Commissioners approved Proclamations for the first Thursday of February every year to be Optimist Day; the week of February 5 – 9, 2024, 2as Severe Weather Preparedness Week; February 2024 as American Heart Month and Friday, February 2 as “Go Red”; Friday, February 16 as Arbor Day; and February 17 – 24, 2024 as National Future Farmers of America week.
Commissioners also approved the purchase of Extrication Gear and Turnout Gear for Trenton Station 1 at a cost of $20,400, for Station 4 North Dade at a cost of $20,400, and for New Salem at a cost of $9,300 to be paid from SPLOST with New Salem’s paid from ARPA; approved the Historic Courthouse project report; the annual audit report with no findings by Henderson, Hutcheson and McCullough; and the contract for transportation of Garbage and Trash to Alabama Landfill by Republic Services at a cost of $35.57 per ton as of July 1, 2024, then $37.70 as of July 1, 2025, and then $39.59 as of July 1, 2026 plus $1 per ton Alabama Landfill fee and at a $4.00 trigger point for fuel surcharge. The abandonment of approximately 210 feet of old road bed along Pleasant Hill Road was also approved.
By: Summer Kelly
Watch the full Commission Meeting here:
