By Michelle Key
Publisher
Lee County EMA Director Kathy Carson notified the county commissioners on Monday night that Lee County was approved for more than $400,000 in grant funds to be used for individual storm shelters.
Applications for grants are now available at the EMA offices. The organization will also be holding a series of public meeting for interested applications with the first one being held Oct. 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Lee County Meeting Center.
Commissioner Johnny Lawerence presented a resolution naming Lee County as a Purple Heart County as a way of honoring the many Purple Heart recipients that reside or do business within Lee County. Special placards will be placed on parking spaces at county offices.
Following an executive session, the commission voted to approve a real-estate offer on property owned by the county. The property is located on South Railroad Avenue.
In other business, the commission:
• read a resolution for the Pilot Club’s International Founders Day
• EMA’s Rita Smith was recognized for completing the studies required to be desiginated as a Master Public Information Officer, making her only one of two PIO’s in the state to have this designation
• announced an opening on the Beulah Utilities District Board
• heard from Lee County residents regarding Lee County Highway 3 and asked the commission to make a determination on whether or not the road is a public county road or a private roadway. The commission did not make a determination on this matter during the meeting but plans to research and review information and will readdress the issue at the next commission meeting.
• approved a funding agreement with the City of Opelika for the purposed of building a roundabout at the intersection of Lee Road 54 and Gateway Drive. The county’s cost for the project will be capped at $200,000
• approved preliminary plats for the Magnolia Ridge Subdivision, Phase II and the Haley Woods Subdivision, Phase V and
• approved the fiscal year 2020 budget, outside agencies funding agreements and approved annual leave hours based on annual employee evaluations in place of merit raises for FY2020.
The county commission’s next meeting will be held on Oct. 14 at 5 p.m. Meetings are held in the commission chambers in the Lee County Courthouse Annex.