BY HANNAH GOLDFINGER
HGOLDFINGER@OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
LEE COUNTY —
The Lee County Commission amended projects under the Lee County Broadband Expansion Grant Program during Monday night’s meeting.
The Broadband Expansion Grant Program is a product of funds from the American Rescue Plan Funds. Broadband expansion was one of the allowed uses for that money.
“On [May 30, 2023], the Lee County Commission approved four specific priority project areas totaling 39.7 miles to expand broadband fiber optic infrastructure and services to unserved areas,” said County Administrator Holly Leverette. “We were notified recently that several of the roads in the counties’ priorities are also currently funded rural-digital-opportunity-fund grant projects that are already in place. This is a federal project where we can’t co-mingle our funds. So those are already set projects.”
That means the county needed to remove roads from its projects, Leverette said, though those areas will still be serviced. The county will not be able to control the timeline, though, she said.
“We were able to add an additional 5.1 miles to the overall priority projects totaling 44.8 miles, so in the end, we’re gaining more mileage, and all of the roads that we had to remove are going to be funded,” she said.
The application is also being updated, Leverette said. The application will indicate that if an area is already covered federally it cannot be covered by the county. Applications opened Aug. 1 and will close Sept. 15.
OTHER BUSINESS:
– The commission heard a powerpoint presentation by CTV Beam Representatives.
– The commission heard a presentation on the FY 2023 Rebuild Alabama Act Annual Grant Program Award from County Engineer Justin Hardee. Hardee shared the application was approved.
– The commission heard an update on the Loachapoka Park.
– The commission heard the first reading of three openings on the Lee County Commission District Board E911.
– The commission agreed to draft a contract to take Leverette off of probation after a year and a half. A contract will be presented at the next meeting.
– The commission approved the nomination of three members to the County Board of Equalization.
– The commission heard a request from Beulah Utilities and approved a raise in compensation for board members from the county budget.
– The commission approved a bid for 10 or more Panasonic Toughbook Computers for the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
– The commission approved an educational reimbursement request for the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
– The commission nominated and approved District 1 Commissioner Doug Cannon as the Lee County ACCA Legislative Committee Representative.
– The commission amended the solid waste transition to include that the solid waste office move under the commission office; a new department of commission billing be created; creation of a billing office manager position; creation of guidelines for delinquent accounts; institution of late fees; refund processes; lockbox services; reclassification of CFO position; and amended the solid waste billing guidelines.
– The commission approved the creation of a commission office administrative technician position for the county by reclassifying the grant specialist.
– The commission scheduled budget work sessions.
– The commission approved the creation of a construction materials storage area.
– The commission approved a request for assistance from NCAT.
– The commission approved Goat Rock Ridge, Phase II.
– The commission approved Phase 3 of the Halawakee Creek Landing.
– The commission approved an adopt-a-mile application for Lee Road 265.