BY HANNAH GOLDFINGER
FOR THE OBSERVER
LEE COUNTY — Lee County EMA Director Rita Smith approached the commission during its March 11 meeting to inform the commissioners of an appropriations request for a community storm shelter.
“As some of you remember, and some may not, Dr. David Rush from Auburn University did a study on locations for community safe rooms and shelters in 2018 and the number one spot, the number one area, was the Beauregard community and then in 2019 that proved to be very true,” Smith said. “… So Sen. [Tommy] Tuberville has some money that needed to be appropriated and spoke with Commissioner [Doug] Cannon about needs in our county.”
Smith said the county requested a community safe room for the appropriations request.
The request must be granted first, Smith said, before there is any necessary action from the commission. But the request would be a 10% match, Smith said.
“Excited about the opportunity, it’s a good thing for our citizens and the community,” she said. “It will be an 80 person shelter.”
SECURITY:
The commission approved a request from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office to enhance security for the Lee County Courthouse.
The request from Sheriff Jay Jones included a walk-through scanner that would be placed at the 10th Street entrance of the courthouse on the night of commission meetings. This would be a roll-in and roll-out device that could be utilized was needed.
The request will, hopefully, according to Sheriff Jay Jones, eventually lead to scanners placed at all entrances at all times for the safety of employees.
“As everyone is aware, in recent times and not so recent times, there have been some concerns and actual events that have threatened the security of individuals attending meetings, particularly government meetings around the country,” Jones said.
OTHER BUSINESS:
- The commission heard from a citizen, Robert Burns, on Lee Road 849. He alerted the commission about a stormwater drain causing damage to his property. County Engineer Justin Hardee then addressed the pipe situation.
- The commission approved an application for three special event licenses for B&B Beverage Management.
- The commission approved updates to job descriptions for the Revenue Commissioners Office.
- The commission approved the bid results for the bridge replacement on CR-245 over Peters Creek.
- District 1 Commissioner Doug Cannon added an item to the agenda on behalf of the coroner. The coroner requested help from the county attorney with open record requests, which was approved by the commission.