BY MICHELLE KEY
THE OBSERVER
LEE COUNTY — During Monday night’s Lee County Commission meeting,
Jimmie Dickey, executive director and CEO of Integrea, presented information pertaining to the name change of East Alabama Mental Health to Integrea Community Health System. The organization has been providing services to the community since 1960 and serves Lee, Chambers, Russell and Tallapoosa Counties.
“We chose [the name] Integrea specifically in emphasize the importance of the integration of services in order to achieve the greatest outcomes possible,” Dickey said. “So, what we do is what makes us different from other providers. We are the center that provides and integrates a full range of mental health and substance abuse services. We serve the community where the community needs to be served.”
Jennifer Tidwell appeared before commissioners, thanking them for their support for Valley Haven School (VHS). VHS provides services for individuals with disabilities in Valley, Alabama. For more information visit www.valleyhavenschool.org.
Lee County Emergency Management Agency Director Rita Smith informed the commission about the National Information Officer’s Association Annual Conference, which she and other community public information officers recently attended.
IN OTHER BUSINESS
- The commission approved the minutes of the Aug.12 and Aug. 26 County Commission meetings.
The commission voted to ratify and approve claims and procurement card transactions. - Several board vacancies were presented for first reading, including vacancies on the Beulah Utilities District Board, the Horseshoe Bend Regional Library Board, the Lee County Recreation Board – District 4 and five vacancies on the Lee County Cemetery Preservation Commission Board.
- Lee County Chief Administrative Officer Holly Leverette presented an amended award for the ARPA Funded Broadband Expansion Phase II Grant. Information from the e-packet follows.
“At the June 24, 2024, commission meeting the ARPA Broadband Expansion Phase II Grant was awarded to R.M. Green Inc., doing business as BEAM, in the amount of $2,975,702.73. Prior to execution of the subrecipient agreements, potential impediments such as county rights-of-way, vacated roads and concern over efficiencies with the projects initially contemplated were discussed in a meeting with all parties present. The outcome of that meeting resulted in a better course of action involving amending the routes and costs recommended as per below:
(1) The awarded broadband expansion grant for the “South Central’’ project was reduced from
$722,627.29 to $594,863.41. This is for a total of 21 miles.
(2) The awarded broadband expansion grant for the Southeast project was reduced from
$1,168,459.83 to $828,679.50. This is for a total of 25 miles.
(3) The broadband expansion grants for the East Central and Northeast projects were combined into one project, and the combined award of $1,083,615.61 was reduced to $771,989.33. This is for a total of 24 miles.
The total amended ARPA Broadband Expansion grant amount for Phase II now totals $2,195,532.24.” - The commission approved a special events retail license application from Ocie and Belles LLC, located in District 5, for an event on Friday, Sept. 20.
- The commission approved educational reimbursement requests for employees of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
- The commission approved the final plat for the Parcel A Division on Lee Road 278. The proposed subdivision is located adjacent to Lee Road 278
- The commission approved the allocation of ARPA funds of up to $50,000 for administrative costs and authorized the chairman to sign the resolution.
- The commission decided to delay voting on a motion to authorize the chairman to sign a client consent for a Registered Investment Advisor Unification due to a consolidation of agencies until the next meeting.
- The commission voted for the chairman to sign the Safety Incentive Discount Program Verification Form for the current year.
