By Michelle Key
Publisher
The Lee County Commission met Monday night to discuss necessary budget adjustments because of the expenditures related to the March 4 tornadoes.
County Administrator Roger Rendleman requested the adjustments for the amount of $1,786,416 in order recognize a portion of funds that have been requested for reimbursement from FEMA as accounts receivable in the fiscal year 2019 budget.
The nearly $1.8 million amount is a “reasonable estimate of a portion of the costs for budgeting purposes only” according to a document provided to the commission by Rendleman.
The March storms have cost the county more than $4 million dollars in debris removal, administrative costs and other expenses. The anticipated FEMA reimbursement will be approximately 75% of the approved expenses with an anticipated additional 12.5% reimbursement coming from the Alabama EMA.
The commission approved the proposed budget adjustments as presented by Rendleman.
In other business, the commission:
• approved a motion to ratify and approve claims for invoices
• announced upcoming term expirations for positions on the following boards:
- Youth Development Board
- Lee County Public Building Authority
- East Alabama Health Care Authority
- Horseshoe Bend Regional Library
- Lee County Recreation Board for both the Beulah and Beauregard Districts
• approved to fund travel expenses for the commission members to travel to Washington, D.C. for the Regional State Leadership Day in October of this year
• approved a bid from Hudmon Construction for the amount of $3,462,379 to complete Phase I of the work at Beauregard Park
• approved a bid from Mobile Communications, Inc for the amount of $37,612 for equipment installation and equipment for four Chevy Tahoes operated by the Lee County Sheriff’s office
• approved a budget adjustment to cover the final expenses for the HVAC replacement project – phase II at the detention facility. Rendleman requested that the commission recognize $339,000 of previously un-budgeted revenue and allocated $398,000 of reserve fund balance in the general fund in order
• selected Commissioner Johnny Lawrence to represent the commission on the 2019-2020 ACCA Legislative Committee
• approved the renewal of a 3-year lease agreement with the City of Smiths Station for use of the government center for the Revenue Commission Office, Probate Judge and sheriff’s office for an amount of $3743.22 per month
• approved a contract renewal for a 3-year period with Advanced Disposal Services Alabama LLC for the disposal of solid waste
• reviewed a list of outside agencies requesting appropriations for the upcoming 2019-20 budget to be further reviewed during budget work sessions
• received a copy of the unaudited 2018 financial statements from County Chief Financial Officer Neil Cyriac
The commission meets on the 2nd and 4th Monday nights of every month unless otherwise noted. Meetings are held in the courthouse annex at 5 p.m. and are open to the public.
The next meeting will be on Aug. 12.