TALLADEGA The County Commission has tabled approval of an expansion design for an overcrowded jail.The commission met with officials from Pearson, Humphries and Jones Architects Inc. Monday night to go over a proposed design for the county jail. The jail was designed for 125 inmates, but as of last year, the daily average inmate count was 224, almost double the capacity the jail was designed to hold.
Chairman Roy Champion said the commission was looking at a 140-bed addition, a new kitchen and other offices. The projected cost of the expansion is $5.5 million.
The commission doesn't have the money at this time to build the expansion, Champion said.
"We've got to look at other funding sources. Everyone has overcrowding problems and we're no different. If we built a 500-bed facility, we would still be overcrowded," he said.
He said the county's indebtedness is at about $14 million. The commission would need $5.5 million for the jail and another $8 million to construct a bridge over the Coosa River near Fayetteville to Shelby County.
These two projects will put the county close to going over its indebted capabilities.
Also Monday, the commission granted a tax abatement for Alabama Specialty Products, also known as Metal Samples, in Munford.
Avis Cotton, with Alabama Specialty Products, and Calvin Miller, director the Talladega County Economic Development Authority, made the request for the abatement on behalf of Alabama Specialty.
Cotton said the company appreciated previous abatements.
"We are in need of a building expansion, new equipment and additional employees," Cotton said.
Miller told the commission the industry had grown 10 times its size since it was started.
"Abatements are very helpful," Miller said.
Champion said the commission's decision on the abatement is nothing new. "It's a common practice," he said.
The industry will pay school taxes but no ad valorem taxes.
Harold Ward, representing the Talladega Rotary Club, sought approval from the commission to place a monument on the courthouse lawn in honor of the Battle of Talladega, USS Alabama, World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
"We must establish a policy on this before a decision can be made to allow it," Champion said. "We can't answer the request at this time. I don't see a big problem with it. The policy just needs to be in place before we can so yes or no."
In other business, the commission:
o Heard from Hank Shiver on the proper way to display an American flag on Talladega County buildings.
o Designated November as National Hospice Awareness Month in Talladega County.
o Tabled action on Shelter In Place kits, pending the tabulation of two bids.
o Agreed to negotiate the bid from McCord Communications of Anniston for an emergency siren for Oak Grove, using grant money.
o Verified the composition of the Sycamore Water and Sewer Board, when it meets, and other information for a bond issue.
o Approved several conference requests from employees.
o Approved the hiring of two appraisal technicians in the Reappraisal Department.
o Reclassified an employee in the Probate Office and two at the jail, plus approved a probationary increase for another jail employee.
o Asked county administrator Jim Hilber to check into a policy against having animals on the courthouse lawn.
o Asked Hilber to send a letter to employees asking them their opinion about what days to be off for Christmas and New Year's holidays.
The next regular meeting of the commission is Nov. 10 at the courthouse. A new commission chairman will be elected at that time.
