Erica Techo
The 2016-2020 Shelby County Commission.
Oak Mountain State Park is set to get a new trail.
The North Lakes Connector Trail, a 2-mile multipurpose trail for hiking, trail running and mountain biking, will run from the North Trailhead to the North Lakes parking lot by Lunker Lake at the park.
Shelby County received an ADECA Recreational Trails Program grant and requested bids for the project. During its March 27 meeting, the Shelby County Commission recorded the bid amount from the lowest responsive bidder, Triple J Construction LLC. The bid was in the amount of $34,147.80, and County Manager Alex Dudchock is directed to take any actions necessary for the implementation of the project.
The commission also awarded bids for several pieces of equipment for environmental services and the Shelby County Emergency Management Agency. The approved bids were for EMS backboards and restraining equipment, electronic monitoring devices and accessories, advanced life support equipment, basic life support equipment and fire services equipment.
“The Shelby County Community Health Foundation gives a sum of money every year to help out the fire departments and EMS agencies in Shelby County,” said EMA Supervisor Hub Harvey. “Part of that goes to education, part of that goes to matches for grants ... the bulk of it is set aside to help the departments out with buying fire equipment.”
Departments can also buy off of these bids awarded and recorded by the commission. “It also helps the departments already have a pre-bid set in place for the next year,” Harvey said.
During his report to the commission, County Engineer Randy Cole encouraged the commission to approve a standard agreement with ALDOT that was on the budget. He also encouraged the commissioners to speak to area congressmen to voice their support for ATRIP-2. The commission previously issued a resolution in support of the bond issue, which is set to be introduced in Montgomery next week, said Commissioner Lindsey Allison. Allison asked if the commissioners should plan to go to County Day in Montgomery, which will be on April 12.
“According to Sunny Brasfield [executive director of the Association of County Commissions of Alabama], it’s all hands on deck, and everyone needs to make sure to turn out and talk to our legislators,” Cole said.
There will also soon be a link on the engineering department’s website that will show what the county engineering department and municipalities could get through the bond issue, as well as what the money can be used for.
Also at the meeting, the commission:
- Approved bills, requisitions and check register.
- Approved bids for correctional apparel and accessories as well as vehicle equipment for the sheriff’s office and jail.
- Approved bids for road signs and safety shirts for the highway department.
- Approved a bid for a volunteer management system for IT services.
- Approved an agreement with ALDOT to resurface a portion of U.S. 31 from north of Fulton Lake Road to the I-65 overpass.
- Passed proclamations recognizing April 4 as National Service Recognition Day and recognized April as Fair Housing Recognition Month.
