Shelby County Commission meeting discusses water problems, tax reform

The Shelby County Commission met on Monday, Aug. 13 for its regularly scheduled 8:30 a.m. meeting.

All commissioners were present, with the exception of Mike Vest, who is being treated for injuries sustained during a biking accident last week. After the approval of the meeting minutes from July 23, the approval of bills, requisitions and check register, and with no comments from the public present, the meeting proceeded.

Commissioners Jon Parker and Ward Williams presented favorable county engineer and water services reports, respectively. Curtis Rigby was appointed to the 911 Board, and commissioners Lindsey Allison, Robbie Hayes and Rick Shepherd approved all bid awards for liquid soap in county jails and juvenile detention centers, flail cutter parts for the highways and the renovation of the courthouse.

Both Rockett’s Bug Juice Gardens and Pho 280 had their alcohol licenses approved, too.

Shelby County’s Property Tax Commissioner, Don Armstrong, then presented his proposal to start using a sales tax lien to collect delinquent property taxes within the county, instead of the sale of property method that is currently used. This method will ultimately be mandated in all Alabama counties, but Shelby will be the first to implement it beginning in April.

Also discussed during the meeting were updates regarding the Cahaba Beach Road Project and the creation of a turn lane between Highway 280 and County Road 11. A completion date is set for early November.

The commission reviewed budgets and expansion plans for the Shelby County Landfill, but water was the main point of conversation, with the commissioners acknowledging the environmental concerns surrounding the Cahaba Beach Road Project and recent water main breaks.