Leah Ingram Eagle
2020 Census
Carletta Singleton tells the Shelby County Commission about plans for the upcoming census.
At the Feb. 11 Shelby County Commission meeting, much of the focus was on the 2020 census.
Carletta Singleton, partnership coordinator, made a presentation about the upcoming event, sharing statistics from the past and plans for the future.
“The mission of the 2020 census is to count everyone,” she said. “For every person not counted in Alabama, the state loses $1,567.”
Singleton said early projections show that Alabama may lose a representative, and it’s important for the state census to be as accurate as possible not only for political representation, but also for the economic impact. The population count will take place from January to April 2020 and delivered by Dec. 31, 2020. Counts will be released for redistricting by April 1, 2021.
Singleton discussed the new initiatives of the upcoming census and the turn towards technology. She said the privacy and confidentiality is very secure, and that no one from the Census Bureau would ever ask for a Social Security number, money or donation, PIN code or passwords from financial accounts.
County Manager Alex Dudchock said Shelby County will make efforts in many ways to make people aware of the census and encourage them to complete the survey, including getting the information sent out by schools via their email service to parents, direct mailings to senior and retirement communities and working with DHR and the foster parent network.
“Every one of those categories will be receiving timely announcements,” he said.
In his county manager’s report, Dudchock presented an update on the Shelby County Department of Human Resources building project. The original property, located on Highway 70 in Columbiana, was 24,000 square feet. A 10,000-square-foot addition is planned, along with additional staff and public parking. The total cost of the project is estimated at $5.3 million.
The Shelby County Public Building Authority (SCPBA) will address the financing of the renovation and new construction project. Shelby County and the SCPBA will execute a new lease agreement with the State of Alabama for 10 years. Dudchock said Chery Naugher, Tray Gauntt and Christine Pannell-Hester would be appointed to the SCPBA on Feb. 25.
County Engineer Randy Cole presented the approval for right-of-way acquisitions, Bridge Replacement and Approaches on County Road 52 over Cahaba River in Helena and over Buck Creek in Pelham, along with a land owner in Indian Springs’ request to purchase 12 feet of county property to expand his driveway. Both were approved by the commission.
Resolutions approved by the commission include:
- Approval for Property Tax Commission printed items purchases to be made as outlined by the State of Alabama bid laws.
- Approval for oil changes and related services.
- Approval for brake services.
- Approval for bid for stone and sand to Vulcan Materials.
- Calera, Helena and Childersburg and Dunn Construction based on the location of the quarry.
- Approval for the Access Control Lock System/Security System to Jeffcoat and Associates.
