Commission approves more quality of life projects

Changes are coming throughout the county.

From new video boards coming to football stadiums in Eclectic, Holtville and Tallassee to a climbing tower at Stanhope Elmore High School, new quality of life projects are coming to life. 

The new projects were possible after previous quality of life projects came in under the county’s budget. 

“Some of these were taken off the table previously because we were not sure of the funding,” Elmore County chief engineer Luke McGinty said. “With the savings and funds available, we brought them back for approval.”

The commission approved $150,000 to be spent at both Elmore County and Stanhope Elmore high schools for video boards with the Elmore County Board of Education kicking in $50,000 for each project.

A new video board is also coming to J.E. Hot O'Brien Stadium in Tallassee. The commission approved $150,000 in funding and the City of Tallassee Board of Education is allotting $80,000 to the project.

The commission is also funding $30,000 in design services associated with the projects. 

The rappel tower at Stanhope Elmore will be funded with $200,000 from the commission, $25,000 from the county board of education and $25,000 from the City of Millbrook.

Wetumpka High School is getting $15,000 in tarps and equipment for baseball infield maintenance. 

The boat ramp at Kowaliga will be improved with $500,000 approved by the commission and additional funding coming from the Alabama Department of Natural and Conservation Resources. Russell Lands is providing additional property at the ramp to create more parking.

All told the commission approved spending up to $1,195,000 with $230,000 coming from partners in the various communities.

Outside of quality of life projects, the commission approved a bid for a new patrol vehicle for the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office. It is not from the state bid list but is lower than the expected cost.

Mid-South RC&D executive director Pam Hughes told the commission the upcoming grant cycle application period is April 1 to June 30.

“I have already been speaking with Keith Barnett with (Elmore County) EMA,” Hughes said. “There may be a couple grant funding opportunities there.”

The program has aided several Elmore County volunteer fire departments, the Wetumpka Depot and schools with projects over the past couple of years.

“(These are) grants you can put your hands on,” commission chairman Bart Mercer said. 

In other action the Elmore County Commission:

• Approved minutes of the March 10 meeting.

• Approved the memorandum of warrants totaling $4,181,396.69 for March 1-14.

• Appointed Rashawn Blasingame to the Carastar Health Board.

• Authorized the chair to execute a three year contract with OTM Cyber for professional cybersecurity services.

The next meeting of the Elmore County Commission is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday, April 10.