The Marengo County Commission met Tuesday morning and adopted a resolution to apply for a USDA grant to buy the Sheriff’s Department two new vehicles in the 2014 fiscal year.

Marengo County Sheriff Richard Bates said he bought one car this year, which is in his budget, but he has several cars that need to be replaced because they are not dependable to make long trips.

The USDA grant has a 35 percent grant rate, and the Commission would match the funding.

The commission also approved two new hires for the Sheriff’s Department. Deputy Cody Key and Deputy Cheree Travis were hired by the department.

Brenda Tuck, executive director of the Marengo County EDA, addressed the commission and spoke about the industrial park road in Linden.

Tuck said the bids for working on the road are going out and that construction could begin in June.

Sharon Barkley, Marengo County Revenue Commissioner, also addressed the commission, asking for reconsideration about how the commission pays for her personnel to go to classes. The way it is now, the people in her office have to pay for their hotel and travel expenses, then they are reimbursed after their trip. Barkley said that puts a financial strain on them because they do not always have the money for a multiple-night hotel stay.

Barkley added that she is happy with her new website, www.marengocountyal.com, and that she feels it is very beneficial for the county.

In other business, the commission also did the following:

•Approved a tax abatement for Rock-Tenn

•Adopted a resolution honoring Marengo Academy’s junior varsity boys basketball and baseball teams and varsity softball team, who all won state championships this season