The Marengo County Commission voted Tuesday to request the county probate judge name an interim coroner. The vote came during a regular business meeting at the Marengo County Courthouse in Linden.
The commission expressed the desire for an interim coroner to be named later in the week so that business for local funeral homes can continue. The person appointed by Probate Judge Laurie Hall will serve until Governor Robert Bentley makes his official appointment who will serve in the office until the end of teh current term in 2018.
Commission Chairman John Crawford said the commission has already started the process on the local end to fill the void left by former coroner Stuart Eatmon who resigned from the position effective Dec. 31, 2016 due to health concerns.
Crawford also said anyone who wished to be up for consideration for the governor’s appointment for the office should send a resume and letter of interest to Charles Patrick Bond, Assistant Director of Appointments & Scheduling in the Office of Governor Robert Bentley at the email appointments@governor.alabama.gov.
The commission also approved a library technology and automation grant worth $16,407 that will allow the Marengo County Public Library to purchase eight new computers, headphones, other new equipment and Crayola kiosks that feature iPads to let children play on as opposed to using the computers according to MCPL Director Joyce Morgan.
Morgan said the library has the matching funds for the grant that amounts to $4,102, but needed the county to front the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds of $12,305 so that she could purchase all the new equipment at once. Fronting the money would not cost the county anything as the LSTA funds would be reimbursed.
Also, approved by the commission was a resolution in support of a 3-cent gas and diesel tax over 15 years to go towards the improvement of bridges across the state.
The tax would be worth $10.8 million dollars to the county with 20 percent of it going to municipalities and could help improve 135 miles of bridges to Marengo County.
County Engineer Ken Atkins said that this is just a preliminary measure as the tax still has to be passed by the State of Alabama Legislature.
The new tax would cost the average driver $1.50 per month according to Atkins. This would be the first tax increase on gas since 1992.
Other items approved by the commission include:
•Severe Weather Preparedness Tax Holiday on Friday, Feb. 24.
•A .90 percent user fee CD rate to remain at First Bank of Linden.
•A bid from H&L Construction out of Troy worth around $4,000 to fix guardrails along Rangeline Road damaged by a truck accident in 2016.
•Resolution for construction on Gandy Ferry Road. Atkins said that the project there could be done by April, but should be done by late spring or early summer.
The next regular commission meeting is set for Feb. 14 at the Marengo County Courthouse.