The Covington County Commission adopted a resolution to change the county’s ARPA funding to more closely align with the current guidelines. They also approved other items for discussion at the regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, February. 28.


As per the resolution adopted by the county, its ARPA funding that is obligated to finance the supplemental pay of employees is to be transferred from under public health emergency declarations into general fund. The declaration of public health emergency expires on by March 15. The supplemental pay amount is $1 an hour per employee.


“In this decision, we outlined that the commission intends to provide a permanent fund with a one-dollar premium instead of a period of 36 months. Prior to this, it was not fixed for a long time,” Chairman Greg White declared.


The commission ratified the Sheriff Blake Turman to increase a firearm permit fee for those between the ages of 19 and 59, from $20 to $25.


“Part of legislation adopted in the last year or so contained the pistol permit rate being increased of $20.25 to $25. However any county with local legislation in place was required to adhere to the rates specified in the local law. Covington County had legislation local to it. Sheriff Turman is asking us to vote in favor of legislation that would increase the fee to the permitted amount of $25. The exemptions for senior citizens 60 and over, veterans, and law enforcement officers will stay in effect,” White said.


The commission has no intention of establishing the fee at $25. “We support the sheriff’s demand to conform to the law. The legislature will be charged with determining the fee amount through an act of the local government.” The resolution was passed.


The commission endorsed that the County Engineer’s department entering into an agreement with the state in the framework of the Federal Land Access Program for bridges within and around the Conecuh National Forest.


“County Engineer Lynn Ralls and his staff have been able to secure nearly $2 million in federal grants for the replacement of bridges, which are about 50 years of age,” White said. “All of these wooden bridges are situated on dirt roads. The bridges that are newer are designed to support up to 35 tonnes of weight that school buses, farm workers and loggers to be able to safely travel across,” Ralls added.


In other industries:


  • The commission has approved the re-appointment by Tommy McGaha to a two-year term on the planning committee of Southeast Alabama’s Rural Planning Organisation. McGaha’s prior term was up in January.
  • The commission has approved the re-appointment to Bragg Carter to a six-year term on his position on the Covington County Water Authority’s board. Carter’s last term ended on the day before on March 1.
  • The commission voted in favor of its appointment to Connie Bozeman on a six-year term to the South Crenshaw County Water Authority board. Bozeman succeeds James Hogg whose term expired on March 1.
  • The commission voted to approve the re-appointment to Jed Blackwell and Paul Whatley to terms of one year to The Covington County Recreation Board. Their current terms expire on Friday 10 March.
  • The commission voted in favor of the assignment of office space that was previously utilized for district attorneys Covington County District Attorney to be transferred to the Sheriff for housing the county investigators.
  • The commission ratified the renewal contract with Rapid Financial Services to provide work-release money to prisoners who carry the debit card. The commission approved the agreement with one condition, that any dispute with the company are resolved by local courts instead of the Pennsylvania courts where the company is located.
  • The commission voted in favor of travel outside the state to the Sheriff’s Department to send two jailers to a “Less Lethal” training program located in Oxford, Mississippi, on March 21 and 22. Commission policy stipulates that any travel outside of the state by County employees or officials has to be authorized by the commission at an open session.
  • The commission voted in favor of the purchase of an 2013 Ford Taurus for the Sheriff’s Department for a price of $3,050. The purchase was made with the funds of law enforcement, however this purchase is required for it to be added in the inventory of the county and covered.
  • The commission endorsed the declaration of the 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis in the Sheriff’s Department to be surplus which means it is removed from insurance and then disposed of.


Next meeting of Covington County Commission Covington County Commission is scheduled to be held on March 14, at 9 a.m. at Covington County Administration Building. Covington County Administration Building. Everyone is welcome to attend.

The article Commission changes ARPA funding, raises the fee for pistol permits to $25 was originally published at The Andalusia Star-News.