The Covington County Commission heard a review by the revenue commissioner, and voted to approve an amendment to a vote precinct during a regular meeting on June 27.


Chuck Patterson announced the county has closed its fiscal year in 2022, with total insolvents and errors and tax litigations of just under $14.4 Million.


“We have collected nearly $14.5 million in the property tax last year. There were 71 parcels sold in the tax sale, and also had one parcel be donated to the state, which we were unable to collect. Overall it was a positive time for our county and 2022 is over. We’re all in harmony with the state and we are all in good shape for the rest of the year.” Patterson said.


The commission voted to approve an expansion of the Marvin Odom Voting House at the request of Probate Judge Stacy Brooks. The commission voted to approve $7,000 from capital improvement funds to pay for the construction materials.


“This is our only tiny voting precinct that we have in our possession. It is 14 by 16 feet with a handicapped-accessible restroom that takes up about 6 by 8 feet of the entire building. It’s tiny, and with the technology for election available in the present, it’s inadequate and extremely congested. It is not possible to close the doors but we could build a 10-by- 16 foot extension on the back or front to create two separate rooms. One could be for people to sign into the voting process, while the other is an area where people can vote strictly,” Kevin Kennedy said.


Kennedy said that the project would be completed by the spring of next year.


“The most optimal time is when grass cutting isn’t so heavy since we often do this. It is likely that it won’t be completed until November of this year, however we will be able to get inside by the end of March next year. The grass cutting will likely need to be completed in the autumn .”


In other businesses:


  • The commission has approved retroactive out-of-state travel for the revenue commissioner attend the conference. Commission policy stipulates that any out-of-state trips for county officials or employees County personnel or county officials has to be authorized by the commission at the open session.

  • The commission voted to make the appointment of Harold Clark to serve on the Covington County Personnel Review Board. A second appointment is expected to be announced at a later meeting.

  • The commission voted to approve modifications for the Covington Center Arena. The improvements includes modifications of the venthood that is inside the arena. The total amount approved was $6,729 in capital improvements funds.

  • The commission ratified an option to receive the Title I/Title 3 Distribution payment through the U.S. Forest Service.

  • The commission ratified a plan and an agreement for legal services. The commission also approved Morgan Goodwin Arrington to serve as the county attorney for the commission. Stephanie Cotton previously served as the county attorney. She left to accept a new position in the Alabama Department of Revenue.

  • The commission voted to approve the adoption of a resolution in conjunction with that of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management to award the award of a grant.

  • The commission endorsed the procedure to begin the process of closing Perry Road in the southern region of the county.

  • The commission debated an appropriation to Opp City Schools. There was no action taken during the meeting, and discussions will resume at a subsequent meeting.

  • The commission has approved a request by the Sheriff Blake Turman on a budget modification to shift $7,000 from fuels to training, for the minimum of six deputy.
  • The chairman Greg White announced the commission’s second meeting in July be postponed because commissioners were attending an event in Texas.


This is the next scheduled meeting for Covington County Commission Covington County Commission is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, July 11, at 9 a.m. The public is welcome to attend.

The article Commission approves an addition to the Odom the precinct of voting was first published at The Andalusia Star-News.