in for another term

By BETH LAKEY

Staff Writer

Pike County commissioners swore to uphold the laws of Alabama during a swearing-in ceremony held at the Pike County Courthouse on Tuesday.

Each of the commissioners representing the county’s six districts were re-elected ­ two even without opposition.

Willie C. Thomas, Larry Meeks, Larry Penn, Charlie Harris and Karen Berry all took the oath of office during a ceremony at noon. Recent heart surgery forced Ray Goodson to take the office, administered by Probate Judge Bill Stone, at his home Tuesday morning.

Prior to Stone and Circuit Judge Robert Barr administering the oath of office to the commissioners, the Rev. Bobby Cox offered a prayer that God "keep them (commissioners) ever mindful of the sacred trust" placed in them by the voting public.

"I’m looking forward to the next four years," Penn said of being re-elected.

Meeks, who was unopposed, said having all six commissioners retain their seats shows the public must have confidence in their abilities to serve and represent the county’s population.

Harris echoed Meeks’ sentiment.

"The people of Pike County must have thought highly of us since we’re all back," Harris said.

And, Berry said she is expecting "four more great years" of the commission.

After being sworn in, the commissioners went right to work.

Although the first item of business on the agenda was election of a chairman, the commission chose to postpone that decision because of Goodson’s absence until its next meeting, which was rescheduled for Nov. 30.

Acting on a Nov. 3 state bid opening, the commission voted to give authority to the state to award two road work bids. The bid for construction of a bridge culvert on Pike County Road 25 at Lynn Mill Creek went to Newell Road Builders Inc. of Hope Hull with a price tag of $192,300. Resurfacing of County Road 21 from Henderson, north to County Road 40, will cost $542,800 and will be done by Wiregrass Construction Inc.

County Engineer Herb Huner said both bids came in under estimates and will be paid for with state road and bridge money.

In response to a question regarding passage of Amendment 1, which will provide funds for road and bridge work, Huner said his understanding is that money will not be made available until January, at the earliest.

In other business, the commission:

· Approved travel requests to the NACO 2000 Legislative Conference March 2-6, 2001 and a Personnel Management, Policies and Procedures seminar on Dec. 5.

· Reviewed bids for Sheriff Department vehicles and awarded Ken Cox Ford that bid for the purchase of up to seven vehicles. Although the county has only budgeted two vehicles, other funds are expected from grants.

· Voted to give county employees half a day off on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. The courthouse will close at noon on Nov. 22.

· Made a salary adjustment in the amount of $6,000 to the animal control officer’s salary. The money, which had been budgeted for that department, was redistributed to the salary.

· Was told by Pike County Emergency Management Agency Director Larry Davis the storm that passed through the area last Thursday morning was a small F1 tornado. The tornado caused damage to areas of County Road 103, County Road 7 and County Road 96.

Davis said "no formal tornado warning" had been issued for the area, which was only under a tornado watch.