Work session: hires, reclassifications, speed-limit proposals and department updates

Several routine personnel and operational items were presented during the Chilton County work session.

Sheriff's staff asked the commission to approve hiring Emily Easterling as a full-time correctional officer and to reclassify Chris Courville as a full-time deputy sheriff; materials and pay-rate attachments were included in the packet. Animal control asked to reclassify Ashley Bates from part-time to full-time as extended hours produced additional workload, and requested authorization to open four temporary control-specialist positions.

Libby Ratley, litter-control supervisor, requested a pay increase and asked the commission to consider an increase for employee Michael Stoudemire, acknowledging the request was not budgeted.

Commissioners reviewed several speed-limit recommendations brought forward by residents: examples include lowering County Road 43 (between County Roads 48 and 50) to 35 mph, County Road 163 to 35 mph, and a 1/2-mile section of County Road 459 (a dirt road) to 15 mph because of heavy 18-wheeler traffic. Staff said the proposals were requested to be taken up at the commission's next meeting.

Road Department Engineer Heath Sexton told the commission he had success filling several continuous job postings and requested permission to remove continuous postings for truck driver, equipment operator and road worker positions and instead post as needed.