Category: Uncategorized

Reminder: Elmore County government office will be close Friday, July 3 in observance of Independence Day.

This is the work session agenda for the Commission meeting 6-22-2020.
The Elmore County Commission meets on the 2nd Floor of the Historic Elmore County Courthouse, downtown Wetumpka. Work Session starts at 5:00 p.m. and Commission meeting soon after, normally about 6:00 p.m.
If you want to share a thought or have a question on any item please let me know.
Thanks,
Bart

This is the work session agenda for the Commission meeting 6-8-2020.
The Elmore County Commission meets on the 2nd Floor of the Historic Elmore County Courthouse, downtown Wetumpka. Work Session starts at 5:00 p.m. and Commission meeting soon after, normally about 6:00 p.m.
If you want to share a thought or have a question on any item please let me know.
Thanks,
Bart

Below is an article (and link) published by the Elmore Autauga News this week providing an update on road projects that were partially or entirely funded by revenue generated from the REBUILD Alabama Act enacted October of 2019. Bart

West Elmore County, Millbrook Busy with Road Projects

Special to Elmore Autauga News

The citizenry usually benefits when governments work together to improve services.

That’s the case with many road projects in west Elmore County and the City of Millbrook ever since the Rebuild Alabama funds became available. “I’ve never seen the city and the county work so closely together and accomplish so much. Millbrook and Elmore County are getting things done I’m very proud to say,” Millbrook Mayor Al Kelley said.

The Rebuild Alabama funds are a result of 2019 legislation also known as the gas tax. The state legislative representation for Elmore County split its vote. Senator Clyde Chambliss and Representative Reed Ingram voted for the Rebuild Alabama funds. House members Will Dismukes and Mike Holmes along with Senator Will Barfoot voted against the legislation.

“If we didn’t have the Rebuild Alabama funds we would have never been able to start these projects this soon,” Elmore County District Four Commissioner Bart Mercer said. “The Rebuild Alabama funds have helped to match federal funds so that enough overall funding is available for some critical projects.”

One of those projects where Rebuild Alabama funds helped to bring in funds from the federal government was Deatsville Highway. The project has been complete for several months and has improved travel for the high usage transportation artery.  “We are trying to use every resource we can. One example is the Deatsville Highway project. We have used the reclaimed asphalt from that road to help provide an improved base layer on some currently unpaved roads. It improves serviceability of the road and saves the taxpayers money,” Mercer explained.

Joint projects provide many benefits to the area. Whether it’s the collaborative effort of Browns Rd where the City of Millbrook secured federal funds through the Montgomery Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and the County helped execute and administer the project on the city’s behalf to projects like Oak Tree Road where the City and County are using Rebuild Alabama funds to resurface their respective ends of the road through a common contract.

The City of Millbrook has finished the Magnolia Road project, which is the road off of Highway 14 in the vicinity of Tractor Supply and Duncan’s Automotive.

The county also saved taxpayers money when it waited to collect the Rebuild Alabama money before started projects. Starting projects immediately would require borrowing money and paying interest. The County is also leveraging its capabilities to prepare roads for improvements so the maximum effects can be realized from the new Rebuild Funds. One example of this effort is where the County is repairing base and drainage issues in preparation for a joint project with the Town of Elmore on Mercer Rd. Similar work is also being performed on Countryside Lane, Meadowview Drive, and Brookfield Drive as they will also be resurfaced by the County as part of the County’s initial round of Rebuild projects. In addition, the County will also be performing projects with federal dollars on Meherg Road, Flatwood Road and Flatwood Curve near the Town of Elmore.

Counties and municipalities are faced with the daunting task of maintaining roads and bridges. Industry standards suggest local governments should resurface their roads every fifteen years at minimum while bridges should be scheduled to be replaced or require major rehabilitation every fifty years. For Elmore County to meet those suggested schedules on its county road and bridge network, it would cost over an additional $10 million every year. “It’s a major undertaking and a major concern – all of the time,” Mercer said.

“You always wonder if you can keep infrastructure up to date. It’s tough. Hardly anyone understands the money that is required,” Kelley stated.

This is the work session agenda for the Commission meeting 5-26-2020.
The Elmore County Commission meets on the 2nd Floor of the Historic Elmore County Courthouse, downtown Wetumpka. Work Session starts at 5:00 p.m. and Commission meeting soon after, normally about 6:00 p.m.
If you want to share a thought or have a question on any item please let me know.
Thanks,
Bart

This is the work session agenda for the Commission meeting 5-11-2020.
The Elmore County Commission meets on the 2nd Floor of the Historic Elmore County Courthouse, downtown Wetumpka. Work Session starts at 5:00 p.m. and Commission meeting soon after, normally about 6:00 p.m.
If you want to share a thought or have a question on any item please let me know.
Thanks,
Bart

The Elmore County Economic Development Authority (ECEDA)  has released information on the ReOpenElmore project which is their effort to help businesses reopen in a safe manner.

The information found on their new website ReOpenElmore.com, will give business owners a list of items to consider prior to reopening  their business.

Once Governor Ivey takes the necessary steps allowing  our businesses to reopen, ECEDA will continue the support effort and will assist businesses with information on how to reopen within guidelines issued.

I appreciate ECEDA  focusing their resources on this project which has been made possible by support from their stakeholders.

Bart

ReOpenElmore.com

This is the work session agenda for the Commission meeting 4-28-2020.
The Elmore County Commission meets on the 2nd Floor of the Historic Elmore County Courthouse, downtown Wetumpka. Work Session starts at 5:00 p.m. and Commission meeting soon after, normally about 6:00 p.m.
If you want to share a thought or have a question on any item please let me know.
Thanks,
Bart

Due to the Tornado Watch being issued the Elmore County Emergency Management Agency has activated the Safer Places Program.

Please see the information below about Safer Places and how they function during severe weather events:

The purpose of the Safer Place Program in Elmore County is to facilitate the opening of pre-designated areas for citizens seeking a safer place prior to and during severe weather conditions. The Safer Place Program is not intended for long-term opening of a building for a mass care shelter. Instead the intent of the program is to provide a safer place (not safe as in a FEMA approved Safe Room), for individuals to seek shelter during severe weather (tornado, extreme cold or extreme heat). There are no meals or services provided by the host facility. Citizens are encouraged to bring anything they may need to sustain themselves (i.e. food, medicine, etc.). The safer place locations are not advertised as “tornado shelters” or “safe rooms” but as a location of last resort for those who need a safer place to stay prior to and during a severe weather event or during times of extreme cold or heat.

These are the Safer Places locations that are currently open until the Tornado Watch expires:

The following Safer Places are open to citizens:

Elmore County Courthouse – 100 E. Commerce St, Wetumpka

Town of Elmore – 212 Penny Parkway, Elmore

Town of Elmore – Elmore Fire Station 1 – 1245 AL Hwy 143, Elmore

Town of Elmore  – Elmore Fire Station 2 – 393 Baltzer Road, Elmore

Deatsville Fire Department – 6930 AL Hwy 143, Deastville

New Home Baptist Church – Titus – 1605 New Home Road, Titus

St James Family Worship – 1005 Nobles Rd, Wetumpka

Tallassee Police Department – 214 Barnett Blvd, Tallassee

Tallassee City Hall –  3 Freeman Ave, Tallassee

Tallassee United Methodist Church – 1 Jordan Ave, Tallassee

Millbrook Baptist Church – 3431 Browns Rd, Millbrook

Eclectic Police Station – 148 Main St, Eclectic

First Baptist Church – Eclectic – 203 Claude Rd, Eclectic

Redland Baptist Church – 1266 Dozier Rd, Wetumpka

Coosada Town Hall/Fire Department- 5800 Coosada Rd, Coosada

Harden St Church – 213 Harden St., Eclectic

Prattville Public Safety Building – 201 Gin Shop Hill Rd, Prattville

Safer Place sites can also be found on our website at Safer Places and click on “I Understand” to go to the map page.

For additional questions you can contact the Elmore County Emergency Management Agency at (334) 567-6451.

Stay Safe!!

Bart

With severe storms forecast for this Sunday the County Commission has released the below information in relation to Safer Places and Social Distancing.

With the impending severe weather expected for Sunday and while we are still practicing social distancing amid the COVID-19 pandemic, we want to remind everyone that the protocol for the activation of Safer Places in Elmore County will remain unchanged. We will notify the Safer Places that Elmore County is under a watch/ warning and each Safer Place can respond if they will be able to open or not. Elmore County EMA will post updates during each event as Safer Places activate and open. You can stay informed of these updates through the EMA app, website or social media feeds.

The decision to open a Safer Place in Elmore County is always made by the individual facility. Safer Places will be provided the latest recommendations regarding COVID-19 from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), Should a Safer Place be opened, individuals utilizing the facility will be asked to follow the same CDC and ADPH guidelines that are in effect the day of the event.

Should you have questions regarding the Safer Places program, please contact the Elmore County EMA office at 334-567-6451 or email [email protected].

______________________________________________________________

What are Safer Places?

The purpose of the Safer Place Program in Elmore County is to facilitate the opening of pre-designated areas for citizens seeking a safer place prior to and during severe weather conditions. The Safer Place Program is not intended for long-term opening of a building for a mass care shelter. Instead the intent of the program is to provide a safer place (not safe as in a FEMA approved Safe Room), for individuals to seek shelter during severe weather (tornado, extreme cold or extreme heat). There are no meals or services provided by the host facility. Citizens are encouraged to bring anything they may need to sustain themselves (i.e. food, medicine, etc.). The safer place locations are not advertised as “tornado shelters” or “safe rooms” but as a location of last resort for those who need a safer place to stay prior to and during a severe weather event or during times of extreme cold or heat.