The Franklin County Commission unanimously approved a two-year contract to make Russellville attorney Evan Hargett the new county attorney.
Since former county attorney Roger Bedford, Jr., died in October 2023, attorneys from the law firm of Bedford, Rogers, Bowling & McReynolds, P.C., including Hargett, have served in a temporary capacity as county attorney.
The contract between Hargett and the commission is for two years. The commission approved hiring Hargett at its December 16th meeting.
In other agenda items, the commssion:
--approved a resolution authorizing expenditure of $485,000 from American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds for the construction of a new animal control facility to be built behind the Franklin County Jail. The commission also approved the contract for $485,000 with Hovater Metal Works to construct the building. Commissioner Greg Hovater, owner of Hovater Metal Works, abstained from both votes.
--approved the purchase of a sign for the Franklin County Archives that will rename a part of the facility as the 'Chris Ozbirn Genealogy Center.' The sign will be made by Gault Signs of Russellville at a cost of $3,060 for making and installing the sign.
--approved a meeting schedule for 2025 with work sessions set for the second Monday of each month at 5 p.m., and business meeting the third Monday of each month at 3:30 a.m. On months where those days are holidays, the meetings will take place on the following day.
--approved a no-cost contract with Investing in Alabama Counties for a three-year period. IAC will provide support and assistance for the commission when handling ARPA funds, grants or other expenditures.
--approved the hiring of Gregory Haithcock as Senior Equipment Technician and Roger Grissom as temporary employee in the Franklin County Highway Department.
--approved the resignation of Corrections Officer/Dispatcher Renee Halbrooks Butler, the termination of Corrections Officer/Dispatcher Philip Arrington, the retirement of Cindy Shivers, the termination of Destiny Contreras as Corrections Officer/Dispatcher and the hiring of Michael Seth Ables and Kara Lee Moody as temporary Corrections Officer/Dispatcher and Jason Boake Wilds as temporary deputy in the Franklin County Sheriff's Office.
--heard an update from Probate Judge Barry Moore about trees around the Franklin County Courthouse being cut and/or trimmed by the Russellville Electric Board at the commission's request. The trees, Moore explained, pose a danger to power lines. The commission authorized Moore to contact some companies offering stump grinding services to get the stumps around the courthouse removed.
--met for 15 minutes in executive session with the county attorney and Sheriff Shannon Oliver on an undisclosed matter.
