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There are several projects on tap for Butler County this summer and bid openings will be coming up to determine the costs.

At last week’s meeting of the Butler County Commission, commissioners learned that a bid opening for several Rebuild Alabama road projects will be held Wednesday, one of which is on Ridge Road and bids for a new Sheriff/EMA building will be opened on Thursday. A late July or early August start is possible for the Ridge Road paving. The other project is on Holly Hill Road, which could be completed in September or October.

One project was bid in a previous week with two bids of $94,000 from CNH Construction Group of Theodore Alabama and the next low bid was H&L. ALDOT was meeting to award the contracts. The project is for guardrail improvements on several roads.

Butler County has also received a federal declaration for flooding from February and March that will cover some road damage.

The Commission also approved July 17-19 for the School Sales Tax Holiday and transferred $2,157.57 from Excess Land Sales to the General Fund from tax year 2017.

The Commission also discussed the lease of the Industry Community Center for a voting house. Most of the leases are $1,000 per year, however, this lease had been moved to $1,250 in the past, which brought some discussion among the Commission members. The Commission had been working to make all of the leases the same — $1,000 per year. Commissioner Frank Hickman questioned why a site had a different amount. Commission officials were going to check into the specifics.

Sheriff Danny Bond also updated the Commission on the Butler County Correctional Facility.

“About the only thing we’ve got going on now is normal wear and tear stuff,” Bond said. “We have an issue with our fire alarm system and we’re hoping to correct that quickly. It’s just general maintenance on the jail at this point.”

New Emergency Management Director Michael Vigor also had the chance to address the Commission.

“I hit the ground running June 1,” Vigor said. “We have COVID supplies coming in. I’m also getting out and meeting community partners. I’m trying to find some grants and donations for volunteer fire departments. We hopefully can get those folks some help in the near future. I know they desperately need it. I’m excited to be here and I’m excited to work with you gentlemen.”