The Cullman County Commission made a $400,000 state grant official during its meeting Monday.

The grant will be used to replace undersized and deteriorated water lines in the Bremen and Cold Springs communities on the county’s west side.

During the meeting, the commission voted to give Chairman Wiley Kitchens executive authority to sign agreements for engineering services on the project.

According to the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, the project will benefit 122 people residing in the area’s 49 households. Of those, ADECA reports 85 percent are listed at low-to-moderate income levels.

Once completed, the project will replace existing water lines on county roads 76, 78 and 56. It will also replace lines along portions of Alabama Highway 69.

Total cost on the project is projected at $519,472, leaving the county with a $119,472 in matching funds.

According to Kitchens the grant project was spearheaded by associate commissioner Doug Williams and Water Department Superintendent David Bussman.

They were reportedly aided on the state level by Rep. Neal Morrison, D-Cullman.

In a previous interview, Morrison said Williams and associate commissioner Stanley Yarbrough completed the grant application.

It is not clear when work on the project is scheduled to begin.

In other business Monday, the commission:

‰ Passed a measure to establish a private cemetery known as the Sonya Maria Scott Family Cemetery, located at 662 County Road 655.

‰ Passed a measure authorizing Kitchens to sign an executive agreement with the Towry Company, a grant-writing company that works with the Cullman County Water Department.

‰ Passed a measure approving two new drivers for the North Alabama DMORT Truck, which is housed in Cullman County under the authority of the Cullman County Emergency Management Agency.

‰ Passed a measure for the county to accept maintenance and insurance responsibilities for emergency notification sirens in the Logan community.

‰ Awarded an $8,600 bid to Dixie Tractors in Cullman for bush-hogging equipment, contingent on the county attorney’s legal opinion.

‰ Awarded a $20,686 bid to Eckenrod Ford for a new Sheriff’s Office patrol car.

‰ Awarded a bid for various computer equipment.

‰ Awarded a bid for a new 25-cubic-yard garbage truck for the County Sanitation Department.

‰ Accepted a private road in the Oak Lane Subdivision off Goldridge Road into the county maintenance system. That road will now be County Road 1562.

‰ Accepted a private road in the Robin Park Subdivision off Eva Road into the county maintenance system. That road does not have a number designation yet.

‰ Made a $1,000 donation to the Baldwin Community Center.

‰ Tabled all matters dealing with the employee personnel handbook until the next meeting.

Due to state law, the next county commission meeting will be 10 a.m. Nov. 14, after the general election and after the newly-elected commissioners are sworn into office.