By Karen Williamson

KARENW@CULLMANTIMES.COM

New building projects and water issues dominated the Cullman County Commission regular meeting Tuesday.

Commissioners voted to award Jim Wilson Construction the construction of the new $2,051,000 Cullman County Water Department and Emergency Management Agency building.

They then voted to allow the chairman to sign an agreement to refinance the Series 2003 water bonds.

Cullman County Water Department Manager David Bussman said, “ This will allow us $3 million in new money.”

He said the interest rate will stay the same and will extend the life of the bonds by four years until 2020. The bonds are being purchased from Merchant’s Capital.

Commissioners then voted to authorize the chairman to sign a contract with G Squared to map 2 foot contours for a pipeline to move raw water from the Tennessee River to Cullman.

Cullman County Commissioner Wiley Kitchens said the project would not help residents with the current drought but said having access to the water in the future is important.

Bussman said Lake Catoma was 17 feet below full pool, and he expects the city to go to “Phase III (of the mandatory water restrictions) in less than three weeks unless measurable amounts of water are received.”

At that point, water customers will have to cut back by 10 percent, he said prior to the meeting.

Sealed bids for the future Department of Human Resource Building on St. Joseph Street have been opened. Commissioners are waiting for authority from the state to go ahead with the project. The building is expected to cost just over $5 million dollars, according to Kitchens.

Commissioners plan to form a Public Building Authority to construct the new DHR building and will appoint board members to it.

“The county will build it; the state will rent it,” said Cullman County Commission attorney Dan Willingham.

“The bond is issued to the board,” he said.

It will not limit what the county can borrow for other projects since the building will pay for itself with rental income, said Willingham.

In other business, Cullman Airport Manager Bob Burns gave an update on the Cullman Airport.

He is filing a pre-application for federal assistance for $1 million for 35 acres.

“The FAA pays 100 percent of land acquisition they approve,” he said following the meeting.

He is also seeking $50,000 for a survey and $35,000 for runway striping.

The survey is for an approach coming in on the North runway that would allow planes to come in at lower levels “and will attract more business,” said Burns.

“That is the purpose in doing this,” he said.

The next regular meeting will be held on Fri., Nov. 9.

In other business, the commissioners:

‰ Passed a resolution to reduce the speed limit on County Road 545 to 35 miles per hour.

‰ Passed a resolution to reduce the speed limit on County Road 1389 to 20 miles per hour.

‰ Passed a resolution to increase compensation paid to the Board of Registrars from $20 a day to $22 a day. Commissioners said the state paid the bulk of the salary, and the county paid a small portion of it.

‰ Passed a resolution to set the speed limit on County Road 1447 at 30 miles per hour.

‰ Accepted a final plat for Bear Pen Subdivision located in District 2 off of County Road 188 subject to a $70,000 surety.

‰ Accepted a plat for Goodwin-Mills, Phase B Subdivision located in District 2 on County Road 295 contingent upon delivering plat with correct signatures.

‰ Awarded a Park and Recreation bid to Dixie Tractor Co. for a Kubota tractor for $12,750.

‰ Awarded a Road Department bid to Hare Tractor for $6,500 for a rotary cutter.