Wade Hancock

The Cullman County Commission recognized one county employee Tuesday for earning top national honors last month at a Pennsylvania competition that tested the skills of municipal transit drivers from throughout the U.S.

Cullman Area Rural Transportation System (CARTS) driver Wade Hancock traveled to Pittsburgh in early June to compete in the National Community Transit Roadeo (yes, it’s spelled “Roadeo”), pitting his skills against those of drivers nationwide.

Hancock and his peers took to a specially-designed test course that assessed drivers’ abilities on numerous levels, with a primary focus on safety and “passenger sensitivity,” according to the organization.

When all the drivers had been put through their paces and all the vehicles parked, Hancock had earned the nation’s number one trophy in the minivan division, earning the Roadeo’s Otis Reed Driver of the Year award.

The commission recognized Hancock’s accomplishment at its regular meeting Tuesday. Commission chairman Kenneth Walker said Hancock represented CARTS, and Cullman County, admirably.

“It’s a really big deal, what he accomplished,” said Walker. “It brings us the right kind of recognition and it shows the commitment and dedication that Wade, and all of our CARTS drivers, have to the safety and comfort of the residents who trust CARTS to get them where they need to go, safely and courteously. Getting first place out of all the United States is just a really terrific achievement, and we’re proud to have Wade at CARTS.”

Hancock and other CARTS drivers finished strongly earlier this year at the Alabama State Roadeo competition that advanced Hancock to the national Roadeo in Pittsburgh. Hancock took 1st place in that contest’s van division, along with CARTS drivers Russell Speegle (1st place — bus division), Don Bonacci (2nd place — bus division), and Teresa Givens (3rd place — bus division).

In other business at its regular meeting, the commission:

Ratified the City of Cullman’s $88,000 tax abatement to harness manufacturer JELCO for its purchase of machinery and personal property.

Voted 3-0 against adopting a FEMA mitigation plan to erect hail protection carports for county vehicles, citing the unfeasibility of the project due to a lack of county-owned space to accommodate the shelters.

Surplussed an old, nonworking Centurion Security System for disposal.

Approved the purchase of seven personal computers for CARTS, at a cost of 6,764.45.

Appointed Carey Thompson to the three-member Board of Equalization.

Authorized the purchase of a discounted 928G Caterpillar loader from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, which is clearing surplus items owned by the state’s recently-shuttered mining reclamation division. The loader will cost $60,000.

Approved plat proposals for five subdivisions.

Extended by one year, at the same cost, the county’s current gas and diesel bid agreement with B&B Petroleum of Cullman.

Awarded a split bid on aggregate rock materials for the road department to Blount Springs, Vulcan Materials and Madison Materials, each of which submitted closely competitive bids for the long list of rock types the department uses. The county road department will purchase the materials from whichever of the three suppliers is nearest to the road work it’s doing, on a case-by-case basis.

Awarded an annual bid agreement for fog and scrub sealing of road surfaces to Ergon, Inc. of Jackson, Mississippi.

Benjamin Bullard can be reached by phone at 256-734-2131 ext. 145.