After a light discussion of raising camping rates at two county parks, the Cullman County Commission agreed to table the issue while it further weighs the matter.

At its regular November meeting, the commission heard a recommendation from county parks director Kenneth Cornelius to increase camping rates at Smith Lake Park and Stony Lonesome OHV Park from $42 per night to $45 per night, plus fees.

Cornelius noted that the proposed increase would place the parks’ camping rates in line with both local and national averages for similar public amenities. After hearing the proposal, commissioners decided to instead table the topic until the commission’s December regular meeting.

In other business at its regular November meeting, the commission:

— Recognized retiring road department employee Euel Gay for his 35 years of service with the county.
— Approved the purchase of two Freightliner M2-106 Plus with Heil automated side-loaders, to be used by the sanitation department, from Ingram Equipment Company in the amount of $609,830.
— Approved the purchase of one 2025 International HX Sanitation Truck from Ingram Equipment Company in the amount of $234,930.
— Approved the purchase of three Bomag Rollers, currently being rented from Cowan Equipment, in the total amount of $299,085.84.
— Ratified a purchase order for a 5-ton heat pump for the Board of Education Building from Stan Smith in the amount of $15,875.
— Amended two line-item corrections that commit fewer commission funds to the county’s Reappraisal budget, reducing one line item from $7,306 to $7,220; and the other from $14,000 to $0.
— Authorized Stony Lonesome OHV Park manager Tyler Lindsey to sign a $4,000 agreement with onXmaps, Inc. for mapping technology for the OHV Park.
— Amended the amount in the commission’s previously-approved grant agreement for the Alabama Department of Youth Services Agency for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, for which Cullman County serves as the fiscal agent for Blount County, to a corrected sum of $138,619.
— Ratified the county’s annual acceptance of a federal Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG), which is supplied with no obligation of matching funds from the commission, for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.
— Authorized Cullman County EMA Director Tim Sartin to apply for annual Alabama Mutual Aid System Agreement funds for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, with no obligation of matching funds from the commission.
— Authorized EMA Director Sartin and Chairman Clemons to sign a State Homeland Security Grant for the 2024-2025 fiscal year in the amount of $60,000, with no obligation of matching funds from the commission.
— Approved a change to the Cullman County Employee Handbook that updates the request process for annual leave scheduling, while also adding language that outlines the retention of records.
— Approved a $708,672.84 annual renewal of insurance covering county property losses.
— Approved a $25,000 insurance deductible payment to CRS in relation to a filed claim.
— Named Denise Key, a nominee of associate commissioner Garry Marchman, to replace Dennis Richard on the county Health Care Authority Board for the remainder of Richards’ term expiring on June 30, 2027.
— Appointed Chairman Clemons to serve on the Cullman Regional Airport Board for a term expiring in November of 2028.
— Approved a $52,500 quote from DAB Restoration, LLC for courthouse renovations.
— Appointed James Rollo to serve on the Solid Waste Authority of the City and County of Cullman, replacing Chairman Clemons in the position.
— Agreed to begin offering a 25 percent discount for facilities-only rentals at the Cullman County Agricultural Center to benefit Cullman nonprofit organizations. The discount becomes effective beginning Jan. 1 of 2026.
— Set the speed limit along a portion of County Road 201 to 35 mph, and the speed limit along a portion of County Road 201to 25 mph.
— Approved a request by the Elyse Reeves Foundation to host a Ride for a Cure at Stony Lonesome OHV Park from March 7-9 next year.
— Extended current road department bids for emulsified asphalt, traffic striping, and corrugated plastic pipe.
— Awarded a bid for motor oil, hydraulic oil, transmission fluid, and grease to W.H. Thomas Oil Company, Inc. and Stewart Auto Supply, Inc.
— Awarded bids for concrete, based on availability and proximity, to Brothers Concrete Supply and Ready Mix USA.
— Awarded a bid for traffic signs to Traffic Signs Inc.
— Awarded a bid for corrugated metal pipe to Twin Oaks Environmental of Alabama, LLC.
— Approved a proposed change to a previously-approved preliminary plat for Chaney Branch Farms Subdivision, a major subdivision in Commission District 2, that reduces the number of lots from 18 to 14.
— Approved a preliminary plat proposal to Route 9 Properties Subdivision, a minor subdivision containing five lots located in Commission District 1 at the intersection of County Roads 1689 and 1686.
— Approved a preliminary plat proposal to Blue Acres Subdivision, a minor subdivision containing five lots located in Commission District 2 off County Road 1194.
— Retired into an hour-long executive session to discuss a legal matter whose confidentiality commissioners said is protected under Section 36-25A-7(a) of the Code of Alabama. The commission took no further action after returning from the executive session.
— Approved the minutes of the commission’s Oct. 17 regular meeting.
The next regular meeting of the Cullman County Commission will be held Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 6 p.m. in the commission meeting room of the Cullman County Courthouse. A public 4 p.m. work session will precede the meeting at the same location.

Benjamin Bullard can be reached at bbullard@cullmantimes.com or at 256-734-2131 ext. 234.