Two Cullman residents are under quarantine after disembarking from the Grand Princess cruise ship in California, it was announced at the Cullman County Commission meeting Tuesday.

Former Cullman County District Attorney Len Brooks and his wife June, a retired legal instructor at Wallace State Community College, were among the more than 3,500 passengers and crew aboard the cruise ship.

Twenty-one people on the ship, two passengers and 19 crew members, tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The ship docked in California on Monday.

Cullman County Emergency Management Agency Director Phyllis Little said while Alabama does not have any confirmed cases of the coronavirus, the county is monitoring the situation and sharing updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “There’s a lot of information out there that’s really good information,” she said.

Cases have been confirmed in Georgia and Tennessee. “We’re monitoring the situation and working with our state public health officials and state EMA and local healthcare coalition to make sure we stay on top of it and provide all the information the public needs,” she said.

She also got approval from the commissioners to end a “state of emergency” for a bridge on County Road 827. Flooding damaged the bridge and the total cost of fixing it is about $375,000, she said. She is going to submit that number to the state Emergency Management Agency to see if the county can get funding for it, but cautioned that she’s not sure Cullman will qualify. “The state still has counties with roads underwater,” she said.

In order to get federal aid funds, states have to report more than $7.3 million in public infrastructure damage. Little said she isn’t sure the county will receiving state funds for the bridge, but it’s important to report the amount to the state so it counts towards that total amount.

“If it doesn’t help us, at least it will help someone else,” she said.

The Commissioners also gave their approval to using the courthouse steps for a prayer vigil for Curt Wilson on Monday, March 16. Patty Ward told the commissioners the prayer vigil is intended to bring people together, “united by the tragedy of Curt’s death.” Curtis, 15, and his mother Ashley were hit by a drunk driver in 2017. Ashley was injured and Curt lost his life in the accident.

In other business, the commission:

• Deemed six Kenworth 3-axle dump trucks surplus and authorized JM Wood Auction Company to disclose of them by June.
• Set a public hearing to vacate a portion of County Road 2101 for April 28 at 10 a.m.
• Accepted bids from Good Hope Contracting for recycled asphalt pavement and Harris Steel for structural and reinforcing steel.
• The commission will hold a work session at 8:30 a.m. on March 24, followed by its regular meeting at 10 a.m. in the commission meeting room.