City, county moving forward with water project

The Russellville Water and Sewer Board and the Franklin County Commission are moving forward with plans to add better water service to residents along Alabama 243.

The city water and sewer board will apply for community development block grants through the county commission. The grants are administered through the Northwest Alabama Council of Local Government.

Russellville Water and Sewer Board Manager Doug Clement said the 10, 625 feet stretch of road along Alabama 243 near the Russellville Airport has had inadequate water lines for years.

“The water lines out there are three inch and that will not support what is needed for fire protection,” Clement said.

“The purpose of this project is to see that those people’s lives and homes are better served.”

If they are able to obtain the $250,000 in grant funding that they are looking for, the water and sewer board will pay the remaining $219,000 to complete the project.

The county commission passed a resolution Monday supporting the grant application.

In other business, the commission:

• updated its certification with the Alabama surplus property program

• approved the errors and insolvents list for 2009

• voted to advertise for bids for hardware for computer upgrades at the revenue commissioner’s office

• accepted Kayla Bailey’s letter of resignation from the commission office

• accepted John Bonds’ letter of retirement from the courthouse maintenance staff

• accepted Mickey Ergle’s resignation from the sheriff’s office

• hired Bryan McCraw as a temporary employee with the sheriff’s office

• hired Tammy West as a corrections officer

• hired Stacey Clark as a clerk in the sheriff’s office

• approved road repair projects for McCarley Road and Vina Shottsville Road

• approved strip-patching work on Gravel Hill Road

• approved striping College Road from U.S. 43 to the Phil Campbell city limits.