The Franklin County Commission is joining other counties in Northwest Alabama to create the Northwest Alabama Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Action Plan. 

This cooperation will ensure that in the case of a natural disaster, Franklin County is able to help other counties and receive help in turn. 

“This is going to really make things clear so that we are covered should something happen,” explained Franklin County Engineer David Palmer. “Without something like this, things could be really messy, and we might have a difficult time if we need something from Muscle Shoals or something like that.” 

The hazard plan is in coordination with the Alabama Emergency Management Agency to include all agencies in Division E. 

Franklin County Probate Judge Barry Moore said Franklin County approving the plan will also ensure all cities in Franklin County are covered until they can approve the plan themselves. 

At the commission’s recent meeting, the commission also agreed to hire Rita Fisher to the property clerk position and accepted the termination of William Jake Todd as property appraiser. 

No candidate was put forth for hire as a temporary property appraiser, but the commission approved unanimously to give revenue commissioner Veronica Stancil authority to hire someone for the position. 

Originally, hiring a new corrections officer for the sheriff’s department was on the agenda, but after request, the commission voted to re-post the job for an additional two weeks, with the deadline being Feb. 5. 

The commission also voted to hold off on purchasing HVAC ionizers until after receiving the next round of money from the CARES Act. 

“We have talked about this and put it off before,” Moore said. “I’d say it is best to take no action right now and wait to make sure everything comes through with the CARES Act.” 

A public hearing will be held Feb. 16 at 8 a.m. before the next regular scheduled meeting regarding a property along Highway 24. Moore said an individual is wishing to vacate the property, so a public hearing must be held.