At its Jan. 17 meeting, the Cedar Bluff Utility Board voted to accept the resignation of board member Donald Sanders, effective Jan. 12.

In other business, board Secretary and Treasurer Ethel Sprouse gave the board’s financial report, which included a profit of $69,000 from the start to the fiscal year in October.

The report also included a December total revenue of $66, 917, total December expenditures of $44,790 and a net income of $22,127. Sprouse said that board currently has approximately $155,000 in bank deposits.

Sprouse announced that the board intended to departmentalize its departments in order to better gauge the board’s spending. Sprouse also noted the board’s intent to create a reserve bank account for the purpose of fund transfers.

The board also agreed to increase its liability insurance from 3 to 5 million dollars with Alabama Municipal Insurance Company. The board will pay an annual premium of $27,103.

Upon the recommendation of Utility Manager Jeff Harrell, the board voted to hire Randall Sanford as a utility worker, pending a drug test and background check.

The board set Sanford’s pay at $10 per hour, with a possible increase to $10.50 following a 90-day probationary period.

The board agreed to enter a contract with Cintas, Inc., which provides shirts and uniforms to Utility Board employees.

The board approved a motion to appoint members Billie Burkhalter and Nathan Thacker on a committee to review the board’s current water adjustment policy.

The board also purchased a $251.87 advertisement in the Cherokee County Herald’s 2006 Review and Forecast edition.

Sprouse reported that she, Thacker and Board Chairman Sam Penn recently had met with the Cherokee County Commission regarding a possible State Hwy. 9/State Hwy. 35 sewer line project. Sprouse said that is was a very encouraging meeting.

In an update on the proposed State Hwy. 68/Co. Rd. 44 sewer line project, Sprouse noted that she had spoken to State Rep. Richard Lindsey about the matter, and that the property owners that currently are raising funds to assist the project are putting said monies in an escrow account and are ready to move forward. Sprouse said that she hopes to meet with Gov. Bob Riley and request state assistance.

In a Riverside Campground update, Spouse noted the possibility of a cooperative between the utility board, the campground owners and the campground residents for a sewer line project. Sprouse pointed out that individual sewer lines in the campground would increase the site’s property value and would benefit Cedar Bluff as a whole.

The council tables a discussion on employee sick leave and vacation time