Pemco announced a major expansion last month and this sewer project will accommodate that expansion.
Erwin asked the commission to consider adopting a resolution to apply for this funding. The resolution would state that Cherokee County Water and Sewer Board will provide the local match. The funds would be granted through ADECA (Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.
While the figures are not in at this time, she estimated these funds could be between $200,000 and $300,000. She does not know how much Cherokee County’s or Cherokee County Water Authority’s match will be.
“I will submit the project to ADECA and hopefully, before the election, it will be funded and we will be going,” said Erwin. “These are the easiest monies to get. Politically,
it is good because there are new jobs involved. Everybody likes that.”
“I know this is an exciting time for Cherokee County with PEMCO’s announcement and new jobs,” said Erwin. “They are always a good thing. And I know the water and sewer board are appreciative of any grant money that they can get to offset their costs when these type of projects come in.”
The commission will act on the resolution during its Sept. 25 meeting when more information will be available, Erwin said.
“I look forward to working with you,” said Erwin.
On another matter, the commission met with Danny Ryan, an independent benefits broker from Montgomery. Ryan proposed an employee life insurance plan through Dearborn Life of Chicago.
Ryan’s proposal calls for raising all county employees’ life insurance coverage from $15,000 to $20,000. The proposal would also save the county money at the same time.
“I do nothing but work with companies and city governments, municipalities with their employee benefits,” said Ryan. “We work with approximately 20 counties throughout the state.”
Said Ryan, “I sent your information to market. Right now you have a two-tier benefit. Department heads and elected officials have one benefit. And then all other employees have a second.
(County Administrator Tim Burgess asked if we could bump up all employees to a flat 20,000. By doing that, I can bump up the benefit to $20,000 and still come in under what you are paying right now on the $20,000 for Class one and $15,000 for Class Two.
“So essentially, I am increasing the benefit by $5,000 on the Class Two employees. It will be $20,000 on everyone and still save the county $115 or $117 per month or just over $1,400 a year.”
Currently, the county pays $8.18 per month for employees with $20,000 worth of coverage and $6.14 per month for those employees with $15,000 worth of coverage. The new rate would be $5.20 per month per employee.
The proposal, Ryan said, would not require meeting with each individual employee. All he would have to do is meet with Burgess’ or other administrative staff to get billing information and other information.
The coverage is convertible if someone leaves the county, Ryan said. The coverage also includes provisions for airbags, seatbelts and education.
The commission made no decision on the proposal at this time.
During its work session, the commission also met with a group of retired county employees concerning 2006 COLAs (Cost of Living Allowances.)
“As you know, the legislature has approved an increase in COLA for the state employees,” said Billy Joe Baker who served as spokesperson for the group.
“Of course the county commission has to approve it for the local county employees. I believe it is 7 percent. The county commission, in past years, has always kept current. We’d like to encourage you to put this in the budget for the coming year.”
“The income in the State of Alabama really increases about 4 percent every year,” said Blake Livingston, another county retiree. “I’m sure the county income has also increased. We are asking for a COLA, a Cost of Living Allowance. We have a lot of people who have worked real hard for the county in the past and made it a better place to live.
“We want to thank you all for people in the past that furnished the retirement system. We think it is justified or we would not be here.”
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