The Cherokee County Commission has tabled until February its decision on cost of living raises for county retirees.

This past fall, a group of retirees approached the commission about giving a 7 percent COLA (Cost of Living Allowance.) The 7 percent was mandated by the state. At the time, the commission agreed to wait until the first of the year and consider the financial condition of the county before making a decision.

During its Jan. 22 meeting, Commission Chairman/Probate Judge Melvyn Salter requested that the commission table the issue until the second meeting in February. Salter and the two newest commissioners, Kimball Parker and Carlton Teague, would like to review the matter further before making a decision.

The commission approved the request.

During the work session prior to the meeting, Sheriff Jeff Shaver asked the commission to allow him to hire another drug task force officer.

According to Shaver, grant funds will pay the officer’s salary for two years. He requested that the commission allow him to hire the officer and to pick up the salary expense after the grant funds expire. The commission, during regular session, agreed to the request.

On another matter, Cherokee County Engineer Roger Hall wants to prepare the public for upcoming paving projects.

During the work session, Hall warned Chairman Salter and the other new commissioners that they may get some calls from citizens when work begins.

“We’ve got our repaving list,” said Hall. “Be prepared for slings and arrows. It creates a lot of difficulty. We are trying to make the roads better, but they get worse before they get better.”

One reason for the delay in many cases, Hall said, is that the Alabama Department of Transportation doesn’t allow crews to place chip seal on the roadways unless the temperature is at least 60 degrees.

Hall said he will try to run the list of roads and the areas in which his crews will be working in the local newspapers and radio stations. But they apologize for the inconvenience and urge citizens to be patient during the paving process.

On other road matters, the commission:

-Approved a speed limit change on Cherokee County Road 189 to 25 miles per hour from Highway 9 to County Road 671 and to 35 miles per hour on County Road 671 to the dead end.

-Approved a speed limit change on County Road 481 to 25 miles per hour.

-Adopted a request from Weiss Lake Memorial Garden to delete a portion of the area previously designated as a cemetery from such dedication. In the work session prior to the meeting, Attorney Al Shumaker said he had met with the Cherokee County Health Department on this issue and that the health department has no problem with the commission taking this action.

-Approved Standard Form of Agreement between the Cherokee County Commission and Fuller and Thompson Architects, Inc. for the Cherokee County Highway Department Office Building Project and gave permission for the chairman to sign the agreement.

-Approve excess land redemptions for Imogene Painter in the amount of $399.98, $420.80 and $209.02.

The next meeting of the Cherokee County Commission is Monday, Feb. 12, at 10 a.m