Courthouse repairs set to begin

Hepaco, a contracting firm with offices in Irondale and Theodore has been awarded the bid to make emergency repairs to the Escambia County Courthouse in Brewton with a low bid of $57,995.

Escambia County Commission Chairman Raymond Wiggins made the announcement during the commission's Sept. 24 meeting, saying the county received three bids for the project.

The other bids included $154,970 from Cross Environmental and $328,500 from Milligan's Huriclean.

Wiggins told commissioners there was no timeframe set to begin the work, noting it will be done on weekends while the courthouse is closed. He said officials with Hepaco will work with the department heads in the offices where repairs will be made to set up a schedule. He noted in at least two offices, all furnishings will have to be removed before the repairs are made.

Wiggins said the environmental engineer hired by the county to oversee the project looked over the bids and approved awarding the contract to Hepcaco.

Commissioner David Quarker questioned the wide range of bid prices and wanted to make sure the job would be done right, referring to the county accepting a bid less than five years ago to repair the roof of the courthouse that started leaking again.

“Sometimes you get what you pay for,” Quarker said.

Wiggins assured him the engineer checked the bid and said it met all the specifications.

Budget

The commission also approved the 2018-19 budget that allocates about $2.5 million to resurface roads that don't qualify for state and federal funding; allocates funds to the county's six municipalities based on population; absorbs the 5 percent increase for employee health insurance; and restores the 30 percent cut given to Southwest Alabama Behavioral Health Care Services, Coastal Gateway Economic Development Alliance, the Escambia County Cooperative Library System, the Alabama Extension Service and the American Red Cross. Those agencies saw a reduction in their budgets in 2015.

The budget does not include any pay raises for county employees.

Wiggins said due to the new sales tax and funding from the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, the commission was able to allocate the $2.5 million for resurfacing roads.

“We don't have the money to address all the roads, but we will be able to address some of our worst problems,” Wiggins said.

Commissioners in each district will give the county engineer a list of roads they would like to see prioritized.

Wiggins also said funds were allocated to give Atmore, Brewton, East Brewton, Flomaton, Riverview and Pollard funds based on the populations of those municipalities.

The budget approved balanced with $11.9 million in revenue and expenses. Including other funds to road and bridges, reappraisal, transportation, work release, Community Development Block Grants, Transportation Alternative Program grants, aging program and community corrections, all county funds totaled $23.78 million.

“I feel good about the budget,” Wiggins said. “It's a whole lot better feeling than we've had the past few years.”