In its first in-person meeting since March 17 the Escambia County (Ala.) Commission passed a resolution to rescind its previous state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the March 17 meeting, the commission passed the state of emergency that allowed County Clerk-Administrator Tony Sanks, Commission Chairman Karean Reynolds and Commission Vice Chairman Brandon Smith to execute documents and other things essential to keeping county government operating. That order allowed the county to function without having approval of the entire commission.
The commission met Monday in the courtroom in the basement of the courthouse which allowed enough room for social distancing.
During the meeting, the commission:
- Approved setting the speed limit on Bristol Lane at 10 mph. Commissioner Raymond Wiggins said a majority of the residents living on that road had signed a petition requesting the speed limit sign.
- Approved the Phase Seven subdivision plat for Stokely Plantation in Atmore.
- Approved a resolution to ask the county's local legislative delegation to introduce a local bill to allow the sheriff's office to get rid of certain seized and found property that dates back more than 20 years.
Sheriff Heath Jackson said when property, like firearms, are seized and kept in storage they attempt to get the property back to its rightful owner.
He said the local bill will allow him to either auction off the property or use some of the guns for trade-ins to purchase weapons for the sheriff's office.
Jackson also told the commission that many sheriff's' offices across the state already have local laws that allow them to sell off or trade confiscated items.
- Reappointed Commissioner Wiggins as the county's representative on the Association of County Commissioners of Alabama's legislative committee.
- Voted to allow the disposal of surplus vehicles and equipment from the sheriff's office. Sanks said those items would be put up for bid at govdeals.com.
