County Commission approves report on 13 road and bridge projects

At its January 20th business meeting, the Franklin County Commission approved a report outlining 13 road and bridge improvement projects completed in FY2025 using Rebuild Alabama Act gas tax funds.

Those 13 projects included 16.71 miles of roadways in Franklin County at a total cost of $2.178 million. The projects were funded entirely by proceeds Franklin County receives through a 10 cent per gallon tax approved by the Alabama Legislature in 2019. Proceeds from that tax are earmarked for road and bridge improvements. Counties must document how the tax proceeds are spent and submit reports annually to account for all spending.

Franklin County Rebuild Alabama Act projects completed in FY25 included:

—resurfacing and traffic striping of Highway 25 from Hwy. 23 to AL 24 at a cost of $213,313.57.

—resurfacing Bedford Circle from Green Road to Morrisette Drive at a cost of $37,230.74.

—resurfacing Morrisette Drive from Green Road to the dead end at a cost of $41,418.19.

—resurfacing and traffic striping of Hwy. 152 from Al 187 to Hwy. 52 at a cost of $150,855.65.

—resurfacing and traffic striping Hwy. 26 from Hwy. 59 to AL 13 at a cost of $4,195.47.

—resurfacing and traffic striping of Hwy. 162 from Hwy. 58 to Hwy. 62 at a cost of $153,709.39.

—resurfacing and traffic striping of Hwy. 83 from Hwy. 81 to Hwy. 724 at a cost of $860,044.03.

—rehabilitation of a bridge on Highway 75 over Cedar Creek at a cost of $175,000.

—resurfacing and traffic striping of Green Road from Hwy. 524 to dead end at a cost of $176,624.84.

—resurfacing and traffic striping of Hwy. 21 from AL 247 to Hwy. 90 at a cost of $160,473.71.

—resurfacing and traffic striping of Hwy. 29 from AL 247 to Al 247 at a cost of $109,407.61.

—resurfacing and traffic striping of Boyd Road from Hwy. 28 to Hwy. 28 at a cost of $49,850.32.

—resurfacing and traffic striping of Hwy. 128 from AL 24 to Hwy. 28 at a cost of $42,915.56.

Other agenda items addressed by the Commission at its January 20th meeting included:

—approving an optional annual leave payout policy for Franklin County employees. To opt-in, employees must request annual leave pay by August 31, 2026.

—approved a mileage reimbursement rate of $72.5 cents per mile.

—approved a proclamation recognizing the 75th anniversary of the Franklin County Cattlemen’s Association by designating January 24, 2026, as a day of recognition for the Franklin County Cattlemen’s Association, which has the largest membership of any Alabama county.

—approved a low bid of $21,632 from Mid America Roofing to repair the roof on the annex located behind the Franklin County Courthouse.

—approved a contract for a storm water cross drain replacement on Highway 90 contingent upon the county receiving reimbursement for the work.

—tabled the hiring of a non-certified real property appraiser in the Franklin County Revenue Commissioner’s Office.

—approved hiring William Vickers and Matthew Anderson as Corrections Officers/Dispatchers in the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, the termination of Corrections Officers/Dispatchers Chris Pierce and Justice Sharpe, advertising for a Corrections Officer/Dispatcher, hiring Austin Gerald as a Corrections Officer/Dispatcher.

—approved a bid of $74,408.94 for the purchase and installation of 50 cameras to be placed in and around the Franklin County Jail.

—authorized Franklin County Solid Waste Officer Gene Ward to negotiate with the City of Town Creek for a small used Toyota truck to be purchased and/or swapped for a truck and other consideration.

—gave Chairman Barry Moore authority to enter into a contract with Charlotte Williams for the euthanizing of stray and/or abandoned animals.