—
Stanley Menefee gave the first state of the county address to a packed crowd in the Sandridge Student Center on the campus of Athens State University Tuesday.
Audience members paid $15 per ticket for the luncheon benefit with proceeds going to the ASU Foundation.
Menefee, chairman of the Limestone County Commission, gave a 30-minute PowerPoint presentation highlighting the county’s growth. Limestone County has 82,782 residents compared to 46,000 in 1980.
He called Limestone “the fifth-fastest growing county in the state,” and said it currently has 253 employees and a general fund of $10.9 million.
Menefee said the biggest county debt is $10.3 million owed on the bond used to pay for the Clinton Street annex and Limestone County Jail.
“We are scheduled to pay this off by (Nov. 1, 2025), and we took six years off after re-financing the loan,” he said.
The new jail, with a 288-bed capacity, was completed in 2005 under a federal court order after the former jail, built for 80 inmates in 1961, was deemed inadequate by a federal judge.
Ongoing projects in the county include the courthouse renovation and jail expansion. The courthouse plans were developed with the help of the courthouse judges and are available for viewing in the lobby of the Washington Street annex.
“It would cost $2 to $3 million to renovate the courthouse, and $12 to $15 million for a new judicial building,” Menefee said. “I myself prefer to stay in the courthouse, which was built in 1918. I think the (original) architects did a great job and were thinking way ahead.”
The commission approved the purchase of the Wheeler Street property, owned by Henry Bagsby, at its Nov. 19 meeting to expand the jail on the west side extending vertically to the south.
The project architect is Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood, and bids will not be let until after the purchase has been finalized. The expansion will include 24 to 26 single-bed cells and is expected to cost at least $2 million.
Menefee said this addition was encouraged by the jail’s liability insurer and was not part of the original construction due to budget constraints.
He said the county address was inspired by a similar event hosted by Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks, who hosts an annual state of the city address.
“It’s an honor to be in this position today,” said Menefee, who was elected as chairman in 2010 and previously served 14 years on the commission.
Local News
Menefee delivers state of county address
- Local News
-
-
Marker to acknowledge victim of destroyer’s sinking, 44 years later
One day short of the 44th anniversary of the sinking of the bow portion of the U.S. destroyer Seaman Frank E. Evans in the South China Sea a stone will be placed in Athens City Cemetery on June 2 commemorating the loss of a local son who went down with his ship.
-
Miller hired to oversee News Courier operations
Katherine Miller has been named general manager of The News Courier in Athens.
-
Holladay says he will be ‘assertive’ leader
New school lead says he looks forward to “serving and leading the Athens school system.”
-
Officials offer up wisdom to grads
It’s after “Pomp and Circumstance,” after the pats on the back and the parents beaming with pride.
That’s when reality kicks in for a high school graduate.
Now what? -
Sheriff seeks school officers
With funding already secured, the sheriff and Limestone superintendent plan to provide certified school resource officers at every elementary campus in the county school system beginning in August, but more applicants are being sought to allow rotation of a part-time pool of SROs.
- Three arrested in Athens on meth-related charges
-
Man OK after train pushes his truck 500 feet
John Paul Moore, 22, suffered only a few scratches and bruises after the crash Friday at a railroad crossing in Glencoe, about 6 miles southeast of Gadsden.
-
Drug maker recalls meds in 13 states
Main Street Family Pharmacy of Newbern, Tenn. shipped the tainted medicine to clinics in 13 states, including to one clinic in Alabama.
- Gov. Bentley looks at options for state boards
-
More police presence on the roads this weekend
Athens Police Chief Floyd Johnson said more officers will be out in force this weekend. More patrol cars will be seen in high-density areas, he said, while officers may also be conducting roadblocks in lower traffic areas.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Marker to acknowledge victim of destroyer’s sinking, 44 years later
Obama Visits Oklahoma, Consoles Tornado Victims
Raw: Train Derails After Overpass Collapse
Raw: Rescues From San Antonio Flooding
Raw: French Soldier Stabbed in Throat Near Paris
Mayor: Person Killed in San Antonio Flooding
Raw: Apple 1 Computer Sells for More Than $650k
Hagel Urges Cadets to End Scourge of Sex Assault
Raw: Gay Rights Activists March in Ukraine
Bus Fire Kills 16 Children, Teacher in Pakistan
Raw: Pakistan Election Results Protested
Raw: Trucker Bumps I-5 Bridge Before Collapse
Raw: Texas Deputy Shot by Colo. Suspect Honored
Major Detours Following Wash. Bridge Collapse
American Held in Grisly Czech Murders
Raw: Jersey Shore Reopens for Summer
UK-bound Pakistan Plane Diverted, 2 Men Arrested
