It was like playing Santa Claus for Limestone County Commissioners Tuesday when the members got to distribute checks to volunteer fire departments.

The commission met Tuesday in accordance with state law, which says the body must meet the first Tuesday after an election.

Commissioners welcomed a new member, Gary Daly, who is the new District 1 commissioner. Daly previously served on the commission as chairman in the late 1980s.

Commission Chairman David Seibert said the checks for $12,000 each are part of Tennessee Valley Authority in-lieu-of-taxes funds. He said state Sen. Tom Butler, D-Madison, sponsored legislation allowing the distribution of the TVA funds to the fire departments to purchase equipment.

Seibert said the legislation also allowed for distributing $12,000 in TVA funds to the Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives in Athens.

Tuesday’s brief meeting was followed by an equally brief work session in preparation for the Nov. 20 meeting.

The commission on Tuesday adopted its meeting schedule or the coming year and approved a resolution to enter an agreement with the state Department of Transportation for public transportation for the Council on Aging.

The commission also awarded a $13,331.18 contract to Holiday Illuminations, which will provide Christmas lights for the Limestone Courthouse Square, install the lights, take them down, store them and bring them back and install them the following year.

On the Nov. 20 agenda, the commission will consider:

• Purchase of a digital printer/scanner

• 4-by-2 pickup truck for Animal Control

• Staffing plan change to include on additional homemaker for the Council on Aging

• Preliminary approval for a major subdivision, The Ridge; and final approval for an addition to a major subdivision, Briarwood Crossing, both in District 2.

• Naming of First American Bank as the county depository

• Increase in Health Department fees

The commission will meet Nov. 20 at 10 a.m., at the Clinton Street Courthouse Annex.