Limestone County Emergency Management Agency director Rita White asked the County Commission Wednesday for $15,000 to make repairs on sirens after the warranty on the equipment expired this year.

White brought up the sirens during her department’s budget hearing with the commission. The EMA seeks to replace the speaker drivers and gear drive motor kits in the devices, as well as rent bucket trucks for crews to reach them.

“As they go out of warranty, we need money for repair,” she said.

Overall, EMA is requesting a smaller budget than last year, going from more than $266,000 to $233,443.09.

Recycling Center

The Athens-Limestone Recycling Center announced during its budget hearing that rising insurance costs forced the department to scale back health insurance to its employees.

Plant Director Ruby McCartney said the center had been paying about $500 per employee and would soon face paying an additional $100 dollars, which couldn’t be done.

McCartney also asked the Commission for $600 to purchase a security camera system to identify people illegally dumping materials during the night.

The center asked for an additional $4,800 to cover rent payments, bringing its requested budget up from more than $49,000 to $54,553.32.

Other Business

Other items the commission discussed during the budget hearing and work sessions:

• Emily Sandlin, Council on Aging, proposed to raise the council’s budget from $317,198 to $454,470 to compensate for expanded senior services to rural areas;

• County Engineer Richard Sanders proposed lowering his department’s budget from $779,397 to $663,483.47 after executive-level employees retired;

• Tony Graviet from Community Corrections proposed increasing the corrections budget from $380,356.26 to $413,042.90 to expand drug operations;

• Coroner Mike West proposed to lower his department’s budget from $111,344.35 to $81,751, but asked for an increase to his fuel budget to compensate for rising prices;

• Rebekah Davis of Limestone County Archives asked to raise her department’s budget from $156,434.74 to $178,644.46 to account for rises in health care costs and general maintenance;

• License Commissioner Greg Tucker proposed to raise his department’s budget from $897,006 to $958,079.74 to purchase new printers and cover increasing postage costs;

• Trisha Black, Spirit of Athens, asked that an additional $2,500 be added to her organization’s budget for this fiscal year to cover costs of advertising for the Athens Grease Festival;

• Bill Giguere of the Mental Health Center of North Central Alabama asked the commission for $80,000 to improve services;

• Claire Jones of Athens/Limestone Children’s Advocacy Center asked for an additional $35,000 to be added to the budget as the center’s clientele continues to grow.

The County Commission will hold its next regular meeting at 10 a.m. Monday at the Clinton Street Courthouse Annex.