The Limestone County Commission is considering using a consultant to help develop a Strategic Plan for the county. The topic was discussed Monday at the commission’s meeting.

“I think this plan is critical to Limestone County’s future growth. He hear a lot about managing growth, well, we’ve done a poor job of that. We’ve done nothing,” District 2 Commissioner Danny Barksdale said.

Barksdale believes hiring a consultant, Goodwin Mills Cawood (GMC Network), to help develop a plan is the first step in managing Limestone County’s booming growth.

“I think it’s a lot of money, $198K, but I think that is worthwhile and will give us some direction. There’s probably going to be some high price capital projects in the future. We need to know exactly what we are doing.”

No action was taken by the commission but County Engineer Marc Massey did commit to calling other cities and counties that have utilized GMC for strategic planning, including Muscles Shoals, Tuscumbia, Florence, Foley, Mobile and Columbia County, Ga.

Commissioner Barksdale also discussed Section 23-1-6 of The Code of Alabama which deals with signs, markers and advertising on right-of-ways.

“Signs, markers and advertising on right-of-ways of state controlled highways are prohibited except those official signs or markers placed thereon by the State Department of Transportation or under its authority.”

Limestone County is subject to that law and Barksdale pointed out an additional law regarding signs.

“That additional law that was passed by our legislature at the request of this commission states, ‘No person or business entity shall erect a sign, any portion of which is on the right-of-way of Limestone County without obtaining approval. Any person or business entity who fails to secure approval from the county commission for the erection of an advertisement sign in violation of this section, upon conviction, shall be fined $100,’” he said.

Barksdale said that since he has been in office, he has tried to keep the right-of-ways in his District 2 clear, but is frustrated by inconsistency.

He said, “I think we need to consistently enforce that through all the districts or ask the state legislature to do away with this regulation. I am going to enforce it because I’ve talked to the people in District 2, and my feeling is that’s what they want.”

The Limestone County Commission approved the following items Monday.

Resolutions and orders

• Resolution authorizing the Chairman to enter into an agreement with Morell Engineering for the construction engineering and inspection services for the widening and adding turn lanes on SR-127 from Bob Jones Parkway to Upper Ft. Hampton Road to benefit Elkmont Elementary School.

• Resolution to accept Grayson Carter and Son Contracting, Inc. for the construction of the widening and adding turn lanes on SR-127 from Bob Jones Parkway to Upper Ft. Hampton Road to benefit Elkmont Elementary School.

Contracts, agreements and grants

• Maintenance agreement and Lease Agreement regarding the East Limestone Community safe room and approve for the Chairman to sign any further documents needed for the application and finalization of the grant related to the East Limestone Community safe room.

• Service agreement between the Mental Health Center of North Alabama for Athens Limestone Counseling Center to continue to provide a Juvenile Court Liaison from Oct. 1, 2023, through Sept. 20, 2024.

• Permit agreement with ALDOT for the accommodation of utility facilities on public right-of-way and approve the Chairman to sign any future documents for the application and finalization of the sanitary sewer improvement grant for Pryor Field.

• Contract between the Alabama Department of Corrections and the Limestone County Community Corrections Program from Oct. 1, 2023, to Sept. 30, 2024.

• Public Right-of-Way use agreement with Crown Castle Fiber, LLC.

• Funding for Storytelling Festival to be paid from tourism funds, in the amount of $5,000.

Personnel, policies and staffing actions

• Promote Layla Moore from the Network Support Specialist 1 position to Information Systems Security Officer, retroactive to Oct. 2, 2023.

• Hire Tabryn Malone as a Corrections Officer, pending a drug screening, effective Oct. 16, 2023.

• Amended the staffing plan under “District One Commissioner” to reflect the following:

• Two District Supervisors

• Four Equipment Operator III

• Two Equipment Operator II

• Two Equipment Operators I

• One Litter Patrol Driver

• Two Part-Time Laborer

• Promote Haven Helms and Landon Navas to Equipment Operator I in the Engineering Department.

• Hire Christy Perry as an Archivist beginning Nov. 6, 2023.

Engineer’s report

• Preliminary and final approval for Little Elk Subdivision creating four lots in District 3 south of the intersection with US Hwy 72 and on the east side of Little Elk Road.

• Preliminary approval for the resubmitted changes for Walton Creek creating 122 lots in District 2 on the south side of Pepper Road just west of the intersection with Jones Road.

Other business

• Establishment of a private cemetery on Mooresville Road as requested by ICD Inc. and approved by the Limestone County Health Department. County shall not be responsible for expansion costs or maintenance costs.

• Revised Cowford Campground rules effective as of Oct. 16, 2023.

The next Limestone County Commission meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, at the Clinton Street Courthouse Annex.