Hancock County Board of Commissioners: 2/3/26

MEETING: Hancock Commissioners

Date: 2/03/26

Recorder: Terry Bynum

BACKGROUND:

Provide relevant links and/or context for the meeting.

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT AGENDA ITEMS AND KEY POINTS

This is a combined monthly meeting of the Drainage Board, the Solid Waste Board, the Board of Finance and the Commissioners. 

   Not a lot of import in the drain board–Notified that Center Point energy is building a 16inch gas pipeline through Hancock county–from Madison County to Shelby County.  They notified the drain board that they will be crossing 9 different county owned drains with this project, as well as a number of privately owned drains.  Board approved the 9 crossings, at a cost of $250 each to Center Point.  This is the northern portion of the project.  Southern portion will be presented in the fall. 

    Also FINALLY finished the Cranberry Drain controversy.  Board approved an order that an obstruction in the Cranberry drain will be removed and paid for by the party that originally installed it.  Apparently, the Masters family installed a gate valve on a drain that protected their property, but caused a back up onto someone else’s property.  After much discussion and back and forth, they agreed to remove the valve. 

Had yearly housekeeping in the Board of Finance meeting. McDaniel appointed as president, Jane Clem re-appointed as secretary. 

Hiway update, passed amended county ordinances on speed limits, stop signs, and permits. 

Facilities manager talked about repair costs and down time on elevator in county courthouse.  It’s 30 years old and is difficult to obtain repair parts. Quoted $248K to rehab elevator with all new electronics.  Board asked attorney to prepare a Request for Quote, to see if it would be more financially responsible to replace the entire system. 

Board gave approval to order 2 new Chevy Tahoes for 911 Director and Ass’t Dir. 

There was a lot of drama over contract negotiations for Dede Allender, Director of the Solid Waste Management district. She has been doing the job for quite a few years.  Recently, the board wanted her to account for her time.  They are also trying correct some problems with the contract under which she is working.  She is NOT a county employee.  The board wants to have a contract directly with her.  She would rather the board contract with her corporation, so she could get some tax breaks. The county attorney explained why they wouldn’t do that.  They basically told her take or leave it. She was quite unhappy.  They put off a decision on the contract at her request to think about it. Solid Waste director handles all the recycling initiatives in the county, and haz mat removal.

They spent a lot of time talking to the Buck Creek Township Fire Chief and finally gave a thumbs up to him, to enter into another Memo of Understanding with the Redevelopment Commission concerning future funding of the department. 

Even though it was on the agenda, no report on Veteran’s Services. 

In payment of bills, board paid $42 Million as a final payment for the Amplify Project.