County officials are reminding citizens that countywide surveys distributed in late November and earlier this month are due back at the commission office by Thursday.

County Commission Chairman Jesse McWilliams (Dist. 2) said the response has been “good” so far, but commissioners aren’t paying attention to individual surveys just yet.

“We just want to get them back in and let our staff compile the information,” he said. “Then, we’ll take a look at that information as a group.”

Initially, the commission would have liked to have had the surveys returned from the public by Monday, but a clerical error resulted in the commission having to mail out additional surveys to those residents served by an out-of-county post office, but living in Butler County.

Commissioner Jimmy Crum (Dist. 4) said he hopes those participating in the survey respect the intentions of the commission. Crum said he’d heard several comments directed negatively towards county government and was afraid that some may utilize the surveys to attack the commission.

McWilliams, however, said he felt – good or bad – citizens have the right to voice their opinion.

“We want to let them know what we do,” said McWilliams. “The commission needs to be there hear what the citizens have to say.”

The survey includes questions about repairing and resurfacing existing rural roadways in the county, renovating and remodeling the Butler County Annex, increasing volunteer fire department funding, increasing funding to provide 24-hour patrol by the sheriff’s deputies, and others.

Surveys can be hand-delivered or mailed to the commission office at 202 Patsaligia St., Greenville, AL 36037.

In other business, the commission:

Approved the payment of $1,000 and usage agreement to Coastal Forest Products for the use of the Chapman Voting House.

Approved an ABC license request for Myrick’s East to sale wine and beer for off-premise consumption only.