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The Butler County Commission discussed the financing of new equipment and accepted a $44,000 grant to replace the courthouse clock during its June 10 meeting.

Commission Chair Joey Peavy explained the effort around making the upgrade possible. 

“Ms. Rosie [Till], our EMA director/grant writer, wrote a great grant and they awarded us $44,000 to replace the clock in the courthouse.” 

He credited Representative Chris Sells with helping secure the funding. 

“The new system will also be capable of playing music and we hope to have it in, in time to play some Christmas carols from the courthouse,” Peavy said.

Commissioner Whittle expressed appreciation for the clock project. 

“You don’t know just how many comments we get about the clock,” he said. “I have some fond memories of that clock when I walked down the street when I was a teenager.”

Along with other key actions, commissioners approved an updated 10-year solid waste management plan. The resolution was unanimously adopted following a motion by Commissioner Rebecca Butts.

“This resolution updates the county’s solid waste management plan as required by state law,” said Till. “The plan was developed with input from the public and prepared by engineering firm Terracon.” 

In other business, County Engineer Dennis McCall recommended the commission accept a financing proposal from Trustmark Bank for the purchase of three Massey Ferguson tractors and three 15-foot batwing mowers. The bid totaled $341,511.99 and was approved unanimously.

The Commission moved forward with a road abandonment request by William and Lana Huggins. The request concerned a 1,000-foot segment of old Highway 31 near 2655 South Palmer Avenue. Due to protocol, Peavy temporarily stepped down and Commissioner Allin Whittle assumed the chair to manage the vote. 

“I would like to make the motion that we petition for the Butler County Commission to do a deed abandonment for that part of Highway 31,” Peavy said. A public hearing was scheduled for the next regular meeting on July 8.

Commissioner Butts commended the Butler County Sheriff’s Office for their quick response during a recent property theft investigation.

“I do want to commend Sheriff Scruggs on the job he’s doing,” Butts said. “We had an incident and had some property stolen and it was recovered pretty quickly. I appreciate that and just the visibility of deputies all over the county.”

The Commission also acknowledged the successful Hank Williams weekend, with Peavy noting the economic boost from out-of-town visitors. 

“That’s what we like — people come in and spend money in the county that doesn’t come out of our people’s pocketbooks,” Peavy said.

The meeting concluded with reminders of upcoming holidays and the commission’s July 24 budget meeting.