As a whole, the sitting county commission was paid more than $31,000 in “mileage” in 2011.

Throughout this election cycle, members of the county commission have been heavily criticized by residents because of mileage amounts.

In January 2009, commissioners voted to change from operating under a “district system,” where commissioners were responsible for the maintenance of the county’s roadways to a “unit system,” which placed that responsibility on the county engineer’s office.

Mileage rates changed during 2011. From January to June, commissioners were paid 51 cents per mile. That figure was increased to 55.5 cents per mile in July.

Records from the county administrator’s office show, rounded to nearest whole number:

• Chairman Lynn Sasser claimed a total of 2,098 miles and was paid $1,116. That averages approximately 173 miles per month or $96. He recorded the largest amount of travel in June at 240 miles, for which he was paid $133.

• Commissioner David Ellis (District 1, Opp area) claimed a total of 6,835 miles and was paid $3,669. That averages approximately 570 miles per month or $316. His largest recorded month for travel was August, when he traveled 764 miles and was paid $424.

• Commissioner Bragg Carter (District 2, Straughn area) claimed a total of 19,145 miles and was paid $10,259. That averages approximately 1,595 per month or $885. His largest recorded month for travel was March, when he traveled 2,453 miles and was paid $1,251.

• Commissioner Harold Elmore (District 3, Florala area) claimed a total of 21,716 miles and was paid $11,631. That averages approximately 1,810 miles per month or $1,005. His largest recorded month for travel was July, when he traveled 1,861 miles and was paid $1,033.

• Commissioner Carl Turman (District 4, Red Level area) claimed a total of 8,312 miles and was paid $4,461. That averages approximately 693 miles per month or $385. His largest recorded month for travel was August, when he traveled 1,062 miles and was paid $589.

In total, commissioners were paid $31,137.31.

See tomorrow’s edition, in which all Covington County Commission candidates on the March 13 ballot are questioned about mileage and other issues facing the county.

0309 Mileage, commissioner