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The Covington County Commission approved $2,500 in contingency funds for the Three Notch Museum in Andalusia during a regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 28.

The commission received a request from museum officials for $5,000, which was given in previous years. Dist. 3 Commissioner Lynne Holmes suggested cutting the amount in half.

“I would like for us to cut that out but not that much because we need to do this in budget year time and not just during the middle of the year,” Holmes said. “I hate it is like this, and maybe we can go to that amount (in the future). My other reasoning is that we will have other towns with the same groups come to us asking for the same thing. We need to be able to sit down with our budgets and budget what we can afford for each group rather than just giving this to one and giving the same to the next.”

Dist. 1 Commissioner Ben Courson and Dist. 4 Commissioner Tommy McGaha offered their thoughts on the matter.

“From now on, we (the commission) need to have a set fund on what we give away to these groups,” Courson said.

“We would love to give what we could to every organization, but at some point, we have to pull everything back,” McGaha said.

After discussion, the commission ultimately approved the $2,500 by a 3-1 vote with Dist. 2 Commissioner Robbie Weaver being the sole “No” vote. Holmes also emphasized the importance of organizations submitting their funding requests before the commission adopts its budget with a deadline in place.

During the meeting, Sheriff Blake Turman presented a life saving award to Deputy Sergeant Houston Gilbert for his heroic actions on Tuesday, Jan. 14.

“It is a wonderful opportunity to be able to present these awards to our officers. They work diligently and all officers who work for the Sheriff’s Office are second to none. Sometimes, we get put in a position where you’re in the right spot at the right time,” Turman said.

According to the sheriff, Sergeant Gilbert responded to a call related to a domestic violence matter in Opp.

“Sergeant Gilbert preserved a frantic mother holding her chugging infant as she emerged from the residence. Without hesitation, he took immediate action with a calm and steady hand, removing the infant from the mother’s arms and delivered back blows. Within moments, the infant, once purple and unresponsive, began to cry and breathe again.

“His swift and decisive response in this critical moment exemplified the highest standards of service. His actions reflect not only his professional skill but also his unwavering commitment to protecting and preserving life no matter the circumstance. For his courage, dedication, and life-saving actions, Sergeant Houston Gilbert is hereby awarded the Covington County Sheriff’s Lifesaver’s Award,” Turman said.

In other business:

• Jacob Morgan from the Covington County Economic Development Commission provided updates on recent developments in the county. He highlighted the acquisition of new property located near the intersection of Alabama Hwy. 55 and County Road 107 in Dist. 4. The property was acquired through the state’s Site Evaluation and Economic Development Strategy Act, referred to as the SEEDS Act.
• Morgan also spoke on a new industry known as Sims Bark coming to Florala. He said more information would be released soon.
• The commission announced two positions for the Covington County Industrial Development Authority Board would be expiring on Friday, Feb. 14. It was approved that applications would now be accepted to fill those board appointments.
• The commission approved declaring several items in the Sheriff’s Office as surplus. Those items, which include three Ford Explorers, one pickup truck, several old cages, and miscellaneous equipment, will be listed on the GovDeals online auction.
• The commission approved a resolution for emergency weather preparedness when county roads, facilities, and buildings were shut down during last week’s winter storm.
• The commission approved an amendment to the manning chart and workforce classification, which included the reassignment of a maintenance worker from Point A to the Covington County Arena and the reassignment of a clerk from Point A to the Sheriff’s Department.
• The commission was to discuss the current audio and video system used in the commission chambers and a proposal to update that system. It was decided to table the discussion to the next meeting.

The commission will hold its next workshop Thursday, Feb. 6, at 9 a.m. The next meeting of the Covington County Commission will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 9 a.m. The public is invited to attend both.