The Franklin County Commission authorized County Engineer David Palmer to move forward with several safety enhancements for the Highway 75/724 intersection.
Commissioners took the action at their May 16th business meeting.
Highway 75 is the primary road used by trucks traveling to and from Pilgrim's Russellville. 724 is the former Alabama Highway 24 that gave way to the new four-lane highway that's a part of Corridor V.
Last month, there was another serious accident at the intersection, as a tractor trailer traveling south on 75 allegedly failed to stop at the 75/724 intersection and struck a westbound vehicle, seriously injuring the passenger.
The safety enhancements will include larger stop signs (48”) and Stop Ahead signs, both of which will be illuminated with warning lights operated by solar energy. Commissioners also authorized the installation of rumble strips on 75, both north and south of 724.
Contractors will also install rumble strips on Highway 77, both north and south of new Alabama 24.
Franklin County Engineer David Palmer said he met with Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver and District One County Commissioner Chris Wallace about the intersection, which has a history of accidents, including one fatality.
Palmer said there is good visibility at the intersection and there is 'nothing glaring' he can see that would keep vehicles on 75 from stopping at the intersection, but he expects the additional safety measures to mitigate future problems at 75/724.
Palmer told commissioners the work should be done within 3-4 weeks, depending on how quickly the contractor can schedule the project.
In other agenda items, the commission:
--commended Palmer for being honored as the Alabama County Engineers Association County Engineer of the Year for 2022. Palmer received the honor at the state conference last week. Palmer's final day of employment with the Franklin County Highway Department will be July 1, 2022. Assistant Engineer Jason Baggett is expected to be approved to move into the County Engineer position upon Palmer's retirement.
--authorized Franklin County Coroner Charles Adcox to apply for a state grant for a cooler to keep bodies refrigerated until transport . If the grant is awarded, the cooler will be available to other counties in the region with Franklin County.
--authorized repairs to a bridge on Highway 27 that has been closed. Shotcrete submitted the low bid for the repairs. Palmer said the bridge project may not be completed until August, due to other projects ongoing for the contractor. The bridge, after repairs, will still be posted to a three-ton limit.
--approved the FY2022 Franklin County Transportation Plan at a cost of $1,224,414.24 for repairs/resurfacing/striping of Lost Creek Road from 49 to 84 and Highway 59 from Gravel Hill Road to 22. These projects will be paid for with gas tax revenue from the Rebuild Alabama Act. Mid-South Paving will be the contractor.
--authorized County Attorney to send a letter to the Marion County Attorney proposing the two counties split costs of a survey to determine the true boundary lines on Highway 70. A 'gentleman's agreement' had been in place for 30 years, Palmer said, where Marion County maintained the stretch of Hwy. 70 west of Alabama 13 and Franklin County worked the east side. Marion County officials have balked at continuing to maintain the road and citizen complaints have led to some urgency to officially determine where the county boundary lines fall. The survey is estimated to cost $12,000, Palmer said.
--authorized Franklin County Revenue Commissioner Stratt Byars to enter into an agreement with MaxSouth for internet services at the Red Bay Satellite Office. Byars said the service will be faster and more reliable and will only be a $20 cost difference per month.
--approved the hiring of Madison Kimbrough and Greg Smith as temporary Corrections Officers/Dispatchers with the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, Ovontae Graham as a permanent Corrections Officer/Dispatcher and the termination of Corrections Officer/Dispatcher Joshua Wigginton. Family Medical Leave Act leave was approved for Alana James, who will be on maternity leave through May of 2022.
--amended the Letter of Intent between the Franklin County Commission and Franklin Land Management to provide for 270 days, rather than 60 or 120 days, to comply with new legislation related to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. The two parties entered into a non-binding letter of intent earlier this year on a proposal by Franklin Land Management to petition for the collection of household waste at its Belgreen site.
--declared a St. Cloud dumpster truck previously used by the Solid Waste Department as surplus property and authorized its sale on govdeals.com.
--approved the employment of John Burcham as a part-time employee for the Solid Waste Department.
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