Chambers County Commission clears annual bids, fall road work
BY SAM VISE
THE LAFAYETTE SUN
CHAMBERS COUNTY — The Chambers County Commission met Sept. 14 for its regular meeting, passing a lengthy slate of annual county material bids, approving surplus sales and receiving updates on active road reconstruction work heading into the fall.
County Engineer Josh Harvill reported that highway crews recently finished chip-seal paving improvements along County Road 62 and Sparkling Springs, south of Wadley. While the road still awaits final striping and a final sweep for loose gravel, Harvill said the primary delays for motorists are over until crews tackle the second half of the route next summer.
The highway department is shifting immediately to its final reconstruction project of the summer work schedule on County Road 9.
“We were out there today clipping, just making sure the shoulders on the road are not too high,” Harvill said. “We’ll reconstruct the road [the rest of the week], and then next week, Tuesday and Wednesday, we plan to do the paving... and then we’ll be finished with our reconstruction program.”
Commissioners voiced strong praise for the efficiency and dedication of the county road crews out in the field.
“I was fortunate enough to make a trip out with you last week, and your crew is very efficient,” Commissioner Sam Bradford said. “I’m very impressed with what y’all are doing, and I want to let you know that I think y’all are doing an excellent job.”
In Other Business, the Commission:
• Declared four fleet vehicles as surplus to be sold at the JM Wood Auction later this month.
• Approved the disposal and sale via the GovDeals online auction site of several outdated highway department shop tools — ranging up to 50 years old — as well as surplus engineering office furniture, monitors and fixtures to clear workspace.
• Reauthorized annual bids for county materials exceeding $30,000, including limestone and granite aggregate, concrete, plant mix, cold plant mix and fuel/diesel.
• Approved the annual performance assurance support agreement with Schneider Electric for $18,993.52. County Attorney Skip McCoy highlighted that the ongoing partnership has yielded more than $500,000 in electrical savings for the county over recent years.
• Renewed the annual inmate medical services agreement with Southern Health Partners from Oct. 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2027, which includes a 3.5% increase ($12,484.44) and adjusts the covered inmate pool to 160 to prevent excess per diem fees.
• Announced registration for the third cohort of Leadership Chambers County opens in October for county residents aged 21 and older, accessible via QR code on the program’s Facebook page.
• Announced the Public Safety Committee will meet at 2 p.m. and the External Affairs Committee at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 28, preceding the next regular commission meeting at 4 p.m. County offices will be closed Monday, Oct. 12, in observance of Columbus Day.
