Chambers County Commission hears updates, comments
BY KADIE TAYLOR
THE LAFAYETTE SUN
CHAMBERS COUNTY — At the April 27 Chambers County Commission meeting, the commission heard public comments from citizens along with business updates from two local organizations.
Citizens William Clifton and Angela Clifton shared concerns about automatic weapon shooting near their property and the hazard it poses to them, neighbors and their grandchildren. The couple was requesting an ordinance to protect the nearby families from the dangers the shooters pose.
“I don’t have a problem with someone target shooting, or teaching their children or grandchildren how to shoot, as long as it’s done in a safe manner,” William Clifton said. “I do, however, vehemently oppose the shooting of fully automatic weapons. There are just too many homes in close proximity for those kinds [of weapons]. The persons that are shooting these weapons are doing it within 100 yards of my property, and most often times within 100 feet… Over the recent years, I’ve had pellets and shotguns rain down on top of my house. I’ve had birds fall out of trees right beside my porch because they walk out the back door and shoot. They’re they’re reckless, and they’re an endangerment.”
“We are not even able to clear out the property, because we never know when a gun, a fully-automatic gun, is going to go off,” Angela Clifton said after playing a recording of gunfire she recorded on her property. “So I’m pleading that something be done, an ordinance be put in place so that our community and our grandchildren can be safe again.”
Donna McKay, mayor of Wadley and candidate for District 37, introduced herself to the commission and shared some of her impact on her city as mayor and the experience she wants to bring to representing the people of District 37.
“In my 10 years as mayor of Wadley, I wanted you to know that the growth of our town has increased from 749 to 897 since the 2020 census,” she said. “Our population is growing annually at 2.87% and 19.76% since the 2020 census. Our sales tax alone, based on our yearly audits is a very healthy indicator of how the community is doing. That’s the revenue that’s not counting any grant money or anything, but our sales tax has grown over 134% since 2016. [That growth is from when] I came into office in November of 2016 until the last audit of 2025. So, we work hard at Wadley, and I’m going to work hard for Chambers County, and I’m going to work hard with the present representative in the neighboring District 38.”
Rachel Snoddy and Dr. Hollie Cost presented the Rural Health Initiative Annual Report from the Chambers County Community Health and Wellness Center. Cost shared information regarding the impact of the OnMed CareStation at the center and the care it is providing for the community.
“The top five diagnoses are listed, with respiratory infection being first,” she said. “Our patient satisfaction is 4.95 out of five. We have a number of comments from people in the community as well. We’re just really happy to be here, and it’s going incredibly well as far a this is still the highest performing station in the country. That’s the last report that we got. You have really paved the way for other communities as well to get the health care that they need, so you’re part of a network now, and you’re the pioneers.”
Executive Director of the Greater Valley Area Chamber of Commerce Carrie Wood shared the second quarter report, which included information on completed events and notice of upcoming events.
“April 30, we will have a candidate Meet and Greet at the Valley Community Center, so make sure that is on your calendars and come out for that,” she said. “We also have a Lunch and Learn coming up on May 6, about doing business with Gen Z… We’re blessed, and I want to say that I appreciate you all for giving the chamber the opportunity to grow on our previous events and being able to add these new events this year.”
In Other Business
• The commission voted to approve the minutes and warrants payable for April 13.
• The commission voted to approve the agenda for the April 27 meeting as presented.
• The commission voted to accept Verkada’s door controller access quote in the amount of $15,253.76 to replace the door access for the courthouse, Lanett Annex, Engineering Department and the LaFayette Annex.
• The commission voted to adopt the Chambers County Safety Action Plan and to affirm the County Commission’s commitment to the Plan’s vision, goals and implementation strategies aimed at reducing roadway fatalities and serious injuries within Chambers County.
• The commission voted to award Chambers County’s Inquiry No. 1723, Resurfacing, Patching and Striping for the Chambers County Board of Education at Inspire Academy, Eastside Magnet School, Huguley Elementary School and Fairfax Elementary School to Chris Clark Grading & Paving, Inc., the low bidder, and to authorize the chair to execute the contract documents.
• The commission voted to enter into the agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation for the installation and maintenance of school speed limit signs with flashing time-of-day beacons on US-431 north and south of the intersection of CR 425, near the entrance of Chambers Academy.
• The commission voted to authorize the chair to execute the agreement with the city of Valley to assist with the widening, resurfacing and traffic striping of the Fairfax Bypass from the Lee County line north to US Highway 29, subject to the review and approval of County Attorney Skip McCoy and the city of Valley.
The next Chambers County Commission meeting will be held in the small courtroom at 4 p.m. on Monday, May 4.
