Cleburne County’s roads received no damage due to last week’s flooding but some roads were temporarily closed said Cleburne County Engineer Shannon Robbins during Monday night’s commission work session.

The major problem, he said, was the freezing temperatures that caused pavement to crack and crumble on many roads throughout the county.

Commissioners and Robbins also discussed the situation of logging operations also tearing up roadways. All agreed they do not want to hurt loggers livelihood but also realize something must be done to preserve roads.

“What we’ve got on the books now doesn’t seem to be working. We need to come to some common ground and work this out,” said Cleburne County Commissioner Rex Nolen. The idea of requiring the posting of a performance bond was briefly discussed.

Cleburne County Executive Officer Steve Swafford said that as surrounding counties tighten regulations on loggers, many are driven to Cleburne County to harvest trees as well as pass through with their trucks, evading other major routes.

The commissioners agreed to take a look at some tougher regulations used by Clay County and perhaps require the purchase of a license/permit from the county engineer’s office. Nolen noted that whatever action they decide upon, they need the backing of the district attorney as he will be the one to prosecute any cases should they make it into court.

“I met with FEMA and the state EMA and we hope this area will get enough to qualify for federal assistance. Seventeen counties have similar problems. If we can just get an emergency declaration. I am hopeful we will get some help from the feds. We have talked about a worse case scenario, well this is that worse case scenario,” Robbins added.

He also reported to the county commissioners that encroachment letters were mailed out to some county residents last week. These letters, mandated by the Alabama Department of Transportation, will let residents know that they are encroaching on state-right-of-ways with fences or mailboxes.

“Regretably we are having to ask our citizens to move things back off highway property but the state DOT is pushing us,” he said.

In other matters Mark Laminack and Steven Lines with the Cleburne County Chamber of Commerce appeared before the group to update them on the Chamber an its’ activities.

Lines noted that the Chamber is county-wide and urged commissioners to join. He explained that re-activating the Chamber was part of a project of Leadership Cleburne graduates and they are now seeking funds to assist in keeping the organization alive and developing brochures to advertise the county to tourists and others.

Lines asked if there might be a way for the Chamber to get a small percentage of the lodging tax. He told the commissioners that if the Chamber had a set income it would help them in obtaining grants for printing of brochures.

Laminack added that the Chamber has to be funded to some extent to be eligible for grants to promote the Scenic River Trail and install proper signage. Both Laminack and Lines said the Chamber membership cannot be counted on as it is so volatile and fluctuates. “Funding has been a major problem in the past. We can’t do a budget without funding,” he said.

Swafford explained that commissioner’s discretionary funds could be used to support the Chamber if they so desired to contribute and Nolen pointed out that the lodging tax is already obligated to the Extension Service and library. He said if any of the money is given to the Chamber, it would take away from what the Extension Service and library already receive.

Cleburne County Commission Ex-Officio Chairman Ryan Robertson said a new budget would be developed in the fall and the commission might wish to take a look at the funding at that time. “We can’t do it now within this budget year but this coming fiscal year we can take a look at it,” he said.

Cleburne County Commissioner Joel Robinson said he would like to do something, he just doesn’t know what.

Lines said the goal of the Chamber is to open some sort of welcome center and get an office location.

The commissioners did agree to adopt a resolution incorporating the Loyd Owens Canoe Trail into the Alabama Scenic River Trail.

Robertson read a letter of resignation from Sam Britt on the Cleburne County Water Board. He said there are two openings on the Cleburne County Hospital Board and now the one on the water board. He said Keith Roberts had resigned the CCHB seat and had been hired to head the Cleburne County Emergency Medical Service.