A financial agreement between the county health department and the city to fund a community paramedic received final approval Monday.
Montgomery County Commissioners gave their support to a memorandum of understanding between the county health department and the city’s Mobile Integrated Health department to fund a community paramedic.
Per the agreement, the community paramedic will be recruited, screened, and hired by MIH, and will be a full-time city employee.
Funding for the position will be provided by the county health department and will be paid quarterly to MIH.
Commissioner Jim Fulwider questioned what happens to any unused funds and if data will be collected to demonstrate the benefit of funding a community paramedic.
County health officials assured Fulwider that unused funds would be returned to the county health department, and data currently exists in the health department’s annual report. However, additional data will be collected going forward to determine the effectiveness of the position and program.
In other business, commissioners:
• Approved a notice to bidders for the harvest of hay this year on county property located on the southwest corner of U.S. 136 and Nucor Road. The estimated 5 acres of land will eventually be used for the construction of the Nucor Road overpass project, however, that project is not expected to begin until 2025.
• Approved a $105,000 contract with DLZ for ADA upgrades to the Thomas K. Milligan Justice Center at 307 Binford St. DLZ will provide engineering service for the general improvements to the site which houses the county probation department.
The project includes removing the lawn, concrete sidewalks, portions of the existing porch and pergola and rear entry door to construct new sidewalks, handrails, accessible parking, signage and porch.
Construction is expected to begin this fall and will be completed by the spring of 2025. Funding for the project will come from the American Rescue Plan Act.
The contract was approved with the stipulation that two paragraphs regarding liability and statute of limitations be revised by DLZ.
County attorney Dan Taylor cautioned commissioners to watch for similar language in the courthouse renovation contract with DLZ.
• Approved the final reading of an ordinance creating a fund for the READI 1.0 grant award in the amount of $2,033,333. The money is earmarked for the Purple Heart Parkway extension project.
• Approved a resolution declaring a service revolver used by Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputy Richard Todd as surplus, so that it may be presented to him upon his retirement from the department. Todd spent 30-plus years in law enforcement, the last 11 with the sheriff’s department. Todd’s official retirement date is mid-May. He has already completed his last day and is using his paid time off until retirement.
The next meeting of the county commissioners will be at 8 a.m. March 25 in the county government center.
