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Raymond Wiggins will return to his position as chairman of the Escambia County Commission after a unanimous vote by commissioners Monday. Larry White made the nomination and was seconded by Brandon White with all commissioners agreeing with their vote. Larry White, who was recently elected to serve District 3 replacing Scottie Stewart’s seat on the Commission, was nominated by Brandon White for the vice-chairman’s position. Steven Dickie seconded the nomination will all commissioners agreeing with their vote.
The positions are up for re-election within the Commmission on an annual basis.
Also during Monday’s meeting of the Commission, Attorneys Tim and Gordon Godwin spoke to the Commission regarding the conditions of Ewing Farm Road near Atmore in the Poarch community.
The duo provided a selection of photos outlining the “bumpy” conditions along the heavily-patched roadway.
“There is a good bit of commercial traffic on the road,” Gordon Godwin said. “We feel it’s important to pave the road (since it adjacent to I-65).”
Tim Godwin said paving of the road had been requested previously.
“The last time this was presented for paving request was by Eddie Tullis,” Tim Godwin said. “On behalf of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, he said there was a warehouse in the area that the Tribe was not being used to its maximum potential due to the condition of the road.”
Godwin said the point of the presentation to the Commission was to request work be done on the roadway.
“The basic point is this is a short road and although without many residences or homes, but it is home to some vital businesses,” Godwin said. “Paving would facilitate that better than a narrow and bumpy road. We all want to be business friendly.”
Karean Reynolds, District 5 Commissioner, said he had looked at the issues in the area and has it under consideration.
“The county has various needs on numerous roads and some with lots of residents,” Reynolds said. “We will be working to take care of those and get paving done.”
Tim Godwin thanked Reynolds for the consideration.
“We are not asking to be put at the top of the list,” Godwin said. “We just want to be on the list.”
In other business on Monday, the Commission:
• Approved an agreement with Alabama Department of Transportation for the Local Roads Safety Initiative. County Engineer Bill Bridges said some of the funding has already been used to erect guard rails and guard rail anchors in the Chavers Creek area;
• Approved a farm lease agreement with Andrew Ward for a portion of property near the Industrial Park in Brewton. Wiggins said the location has been purchased for the purpose of constructing a new county jail. Ward had previously leased the property for farming purposes. The commission agreed to continue that lease at $50 per acre.
Bridges also let the Commissioners know that road striping had been delayed and would continue as soon as possible along areas of recent paving and construction through the county.