County severs ties with NARCOG

Morgan County Commission officially severed all ties to the North-Central Alabama Regional Council of Governments (NARCOG) and set in motion plans to establish its own Aging and Senior Services Program.

Acting on separate resolutions, the governing body voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the withdrawal of its membership effective June 9 and start up its own Department of Aging and Senior Services effective Oct. 1.

“We’re required by contract to give 60 days notice of our intent to withdraw membership,” said Chairman Ray Long, “but we’re going to honor all of our commitments.”

District 1 Commissioner Jeff Clark said he had received queries about the proposed change from a couple of senior citizens.

“They wanted to know if they would continue to receive the benefits and services they now get from NARCOG. I told them that was my understanding,” Clark said.

“They’re not going to lose anything,” stated Long. “In fact, we’re going to save money on salaries by setting up our own program. My goal is to use any savings to improve and add benefits for our seniors.”

“I think this is a good move and I will support it fully,” said District 3 Commissioner Don Stisher. “I thank the chairman for all of the background work he has done on this and making sure that everything is in order when we set up our own program.”

Long said he planned to hand deliver a letter of intent to withdraw membership to NARCOG Tuesday afternoon and also notify state authorities of the commission’s action.

The county, based on current population data, stands to receive about $2 million from the state to operate aging and senior services activities in fiscal 2012-2013, according to Long.

Debra Gardner, who currently manages the county’s nine senior centers among other aging services, will assume management of the new Aging and Senior Services Department, in addition to directing functions of Morgan Country Area Transportation Service (MCATS).

“We may have to hire a couple of people to assist her,” Long said, “But we won’t make a decision on that until we’re closer to activating the department.”

 

At a Glance

PowerGrid Services in Hartselle evacuated for bomb threat

Morgan County

20 under 40: Trey Chowning

Falkville

20 under 40: TJ Holmes

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

20 under 40: Spencer Bell

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

20 under 40: Shelby Keenum

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

20 under 40: Rachel Howard

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

20 under 40: Mary Virgina Halbrooks

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

20 under 40: Maggie McKelvey

Decatur

20 under 40: Maegan Jones

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

20 under 40: Lindsey Tapscott

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

‘He lets us have sex’: More details emerge on Hartselle man accused of child exploitation 

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

Hartselle church creates Easter-themed escape rooms 

Danville

Family tradition: State livestock show legacy spans generations

Editor's picks

Baseball for Beau: More than $8k raised for scholarship named after Hartselle child  

Falkville

20 under 40: Lela Weeks

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

20 under 40: Kalleigh Thomas

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

20 under 40: Jaime Hatcher

Hartselle

Veteran Hartselle firefighter charged with possessing child porn

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

Cerrowire expansion named finalist in Business Alabama Awards  

At a Glance

Work begins on repairing two bridges over I-65 in Morgan County in coming weeks

At a Glance

Tickets for Morgan County Sports Hall of Fame banquet available

Falkville

Morgan County volunteers celebrated at annual fire department banquet 

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

Man jailed for stealing car from jail after earlier release 

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

Police: Hartselle man encouraged children to have sex inside his apartment

x