COLUMBIANA – Shelby County Commission members were sworn in for another term prior to the Nov. 16 meeting.

The only new commissioner was Ward Williams, who won an election for District 4 during the November general election.

“It was about a year ago that I came to my first meeting, and I had no idea what I was getting into,” Williams joked and said he is looking forward to serving the county.

The returning commissioners are Tommy Edwards, District 2; Jon Parker, District 3 (chairman); Elwyn Bearden, District 5; Mike Vest, District 6; Lindsey Allison, District 7; Rick Shepherd, District 8; and Robbie Hayes, District 9 (vice chairman).

District 1 remains vacant following former commissioner Corley Ellis taking over the Alabama House of Representatives District 41 seat.

The commissioners were administered the oath of office by Probate Judge Jim Fuhrmeister.

“It is the people who serve on county commissions and other local offices…who see their friends and neighbors at the grocery store and other public places…you are the true public servants,” Fuhrmeister said.

Fuhrmeister later said he expected the commission to continue the tradition of Shelby County being “the best county in the state of Alabama.”

In other business, the commission:

• Approved minutes from the Oct. 24 meeting.
• Approved bills, requisitions, check register-government funds and proprietary funds.
• Heard a report from County Manager Alex Dudchock. As part of his report, Dudchock said AT&T is targeting three areas in the county for fiber infrastructure: Montevallo, Chelsea and Pelham. “We’re excited about this because it helps us in business recruitment and retention,” Dudchock said.
• Accepted bids for hard steel items for the highway department and for potassium permanganate for the water services department.
• Approved a contract with the Alabama Department of Transportation for a bridge replacement and approaches on Shelby County 311 over Mill Creek.

•Heard a water services report including that the county is still selling water to Birmingham in the midst of a drought.