COLUMBIANA – Lina Evans has been appointed by Shelby County Probate Judge Jim Fuhrmeister as the county’s coroner following the resignation of the former coroner.

Diana New resigned, leaving the position open until a permanent replacement is appointed by Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey.

Without an official appointment from Ivey, Fuhrmeister appointed Evans, of Montevallo, on a temporary basis.

County Manager Alex Dudchock told the Shelby County Commission about the appointment at the commission’s meeting on Monday, May 8.

In a letter addressed to Dudchock and the commission, Evans requested to be appointed to the position and said she served as chief deputy coroner for more than seven years.

“I believe that the coroner and all its members serve as the eyes, ears and hands of the forensic pathologists in the field,” Evans wrote in the letter. “In my role as chief deputy coroner, I have a great understanding of the role and responsibilities of the coroner’s office as well as strong working relationships with the current staff. I believe that this experience provides the county with greatest stability and continuity during the remainder of Diana’s term.”

Evans wrote that she has obtained certification as a death investigator through the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators, is a member of the International Coroner and Medical Examiners Association and the International Association of Forensic Nurses, worked in medical research at UAB for more than 17 years and performed assault exams at Safe Shelby Center.

Shelby County voters would decide on a coroner during an election in 2018.

In other business, the commission:

•Approved a resolution related to right-of-way acquisitions for a project to replace the bridge on Shelby County 441 over Fourmile Creek in Wilsonville. According to the resolution, the bridge is “insufficient to provide for and allow the safe and convenient passage to the public.” The resolution authorizes the county engineer and county attorney to obtain perpetual easements and temporary construction easements for the project.

•Heard from Engineer Randy Cole that crews spent considerable time cleaning downed limbs from roadways on May 5. Cole said his department received complaints from residents about roads not being cleared, but he told commissioners that sometimes their work is limited.

“When they’re wrapped up in the power lines, we can’t safely handle those until the power company tells us the lines are dead,” Cole said.

•Awarded a bid for picnic tables and benches to the lowest responsive bidder, Diversified Material Fabricators.

•Awarded a bid for chlorine to the only responsive bidder, Allied Universal Corporation.