Thanks to intervention from the St. Clair County Commission and St. Clair County judges, Circuit Clerk Annette Hall will be able to save two of the projected eight positions lost in her office.

After Hall revised and trimmed her budget, she discovered that she could afford to pay the base salary for two employees, valued at $46,000 total. However, the $14,000 in benefits for each employee was beyond her funding.

During their regular meeting, the St. Clair County Commission agreed to pick up the tab for $14,000 worth of benefits for an employee in the circuit clerk’s office. According to Hall, the judges have picked up the other $14,000 in expenses.

While the St. Clair County Commission isn’t directly responsible for the circuit clerk’s office, the clerk’s office does disburse funds collected to the commission for certain reasons. Hall estimated that she signs 400 to 500 checks per month regarding the Commission.

Grants to improve Canoe Creek Park

The Canoe Creek Park area may soon undergo a facelift, should grant funding come through.

The commission approved application for two grants with the help of the Kelly Group to improve the county-owned area.

The county will apply for a Department of Conservation grant which can be awarded up to $500,000 with no county mach required. The funding would go toward placing curb and gutter, a parking lot, restrooms and a two-lane concrete boat launch at the park.

A Land and Water Conservation Fund grant will also be applied for, valued at $100,000 with a 50 percent county match. The grant would pay for installation of lighting and a handicapped fishing pier at the same location.

In other actions:

— The Shoal Creek Valley Fire and Rescue Department received approval to enter into a Lease and Option agreement with Republic First National Corporation for up to $111,081 to finance two fire trucks — one 1993 International Tanker and one 1996 Ferrara Pumper.

— Payment of $87,995 to Addeca/Higher Ground for a 911 Recorder was approved.

— The commission approved commitment of $25,000 in matching funds for a community development block grant to replace a water line in Pinedale Shores. The estimated project cost is $275,000.

— $2,825 was approved to renew the ADEM permit for the Odenville Chert Pit. The permit had previously been purchased, but a different type of permit was required than previously thought.

— Bruce Etheridge and Shirley Woods were nominated to the county’s seat of the Board of Equalization, pending communication with Woods. Etheridge currently holds the position, while Woods serves as the city of Pell City’s representative.

— Emergency sick leave and FMLA leave was approved for a detention officer.

— Public Transportation Dispatcher Janet Peoples was increased from a Pay Grade 3 to a Pay Grade 5.

— Transfer of CSEPP-purchased inventory items over $5,000 to cities and agencies the items are currently assigned to was approved. With CSEPP funding ending this summer, the equipment refers mainly to sirens installed with CSEPP funds.

— A deed for the right-of-way on the county-maintained portion of Baker Road was approved. The property owner is selling a portion of the land, but wanted to give the county the right-of-way before the property was sold.

— The commission approved a deadline of Aug. 19 to sign up for Operation Clean Sweep. According to County Engineer Dan Dahlke, the properties already signed up for the project should be completed by the end of this week.

— A resolution to initiate installation of guardrail, end anchors and pavement markers on County Road 9 in Springville was approved. Dahlke said the county would likely need to do some widening at their own cost to accommodate the project. The project will take place between Oak Grove Road and Pine Mountain Road, a distance of approximately four-tenths of a mile.

— A $30 invoice to Kyuka Water without a purchase order was approved to be paid.