Commission grants advertising space to political parties

Democratic and Republican parties apply for permission to use meeting rooms

BY HANNAH GOLDFINGER
HGOLDFINGER@
OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

LEE COUNTY – On Monday evening, the Lee County Republican Party and Democratic Party jointly submitted a request to the Lee County Commission.
Jamie Lowe, chairman of the Lee County Democratic Party, and Lee Vanoy of the Lee County Republican Democratic Party agreed when they requested use of the Lee County Meeting Center.
Lowe thanked the Commission for allowing the parties to use the Commission rooms for their monthly meetings, but also requested the use of the meeting centre to set up two tables.
“It is our duty to improve public access to our two executive committees and therefore we are asking the County Commission to grant us limited space in the assembly center across the street to achieve this goal,” he said.
The two groups would like to set up a table in the lobby from mid-September to the end of October to display further information about the two groups and the opportunities for participation.
Currently, policies state that groups outside of the 501c3 organization are not allowed to use the meeting center and that no election campaigns are allowed to be conducted.
The groups stated that they would not campaign.
Although they are not non-profit organizations, the Commission granted the two groups a one-time exemption because the tables will be unoccupied and no one will be campaigning.
“We want people to be aware that there are both Republican and Democratic parties in our district, and we think this is a great location for that because the absentee ballot office and the registrar’s office are located (in this convention center),” Vanoy said.
Many members of both parties were present to show their support, and District 2 Commissioner Ross Morris praised the two groups for working harmoniously together.
“If America could be like you two, it would be a much better place,” he said.

MISCELLANEOUS:

The Commission heard an update and a request from the Horseshoe Bend Regional Library.
The Commission received updated information on the Employee Life Insurance Benefit Provider.
The Commission has approved the request to participate in an employee assistance programme.
The Commission received updates on Free Disposal Day in July and on PALS participation.
The Commission heard the second reading for a position on the board of the East Alabama Health Care Authority
The Commission was not required to take any action with regard to the assessments of the appointing authority.
The commission approved an agreement with Autauga County to house inmates.
The commission discussed the appointment of a Chief Operating Officer for the district.
The Commission approved a valorem tax abatement for WM Renewable Energy LLC.
The Commission has approved an application for a special event license for three events at Twenty-One Acres.
The Commission approved a request for reimbursement of training costs for the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
The Commission has approved a change to the Level II promotion programme.
The commission approved the Rebuild Alabama Act and the County Transportation Plan.
The Commission has postponed a vote on the extension of the contract for the collection and transport of household solid waste.