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Shelby County Commissioners move forward with hiring of assistant DA, stress importance of County Road Use Permits

In an effort to help push more criminal cases through the system the Shelby County Commissioners Court agreed to name Center attorney Stephen Shires as the assistant district attorney at their meeting Monday.

 

County Judge Allison Harbison said DA Kenneth Florence made some cuts to his budget to allow for the new hire.

 

Among those budget cuts were eliminating the DA investigator's position, and some $10,000 in car allowance.

 

Shires has assisted Florence before as a special prosecutor. He'll be a contract employee receiving a flat monthly salary totaling $60,000 a year, and is asking for no benefits.

 

Shires announced to the court that he would be seeking the DA's position in the next election and that Florence has chosen to run.

 

In another item of business commissioners believe the county needs to resume a County Road Use Permit system, due primarily to the amount of commercial trucks that are utilizing the roads and making it tough for residents to safely use.

 

County Commissioner Pct. 3 Travis Rodgers says his phone stays busy with citizen complaints, especially as the above average rain received.

 

He added using the permit system would let commissioners know what trucks are using the roads and make sure they are held liable for repairs. The county has also said they'll be posting the free permit application on its website, soon.

 

The old county jail on the Center Square could be housing county offices again. Judge Harbison said Jennings Place had sold out and the new owner was occupying the facility without a contract at $500 a month. She said getting the probation department out of the aging hospital on Hurst Street should be a priority, or possibly another county office to use the space.

 

Commissioners moved forward with sending the current occupant a letter requesting they vacate the building in 60 to 90 days.

 

Shelby County Commissioners also voted to:

 

*Approve Farmers State Bank as the county depository.

 

*Designate May as Elder Abuse Prevention Awareness Month.

 

The Shelby County Commissioners' Court designated May as Elder Abuse Prevention Awareness Month during their meeting Monday. Pictured (left) County Clerk Jennifer Fountain, Tracey Belin, supevisor for Adult Protective Services, County Commissioner Pct. 2 Jimmy Lout, County Judge Allison Harbison, County Commissioner Pct. 3 Travis Rodgers, County Commissioner Pct. 1 Roscoe McSwain and Mason Hendry of Adult Protective Services. Not pictured, County Commissioner Pct. 4 Bradley Allen.

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