At a special-called Monday meeting of the county fiscal court, magistrates and Judge-Executive Mickey Garner approved County Clerk Lisha Popplewell's 2010 budget, among other items.

Popplewell said the projected beginning budget for 2010 to be $3.3 million.

“It was just taking those figures and estimating because that is what it is, an estimate of our budget,” she said.

For 2010, it is estimated that the county will have around $180,000 in excess fees, mirroring what the total projected fees were for 2009.

Excess fees come from all fees recorded, vehicles licensed and transfers done in the county, Popplewell said.

“Part of that goes to the state and part of that goes to the county,” she said. “What our office doesn't use (in paying bills, salaries, supplies) is turned over to the fiscal court to the county to use however you see fit.”

Magistrate Steve Bledsoe commended Popplewell and her office for the work they do for the county.

“I've got good employees that know their jobs well,” she said. “I wouldn't trade them for any in the state, I really wouldn't.”

In other happenings at the meeting:

• Garner announced that architect and construction company officials would be at the next regular fiscal court meeting on January 11 to discuss the building of the new detention center and lay out their plans for the facility.

The jail bids were opened last week and totaled up and the preliminary figure to build a new Russell County Jail is now $3.69 million.

That is down from the $5.7 figure last September, and in line with the figures first quoted for an 80-bed jail.

• County leaders chose to delay the building of a county morgue at the site of the anticipated jail until the jail construction was finalized.

For the construction of a 30-foot by 50-foot building with a small office space inside the low bid at a previous meeting was $30,877.50 by Dry Branch Construction.

• A recreational trails and land/water conservation grant was applied for to go toward an area near Alligator I Dock.

The move satisfies a recommendation made by the Corps of Engineers and will aesthetically improve the looks of the area, as well as add trails, lighting, parking lots, playgrounds and more if granted.

• The improvements of Chelsey Lane was recommended through a resolution through a rural secondary program supplement agreement.

The county road was first brought to the court's attention this past summer by Magistrate Ronald Johnson.

• Garner asked that the county re-appoint Randy Hart to the county's Industrial Board. Hart unanimously selected to another 4-year term on the board.   

• The court approved several line item appropriation expenditure transfers.

• It was confirmed that Alcohol Beverage Control officials would be present at the January 11 meeting to discuss the pending alcohol ordinance and administrator's position with the fiscal court.

• The court also approved a cost of living raise for the county clerk's office.