News Editor

Published Aug. 24, 1999

The Pike County Commission awarded a bid for early warning sirens to the low bidder, McCord Communications.

McCord Communications bid $12,713.25 for four 129-decibel sirens with two-way activation and status monitoring control per unit.

Charlie Harris said he thought a committee should be formed to decide the location of the sirens. He requested Larry Penn, commission chairman, Willie C. Thomas, District 1 commissioner, and Karen Berry, District 6 commissioner, and a representative from the cooperative serve on the committee.

The city of Brundidge will have the opportunity to purchase one of the four sirens at the bid price.

Representatives of the State Homebuilders Association were present at the Pike County Commission meeting last night to encourage commissioners to require homebuilders in Pike County to acquire a license.

The license fee will be $205. Thirty-five dollars will be for an emergency fund for claims and the rest will go to the homebuilders association for investigations and enforcements, said Cathy Brasfield, attorney for the State Homebuilders Association.

Chip Carden, executive director of the State Homebuilders Association, urged the commissioners to go ahead with the licensing because a person’s home is one of the biggest investments they will ever make.

"You want your doctor to have a license and you want your lawyer to have a license," said Carden. "You should want your homebuilder to have a license because your home is where you will spend most of your life."

Currently, Pike County is exempt from the licensing because the population is less than 30,000, according to the last census.

Alan Jones, attorney for the commission said he thinks they should study it a little more and the purpose behind it.

A public hearing will be held at 6 p.m. Oct. 12 at the Pike County Courthouse for anyone interested in the licensing. Commissioners have requested that homebuilders in Pike County contact the commission office at 566-6374 or go by the office at the courthouse so a list can be compiled of all homebuilders.

In other business:

Approved a petition to the Probate Court to abandon Berry Road.

Approved County Administra-tor Steve Hick to hire recommended persons for the positions of chief accountant and administrative assistant.

Approved a retail liquor license transfer for Edwin E. Dick.

Approved a retail off-premises liquor license for Tonya Lynn McClelland.

Approved solid waste adjustments.

Approved claims.

The next Pike County Commission will be a budget hearing held 6 p.m. at Aug. 30. The public is invited.