On Thursday, the County Commission authorized Chairman Kenneth Walker to negotiate and sign an agreement with software developer Igniting, LLC for the mobile app. It will be available for free download for Android or iPhone in June, said Revenue Commissioner Barry Willingham.
Cullman will join Blount and Autauga as the only counties in the state to provide the app for residents, he said.
“The way it’s set up, there is no extra cost to the county, and it’s an added convenience to citizens if they want to renew their taxes from their phone, rather than coming to the courthouse,” Willingham said.
This is how it works: you type in your driver license number to search all vehicles registered to your or the last six digits of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) for a specific vehicle. Next, you verify your driver license and insurance information.
If you have problems verifying that information, you can use the camera on your smartphone to snap a photo of your ID and proof of insurance cards. That information is sent to the county tag office for clerks to verify, and your tag renewal fee is then calculated.
After paying for the tag, the new decal sticker or license plate should arrive in the mail within a few days, Willingham said. Users can also set reminders for tag renewals and renew tags that have incurred late penalties. Previously, late payments could only be handled in person at the county tag office.
There is a $1 convenience fee per registration plus credit card processing fees. The county will not receive the fee, and it is used to cover costs of credit card processing, technology costs, support and maintenance, Willingham said.
To download the free app when it comes available, search the Apple App Store or Goggle Play Store for “Cullman County.”
In other business Thursday, the county commission:
Approved minutes from April 24 meeting and April 29 emergency called meeting, appropriations, expenditures, requisitions and journal entries to be posted.
Terminated local emergency declaration affective April 30.
Authorized Chairman Kenneth Walker to sign agreement with Almon Associates for engineering and inspection services for the Alabama Department of Transportation’s Clarkson Covered Bridge project. The agreement is for $42,000, however the county’s portion of that payment is $8,400, said Assistant County Engineer John Lang.
Authorized Walker to renew separate three-year agreements with Cullman Electric Cooperative for monthly billing of the sanitation and water departments and meter reading for the water department.
Authorized Walker to renew one-year service agreement with Johnston Technologies for battery backup for dispatch center at Sheriff’s Department.
Authorized purchase of the following equipment from Nextran off the Association of County Commissions of Alabama (ACCA) bid list: six Ox Bodies Stampede beds at $25,404 ($152,424 total), six Mack GU 713 Dumb Bed Chassis at $110,599 each ($663,594 total), one Mack CHU 613 Lowboy Tractor at $107,857 and $5,000 ACCA fee for utilitizing bid. Grand total is $928,875. The vehicles will replace a fleet of surplus trucks the county is putting up for auction.
Authorized purchase of $25,000 1999 GMC herbicide diesel truck from ALDOT surplus.
Authorized Walker to request waiver to apply for additional recreational trails program grants and submit an application for a grant to build a bridge over a walking trail.
Authorized Walker to sign amended contract with Pro Lawn Service to include lawn maintenance at the Cullman County Economic Development (CCED) office, Department of Human Resources and Public Office Building in addition to the courthouse.
Authorized Walker to sign contract with Cintas to supply mats from the North Alabama Cooperative Purchasing Association bid list.
Approved Bethsadia Volunteer Fire Department’s request for $500 for polling maintenance and operational support.
Approved $300 request for Touring Farms for Kids summer program.
Approved Cullman County Volunteer Fire Department Association’s request for $1,000 for trip to Washington, D.C. to accept 2014 Congressional Fire Service Award.
Approved Drummond Company’s request to vacate a portion of County Road 8. In exchange, the county will accept a straighter, gravel road near the site which will be paved.
Granted extension to Aug. 1 for surety bond on Shadowrock Estates subdivision located in District 2 on CR-907 to allow developer to finish residential street.
Granted extension to Aug. 1 for surety bond on Lakeshore West subdivision located in District 2 on CR-175 to allow developer to finish residential street.
Extended bid for one year for fuel to Eidson Petroleum.
Declared surplus the following equipment to be disposed of as scrap: HP laptop from commission office, Jetta Jetbook laptop from data processing and two Fijitsu scanners from reappraisal.
Ratified the following personnel actions: Cullman Area Rural Transportation System (CARTS) Larry Traylor and Jerry Bradford, new hires; Diane Harper, promoted and Stanley Cowely, discharged; Sportsman Lake Park, Alex Thompson, Anthony Frezza and Lindsey Cagle, all new season hires; Sanitation, Isaac Horton, resigned; CCED, Jada Smith, temporary new hire; Water Department, Billy Smith, resigned; Sheriff’s Department, Kevin Bowers and Todd Reynolds, promoted, and Nicholas Buchanan at the jail completed probationary period; Animal Control, Kristina Ostberg, discharged; Road Department, Ronnie Parker, retired; Probate Office, Louise Moore, retired and County Garage, Bobby McGriff, retired.
The commission will hold a work session 8:30 a.m. May 27, followed by its regular meeting at 10 a.m.
©2014 The Cullman Times (Cullman, Ala.)
