The Morgan County Commission initiated an upgrade of West Park in District 2 by authorizing Chairman Ray Long to hire an architect to come up with a long range improvement plan at its regular meeting on Tuesday.

District 2 Commis-sioner Randy Vest said he wants a plan for the park that will allow his district to make upgrades on an incremental basis and make it more user friendly.

“If we had $1 million to spend, we could make lots of improvements in a hurry,” he said. “Since that’s not the case, we’ll have to be wise in the use of the funds that are available and’ strive to get the biggest bang for every buck we spend.”

Among the improvements Vest envisions are more parking space for the football field, additional playground equipment, new soccer field, new pavilion, workshop expansion and remodeled restrooms for the football side of the park.

The commission acted on other matters as follows:

•Accepted a bid from Alabama Print and Mail of Decatur to publish and mail 40,000 copies of a bi-monthly newsletter at a cost of $11,100 for an 8-page publication.

•Passed a resolution congratulating Hartselle High School’s volleyball team for winning the 2012 Class 5A state volleyball championship.

•Designated all banks in Morgan County as depositories for the funds of the Morgan County Commission, effective Jan. 1, 2013 through Dec 31, 2013.

•Adopted a resolution authorizing the chairman to fill the vacant position of governmental accountant, Grade 17, $28.21 – $36.80.

•Approved the following certificates to subdivide and/or consolidate properties: Lindon C. and Charlotte Calvert, Calvert Dr. and Airport Rd. and Gene and Shannon Blankenship, Cotaco-Florette Rd., both in District 2; Garrett Jones, Evergreen Rd., District 3; and Jeffrey Vaughn Pettit, Hwy. 36 East, Teddy J. and Joe D. Winsett, W.H. Lawrence Rd. And Jason and Vickie Stutts together with Morris and JoAnne Anderson, NW Maddox Rd., both in District 2.

•Voted to enter into a utility agreement with Decatur Utilities to relocate a water line at Danville Road and West Flint Creek in preparation for a bridge replacement project.

•Authorized the chairman to execute an agreement with the North Alabama Highway Safety Office for 100% salary plus allowable fringe overtime funds to be expended from Nov. 2, 2012, to Sept. 6, 2013, in the amount of $5,000.

•Authorized the chairman to execute an agreement with the Cullman County Juvenile Deten-tion Center as a backup for boarding space for youth in detention.

•Authorized the chairman to execute the 2012-2013 Morgan County Task Force grant application from the Alabama Department of Economic and Com-munity Affairs—Law Enforcement Division—representing $90,208 in grant funds and $30,072.67 in county matching funds.

•Authorized the chairman to execute an interagency agreement with the Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney’s Office, City of Hartselle and Hartselle Police Department, effective Dec. 11, 2012, through September 30, 2013.

•Authorized the chairman to execute a technical assistance grant agreement with ADECA in the amount of $19,000, effective Oct. 1, 2012, through Sept. 30, 2013.

•Authorized the chairman to advertise for bids for a concessions stand at Brindlee Mountain Park.

•Authorized the chairman to advertise for bids for elevator maintenance for Morgan County buildings.

•Adopted a resolution creating a new position of groundskeeper, Grade 4, $12.40- $16.19, for the Parks and Recreation Department, with the provision that the county’s most senior groundskeeper be transferred to that position.

•Authorized the chairman to amend the Parks & Recreation annual budget in the amount of $52,300 for salaries and benefits and $10,000 for equipment.

•Authorized the chairman to execute the state sub-grantee agreement for the Hazard Mitigation Grant with the State Emergency Management Agency for Morgan County EMA-individual safe rooms.

•Authorized the chairman to execute a grant of $50,000 from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs for a Land and Water Conservation Program, The county is committing $165,000 in matching funds, which will be provided in the form of local cash and in-kind services in support of the Brindlee Mountain Park.

•Appointed Sheryl Morris to a 5-year term on the Morgan County Community Action Partnership of North Alabama, effective Dec. 11, 2012, to Dec. 11, 2017.

•Approved payment of $700.60 to Travelers Insurance as a deductible on a claim for Glenda Lockhart in the Sheriff’s Department.

•Approved payment of $2,673 to Caddell & Shanks P.C. for legal services provided during the month of November.

• Cancelled the regularly scheduled meeting on Tues., Dec. 25, due to the Christmas holiday.