Hokes Bluff Middle School to get warning lights following commission vote

All three schools in Hokes Bluff will now have flashing warning lights in their school zones following a vote Tuesday by the Etowah County Commission.

Commissioners approved a contract and agreement with the Etowah County Board of Education for the installation of the lights at Hokes Bluff Middle School, 3121 Appalachian Highway.

Hokes Bluff Elementary, on Main Street, and Hokes Bluff High, on Appalachian Highway, already had warning lights in their school zones.

County Engineer Robert Nail said the installation at the middle school follows discussions between Commissioner Johnny Grant, Hokes Bluff Mayor Scott Reeves, Etowah County Schools Superintendent Alan Cosby and state Rep. Mark Gidley, R-Gadsden.

The cost of adding the lights will be split four ways between them, with Grant providing the commission's share from his discretionary funds.

“It will improve safety at the middle school and should be a good win for everyone,” Nail said.

Reeves said the lights have been a goal for “quite a while,” thanking Grant, Cosby and the City Council for their role in making them happen.

He said they wanted to “exhaust every possible resource” to “keep our most valuable assets of our community, our children, in the safest environment we can.”

Commissioners also approved a step that Shane Ellison, chief administrative officer, would benefit the county financially.

They authorized the lease of a SMART IX 7DW30 postage machine from Quadrient Leasing USA, for $695.50 per month, running Feb. 24 of this year through Feb. 23, 2027.

Ellison said the county has an existing lease with Quadrient, but that since the probate and revenue offices have outsourced some of their mailing, folding equipment is no longer needed. He said this new lease should save the county about $6,500 a year.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Hokes Bluff Middle School to get warning lights after commission vote