About 18 acres of land Lafayette County owns will likely be clear-cut of timber, and it’s a matter of when and how long it will take a logging company to complete the work.

During Monday evening’s Board of Supervisors meeting, County Engineer Larry Britt said the county had received two bids to do the work on County Road 406.

Forester Bill Canale, who was contracted by the county to have the timber cleared, valued the timber at $20,000, according to Britt. The highest of the two bids was $22,000 from Fly Timber Company.

Canale said he believes the company would rather do the work in the winter, but supervisors would prefer the work be done in the summer while school is not in session since the land is near Lafayette County High School.

“There will be a lot of school traffic coming in and out of there starting in mid-August,” Board President Jeff Busby said.

Supervisors decided to table the matter until the July 5 meeting, opting to find out when the work would begin and end before voting.

It is unclear what plans the county has for the property once the timber is cleared.

Subdivision changes

Supervisors also set a public hearing for July 18 regarding a couple of subdivision regulation changes. One would clarify where rights-of-ways on roads are located, and the other change involves inspection of pipes in developments.

According to Britt, there have been issues with plastic pipes being damaged and there are currently no regulations as far as inspection of the pipes. He would like for the county to implement regulations similar to the city of Oxford such as using video inspection of the pipes to check for damage.

“I think it is something we ought to do,” Britt told the board.

The inspection would be at the expense of the developer. Supervisor Chad McLarty asked if a developer had to hire an inspection company or do it himself. Britt said the contractor should be able to do it himself but a copy of the inspection must be on a CD and filed with the county. McLarty also would like for the inspection to take place at the end of the project.

“I think video inspection is needed, but I want the video at the end of the project,” McLarty said.

Supervisor David Rikard would like for a county inspector to be present during the video inspection.

Other business

Representatives of the Gordon Community Center approached the board about renovating a building at the facility to be used for office space, but apparently there’s a possibility of asbestos in the ceiling and floor tiles.

Rikard said an initial inspection of the building indicated there was a good possibility of asbestos. He said a firm from Alabama could do the testing for $2,000. County Attorney David O’Donnell said he needs to make sure the county has a lease agreement on the building and testing would be done contingent upon the lease.

County Road Manager Jerry Haynie attended his final supervisors meeting and was presented a plaque from Busby on behalf of his years of service to the county.

“It’s been a pleasure working with the board,” Haynie said. “It is one thing to work for them and it’s something all together when you become good friends with them.”

The supervisors recessed their meeting until 8:30 a.m. Thursday when they begin fiscal year budget hearings.