Commission Updates COVID-19 Policies

vital to UAB — the heart and soul of the 6th District.

BY HANNAH LESTER HLESTER@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

edits in our updated policy ... reflect all of the CDC recommendations.” hours to 1,080 hours.

OTHER BUSINESS:

Steve Flowers

OPINION —

For the past several decades, Alabama’s power has been centered around the U.S. Senate — primarily because of Richard Shelby’s immense power and influence. During Shelby’s 36-year tenure as senator, he chaired the Intelligence, Banking and Rules committees. However, he became immensely powerful his last six years as chairman of the Appropriations Committee.

Shelby practically moved Washington, D.C., to Alabama when it came to bringing home procured earmarked funds to the Heart of Dixie. We received more federal funding than any state in America. National publications labeled Shelby the “Greatest Pork King” in federal history, surpassing the late Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia. Lest we forget, Shelby also had a very respected and tenured wingman in Sen. Jeff Sessions, who served with distinction for 20 years in the Senate. They were a great team.

In the halls of Congress, and especially in the U.S. Senate, seniority equates power and we had it. However, we who follow Alabama politics have been cautioning you that our day of reckoning would arrive in January 2023, when Shelby retired from the Senate, and that day has arrived. Alabama will never be able to raid the federal vault like Shelby has done.

Under the U.S. Senate seniority system, it will take young Katie Britt about 10 years before she will have any impact and influence in the Senate. Britt took office with zero years of seniority, and that places her 99th in seniority status in the U.S. Senate. Our senior U.S. senator, Tommy Tuberville, has two years of seniority. That places him 89th in seniority in the 100-member senate.

However, we have several members of our U.S. House delegation who are garnering some seniority and are emerging as powerful members of the lower body. Therefore, for at least the next decade, our power in Washington will be in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Jefferson/Shelby 6th

District Congressman Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) has been instrumental in helping to garner extremely good committee assignments for our six Republican members of Congress. Palmer, who is a quiet, policy issues congressman, was the founder and leader of the Alabama Policy Institute prior to going to Congress. Therefore, it was apropos that he would gravitate to the 30-member Republican Party Steering Committee. This committee has emerged as a powerful entity in the past decade. They essentially chose the House Committee Assignments along with Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Congressman Gary Palmer will serve as chairman of the House GOP Policy Committee. He will also retain his position on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. This committee has jurisdiction over health care, which is

Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) is our senior congressman. He got to Washington at a very young age. He is now only 57 years old and has 28 years of seniority. He is one of the cardinals on the House Appropriations Committee and is now chairman of the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Resources. This committee will be very important to Alabama because of the biomedical research going on in Birmingham and Huntsville. If the Republicans maintain their majority into 2025, Aderholt is in line to become chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.

Congressman Mike Rogers (R-Saks/Anniston) has emerged as chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. This is a very important coup for Alabama and an impressive appointment for Rogers. The U.S. Military has a very large footprint and importance in the Heart of Dixie. Defense dollars dominate Alabama’s economy.

In addition to Rogers, two of our newest members of Congress have scored seats on the Armed Services Committee: Reps. Jerry Carl (R-Mobile) and Dale Strong (R-Huntsville). Both Carl and Strong are bright stalwart stars for our congressional delegation. They have also become close friends and allies.

In addition to garnering a seat on the Armed Services Committee, Carl has been placed on the Appropriations Committee. He will be a workhorse for his coastal Alabama

LEE COUNTY —

The Lee County commission made its first revision to the COVID-19 policies since Dec. 30, 2021, on Monday night.

The change reflected several recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), including removing phrasing regarding wearing masks, reducing sick leave, allowing those in contact with someone with COVID-19 to still come to work and more.

"The Centers for Disease Control updated their recommendations for isolation and precautions for people with COVID-19 and for exposure to the COVID-19 virus,” said County Administrator Holly Leverette. “The

The first reflected change removed phrasing that encouraged unvaccinated employees to wear masks.

The second change dealt with hospitalization as a result of COVID-19, requiring employees to return to work only after 10 days following first symptoms, with no fever for 24 hours and improving symptoms.

The county will now allow employees to come to work even if they have had contact with someone with COVID-19 and are not vaccinated. However, a mask is required for 10 days following exposure.

The amount of sick leave was adjusted from 80 hours to 40 hours for new employees, and a cap for sick leave balances was adjusted from 1,120

- The commission presented LUCAS Automated CPR Devices to the Firefighters Association.

- The commission heard the first reading of an appointment to the Lee County Recreation Board/ Beulah/Commission District 4.

- The commission heard the first reading of an appointment to the Lee County Recreation Board/Smiths Station/ Commission District 3.

- The commission set a hearing for the Lee Road 196 vacation for the April 24, 2023, meeting.

- The commission approved the allocation of ARPA Revenue Replacement Funds for the Engineering Complex.

- The commission discussed rural internet at