A voice from Alabama ’ s 67 counties
David Palmer
Engineer , Franklin County President , Association of County
Engineers of Alabama ( ACEA )
Q
As you come to the end of your term as ACEA president , what stands out to you when you think back over the last year ?
A
The last year has been a very productive year for county engineers in my opinion . The completion and addition of the Pavement Preservation section to the already invaluable County Road Design Policy was a great accomplishment . County engineers also worked diligently with ALDOT materials and tests personnel to improve and adopt positive changes to the state specifications , especially those that apply to full-depth reclamation . Two other notable accomplishments this past year were the completion and adoption of a new County Road Maintenance Certification Policy and a mutual agreement to
expand the use of “ force account ” work on Federal-Aid projects . These new policies and agreements stand out in my mind as benchmark accomplishments that will provide tremendous benefits and cost savings to counties moving forward . These improvements are a direct result of the cooperation and collaboration by many individuals , representing a variety of departments , across several political boundaries . It is a credit to the hard work and dedication of county engineers , ALDOT personnel , and FHWA representatives who chose to work together to provide a better quality of life for the citizens of the great state of Alabama . I want to thank all those involved for your hard work and helpful contributions to this important effort .
Q
What can you say about the leadership role your fellow engineers played in the 2017 effort to enact legislation raising revenue for roads and bridges ?
A
County engineers have worked very hard for several years to try and get additional revenue . I believe the 2017 session was sort of a culmination of those efforts that was more focused and better organized as a result of the coordination and leadership of the ACCA . It is a tough balancing act for county engineers to run their departments and play a role in political action . Most county engineers are almost overwhelmed with the responsibilities that come with the design , construction and maintenance of hundreds of bridges and hundreds of miles of roads with , by the way , very little help . That being said , a tremendous amount of gratitude is owed to those county engineers that find the time and energy to step up and do it all so well .
Q
Because legislation was not passed this session , the condition of county roads and bridges will continue to decline . What ’ s the next step in this quest ?
COUNTY COMMISSION | 43