LaFAYETTE — A few people who had a hand in designing the new Chambers County Courthouse Annex sign in Lanett were recognized Monday by the Chambers County Commission.

At the ceremony, Commissioner Sam Bradford admitted he unintentionally forgot to mention the names of the three businesses who helped design the sign — John Radford of Piquarius Graphics in Lanett, B.J. Wallace of Unique Advertising of Valley and Chris Strength of Allstar Graphics in Lanett.

Bradford said that he, along with Kimberly Carter of the Chambers County Development Authority, spoke several times for more than an hour each time.

“There was a good bit of discussion, and when we got to the final product, I failed to give credit where credit was due,” Bradford said.

He said Radford is the man who came up with the final design, but Wallace and Strength helped fine-tune the finished product.

“I apologize to them in this forum, and we appreciate their efforts,” Bradford said. “I think it is important to realize the impacts that small businesses make, and we surely need to give them credit.”

Radford told The Valley Times-News that Carter initially sent out a request to the three sign makers to come up with a design, which was later to be turned into something the companies could bid on. He said one of the designs would be chosen as the design for a bid, which turned out to be Radford’s.

Radford said the county wanted a Corian finish, which is similar to a countertop finish, and the local companies, individually, didn’t have the manufacturing capacity to bid on the job. This was when the sign makers directed the county to Performance Signs out of Athens, Ohio. The sign cost the county about $7,500.

“Even though that company (Performance Signs) manufactured that sign, the ideas came from a local sign company plus fitting in with the branding identity by the CCDA,” Radford said.

He said the company didn’t get paid for their work with the county, but now the business name is out there.

“Even though it was not a paid job, that is not how Piquarius Graphics looks at the work we did,” Radford said. “Sometimes we have to give pro bono work in anticipation of future dividends.”

He said it was also important to him because he was found of the focus groups when the branding identity was created, so he wanted to help give the county its best look.

Also, at the meeting, Commissioner Doug Jones said the Chambers County Drug Task Force helped take in 193 pounds of expired and extra prescription drugs as part of its Drug Take-Back Day.

Commissioner James Williams welcomed everybody to the second Annual Chambers County Volunteer Fire Expo, and Chambers County EMA Be Ready Day. The event takes place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 1 at the Agricultural Arena in LaFayette.  It’s hosted by the Chambers County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association and Chambers County Emergency Management Agency.

Chambers County Engineer Josh Harvill asked the county to pass a resolution to replace the roof and columns at the Chambers County Engineering Office. He said the roof and columns were installed in about 1993, and there have been leaks in the past.

The commission also approved a tax abatement for WestRock for $19,282,893 throughout 15 years of its facility. Chambers County Attorney Skip McCoy said the increased structure would provide for potentially 75 more employees.