LaFAYETTE — The Chambers County Commission has unanimously approved a resolution to seek $550,000 in grant funding that would provide water for approximately 50 rural residents in northern Chambers County near the Double Head community, not far from the Randolph County line.

The action was taken in Monday’s meeting of the county commission.

The resolution was sought by Commissioner Joe Blanks, who represents the area. If approved, $350,000 or the grant would be in the form or a Community Development Block Grant and $200,000 in an Appalachian Regional Commission grant. The county would have to have a 20 percent match for the CDBG portion.

For it to be approved, the recipients would have to be of low to moderate income. Blanks said that would be the case.

While no one opposed the action, some commissioners cited the need for people to hook onto the water line.

“If we are spending this kind of money, people need to sign up for it,” Commissioner Debbie Wood said.

Wood added that she’d like to see the commission approve a resolution that would help with the tap-on fee for those who signed up at the outset.

“They need to understand it’s a one-time thing. They can’t expect to put it off and sign up later,” she said.

Robert Chambers of the Chambers County Drug Task Force announced a take-back program that will be taking place on the Courthouse grounds on Saturday, April 28. This will be an opportunity for county residents to turn in unused of expired medication for safe disposal.

The Drug Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration and East Alabama Mental Health are partnering in this effort. There will be a drug disposal box on site where people can leave their unneeded medications.

“Don’t let someone you love be one of the thousands of people who are dying from overdosing on prescription drugs,” Chambers said.

Some roads near the county’s southeast corner will be getting some much needed attention this year thanks to some resolutions passed on Monday.

County Road 279, better known as the Ben Brown Road, will be widened, resurfaced and striped from Highway 29 to the Lee County line. This will be done with local funds and will cost an estimated $432,000. County Road 500 will be resurfaced and striped from the Ben Brown Road for a little more than a mile. This will also be done with l0cal funds and is expected to cost a little over $140,000.

In another project on the southeast side of the county, CR 196 will be paved and striped for a little more than a half mile in a westerly direction from CR 195. This will cost around $78,000 in local funds.

On the county’s northeast end, CR 446 will be paved and striped for a little more than a half mile at a cost of $67,000.

In other action, the commission approved a resolution in support of Macon County’s bid to land a contract to build the Leonardo-DRS trainer aircraft in Tuskegee. The U.S. Department of Defense will be locating a $300 million plant with 750 jobs somewhere in the U.S. and Tuskegee is a possible site. Should Tuskegee be chosen for the site, it will be located at historic Moton Field, a training area for the famed Tuskegee Airmen.

Also approved was a resolution recognizing the relationship between the county and the Chambers County Development Authority with the “Strength Woven In” branding campaign. The logo is already appearing on county letterheads and on county vehicles. The cities of LaFayette and Valley have banners on display with the logo, and Lanett is expected to follow soon.