NEWTON GROVE — Despite the absence of two commissioners, the Newton Grove Board of Commissioners were able to accomplish several major items during its meeting earlier this week.

Commissioner Pam Jackson was absent due to her mother’s death and Alan Herring was held up in another meeting and could not be present. However the town board received an update on the police chief and the insurance settlement for the early December accident, and approved the future purchase of new software for the town office.

Mayor Gerald Darden welcomed police chief Frankie Harrell back after his return on March 1 following an accident that occured during the first winter storm when another car ran into his police cruiser. Harrell reported that he was still receiving some physical therapy and was hoping to soon receive a “clean bill of health.”

The accident totaled the nearly new police cruiser that had been purchased by the town and the insurance company did not want to make a fair settlement with the town, something discussed by commissioners last mont.

Darden informed the board that at the recommendation of board attorney William Sutton, the town enlisted another attorney to pursue bringing action on the insurance company for a fair settlement as this was not his area of expertise. “The attorney we hired worked very hard and (we) were able to reach a fair settlement,” stated the mayor. “We have already ordered a new police car and we should come out about even in the end.”

The settlement included the insurance company paying for towing and storage and the time spent reaching the settlement.

Town clerk Sheila Barefoot discussed in the February meeting that there was a need to purchase the software for the general ledger for handling the town’s books.

After bringing the matter to the board last month it was decided that additional information and potential vendors for the software should be studies.

Commissioner Gary Herring, along with Barefoot, researched the costs and the various companies and programs available. “I am fairly satisfied that the company we have for the tax and water billing (Southern Software) has the most to offer for the lowest cost because we already are utilizing their software for the other programs,” stated Herring. Barefoot added that she was very satisfied with the technical support and update information that Southern Software had provided for the two programs already in use. The police chief agreed that his department was satisfied with the software company as his department uses the same company.

Because of budget planning, the board voted to accept the bid provided by Southern Software at the cost of $9,295 for the general ledger software to be installed for use starting July 1, 2011.

Barefoot said, “Now this amount can be figured for next year’s budget consideration as we begin working on the 2011-12 fiscal year budget next month.”

To contact Billy Todd, call 910-592-8137 ext. 117 or e-mail siobits@heartlandpublications.com.