Houston County, Ala. – The Houston County Sheriff’s Department is hoping for a financial lifeline, and an unexpected source may be the key to securing the funds they need. At the latest Houston County Commission meeting, members were introduced to a potential solution from former Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill, who now serves as the Director of Public Policy and Strategic Markets at Waggoner Engineering, a civil engineering firm.
Merrill, who has a history of public service, presented an offer to assist the sheriff’s department by working to secure federal funding from Congress. His company, Waggoner Engineering, aims to help communities across the state, and Houston County is now among the places they hope to support.
“Our goal is to transform communities, and that’s one of the things we’re trying to do to be helpful in Houston County,” said Merrill during the meeting.
The Houston County Commission has long recognized the financial struggles facing the sheriff’s department. Despite setting aside nearly half of its $46 million general fund for law enforcement, many critical needs, such as new vehicles and a modern dispatch system, remain unmet.
“We do what we can, but our resources only go so far. The sheriff needs much more than what we can provide him,” said Commission Chairman Brandon Shoupe.
The county’s most recent law enforcement projects come with a hefty price tag of approximately $2 million. These projects are deemed essential to improving the department’s ability to protect and serve the community, but securing the necessary funds has proven difficult.
Waggoner Engineering’s offer is seen as a potential game changer. Merrill and his team are seeking to act as a conduit between the county and Congress, encouraging lawmakers to allocate federal funds to the Houston County Sheriff’s Department. The goal is to assist the commission in providing better law enforcement resources for the county, which has long struggled to meet the growing needs of its sheriff’s office.
“We’re hoping to be the bridge to bring back much-needed resources to this community,” Merrill added.
The county commission is hopeful that Merrill’s connections and experience can help bring about the federal support that the sheriff’s department so desperately requires. The commission’s request, which would involve a significant financial commitment from Congress, is expected to be a challenging ask. However, they are optimistic that having someone with Merrill’s influence on their side will make a difference.
“It would be a huge benefit to have someone with the right connections advocating for our needs,” said Shoupe. “We’re making a big ask, but with the right help, we believe we can get the resources the sheriff’s department needs.”
As discussions continue, the commission is closely watching the progress of this potential partnership. If successful, this collaboration could provide a much-needed boost to the sheriff’s department and help ensure that the county has the resources necessary to keep its citizens safe.
