The Shelby County approved a grant application for the county’s Drug Task Force Monday.

The grant is provided by the Alabama Department of Environmental and Community Affairs through the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968.

According to the resolution, the financial support is used &uot;to combat rising crime, aid in crime prevention, investigation and detection.&uot;

The county will be responsible for some $187,799 of the $375,598 grant.

In other business, the county awarded three bids.

Tuscaloosa Fire Equipment Inc. was the low bidder for 5500-6000 watt generators at $995. Others bidding were Harless Fire Equipment at $1,033 and Tupelo Fire at $1,881. The equipment is being purchased with 2005 Homeland Security funds.

Utility Trailer Sales of Alabama LLC was the low bidder for a used Heil tank trailer for $28,000. American Refueler Equipment was the other bidder at $30,860.

County engineer Randy Cole said the trailer was purchased for fuel storage during &uot;the gas crisis,&uot; he said.

National Waterworks was the low bidder on water fittings and accessories at some $74,983 for group 1, $16,831 for group 2, $17,788 for group 3 and $64,219 for group 4. Consolidated Pipe and Supply was the other bidder.

Ray Hamilton reported that bids would be opened today, Sept. 14, for the new water plant.

Cole reported that three county road crews (16 employees) had volunteered to travel to either Mississippi or Louisiana to aid in cleanup following Hurricane Katrina.

&uot;They’re trying to decide where to send us now,&uot; Cole said indicating the 16 men and several pieces of heavy equipment would leave as soon as they’re assigned and join a crew from Butler County to work together in one of the &uot;hardest hit areas.&uot;