Unsung Hero
In 2020, Walker County Commission Administrator Robbie Dickerson was a quiet force that helped the county navigate a pandemic.
Words by Terrell Manasco | Images by Ryan McGill
When Robbie Dickerson eventually retires, her co-workers may decide to gift her with a gold shovel. That’s because the first thing she did as Walker County Commission Administrator was start digging. “I was very analytical and liked to dig into things,” Robbie says. “I started looking for any way to save money.”
Robbie has served as administrator since 2018. If the chairman, county commissioners, and office staff are the spokes, she is the hub who holds it all together.
A graduate of Walker High School, and Freed-Hardeman University in Henderson, Tennessee, Robbie has an extensive background in both accounting and operations management with Merrill Lynch in Birmingham and Paine Webber in Atlanta. She later worked in merchandising and marketing for various companies in the Southeast.
Robbie returned to Walker County in 2013 when her mother passed away. While working at the Walker County Board of Registrars, she was offered a part-time position at the Commission office. When administrator Cheryl Ganey left in 2018, Robbie was chosen as her successor.
Thrilled at the opportunity to use her accounting and management experience, Robbie hit the ground running. Back then, the Commission’s computer system still used paper, which required extra storage space. It was moved to a cloud-based scanning/storage system requiring less paper, decreasing the storage space being used.
Cyber security quickly became a top priority as well. Under the guidance of IT specialist Tim Peek, the county’s computer system was secured. Peek continues to monitor any possible threats and ways to enhance the security.
Robbie continued to dig. Soon, she found more cost-cutting measures to save the county money.
“(Then) Chairman (Jerry) Bishop and I looked at why we were paying so much for coverage on our vehicles,” she says. “We met with our vendor and got it from a $50,000 deductible to a $2,500 deductible. We looked at overtime issues and revenue streams. We looked at the value of properties here. They hadn't changed in years, so some of them were under-insured. We adjusted that so the county was protected.”
As administrator, Robbie tracks expenditures and revenue, and ensures procedures are followed correctly. She works directly with Chairman Steve Miller regarding the direction the Commission needs to go, but ultimately, the commissioners have the final say.
“By law, they are the governing body,” Robbie says. “Elected officials are responsible to implement their approved budgets. Anything beyond that budget is brought to the commission during a meeting for a vote.”
During Chairman Bishop’s term, the Commission addressed security concerns at the Walker County Courthouse.Bishop met with District 5 State Senator Greg Reed, who secured a $230,000 grant. The funds were used to mount security cameras inside the courthouse and install a wheelchair lift at the southwest corner, but the job isn’t finished yet. “We are waiting on ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) funding for automatic doors at the front of the courthouse,” Robbie explains. “We will work with the City of Jasper to reroute parking so people can pull up and get up the ramp easily.
The Commission recently approved using a $500,000 ADECA (Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs) grant, which will provide the coroner with an office, a morgue, and new vehicles. They’ve also approved the purchase of the former Alabama Power building downtown, which will house the district attorney’s offices and serve as a justice center.
And there are always roads to repair. “We're looking at next year's budget,” Robbie says. “There's more money being put on roads right now than have been in years.”
Local governments have safety protocols in place in the event of certain situations and natural disasters. But what happens when you’re faced with a COVID pandemic? How do you plan for the unplannable?
“I've lived on the East Coast, and I’ve worked through hurricanes, tropical storms, floods, fires, and all kinds of natural disasters, and…there’s nothing like last year,” Robbie says. “There was no precedent to this. We have our checklist; if you know a hurricane is coming, you board up and get out. With COVID—uh-uh. It was the unknown. Trying to keep the public safe...it didn't help with the rules changing every few days.”
In addition to purchasing PPE (personal protective equipment) items as they became available, the Commission implemented a permanent fogging program to sanitize office and public areas.
All departments were instrumental in preparing for reopening and the protection of staff and public. Each made all arrangements with local vendors to install partitions.
Despite events like these, the Commission has made progress in their efforts to make Walker County a better place to live. “We've come a long way in the four years I've been with the County,” Robbie says. “The Civil Service has worked well with us to do what's best for the county. I can tell a huge difference in the level of work being done throughout the county.”
The job has also given Robbie a deeper appreciation for the work her predecessors have accomplished. “I have a lot of respect for everyone who has come through these doors and those who dug in and helped save money,” she says.
Looking to the future, Dickerson understands that the day-to-day challenges might be different, but they don’t stop.
“Together we work to improve Walker County,” she says. 78
The Walker County Commission
Steve Miller- Chairman
Steve Miller has served as Commission Chairman since November 2020. Miller says he has already seen several goals achieved since that time. “We have made many improvements in the Solid Waste Department. Two new trucks been purchased,” he says. “The commission has added $1.6 million to road improvement. Each district received $400,000 for this project. I have enjoyed my work with the Commission. The County employees are hard workers and, like the commission members, want to see Walker County grow. I look forward to the coming months and seeing more improvement and growth.”
Keith Davis- District One
Keith Davis is serving his third term as commissioner of District 1, which includes parts of Jasper, Curry, Manchester, Thach, and Macedonia. He says a commissioner’s job involves more than fixing potholes. “Most people think of a county commissioner as the guy who helps take care of the roads, and that is a very important role I’ve filled,” says Davis. “But I have also made sound financial management and economic development my focus these last 9 years. I will continue that focus and continue working to improve the quality of life for the folks of Walker County.”
Jeff Burrough- District Two
Jeff Burrough is in his second term as District 2 Commissioner. Burroughs says holding public office is an honor. “The relationships and achievements are very rewarding, and I hope to assist in improving our communities,” he says. “Providing good services in a cost-effective manner through leadership and integrity has always been my goal. I hope to continue aggressively looking for ways to improve our infrastructure and economic growth in Walker County.”
Jim Borden- District Three
District 3 Commissioner Jim Borden began his first term in 2020. Borden says he’s pleased with the progress he’s seen. “I enjoy working with the chairman and the other commissioners as we partner together for the citizens of Walker County,” he says. “I have worked daily with the District 3 crew and have seen the improvements that have been made to various roads. They are hardworking and dedicated employees. The new Durapatch machine has made a significant difference in long term repairs. There are more roads that need attention and with time and resources, we will continue to make progress throughout the district.”
Steven Aderholt- District 4
Steven Aderholt has been District 4 Commissioner since 2012. Like his peers, he has much optimism for the county’s future. “Since day one, I've been driven by a single principle: to ‘do the right thing’ each day for the people God has allowed me to serve in public office,” Aderholt says. “I take Romans 13 seriously and truly love using our county's resources to do the best job possible for Walker County citizens. I'm thankful for the progress we've made, and I remain hopeful that our county's future will be even brighter than our past."