CENTRE — During a meeting on March 8, Probate Judge Melvyn Salter, who also serves as chairman of the Cherokee County Commission, surprised commissioners by rekindling his fight to have his job split in two.

Salter first proposed that county residents be given the chance to vote for the split at a meeting last month. But commissioners have not acted on the request, citing concerns about the lack of specifics in Salter's resolution.

Salter has said the combined job is too involved for one person to ensure that the county's interests are properly handled. Over 50 counties in Alabama already have separate probate judges and commission chairmen.

Commissioner Elbert St. Clair said he was surprised by Salter's decision to revisit the issue.

“I didn't know that was coming,” St. Clair told The Post.

At the end of last week's meeting Salter read aloud a three-page statement which touted several accomplishments he feels have benefitted Cherokee County since he moved here in 1976.

“Because of some recent events, I now feel that I have the responsibility of making a response to you, the Commission and the residents of Cherokee County,” Salter's statement began.

Salter then repeated his request for commissioners St. Clair, Wade Sprouse, Kimball Parker and Carlton Teague to seek a local law from the state Legislature that would allow a referendum on splitting the probate judge-chairman position.

Commissioners have expressed concerns — in many cases voiced to them by constituents — about salary and benefit requirements, term length, and other missing details involving the addition of another position to the county's payroll.

In his statement, Salter suggested that answers to the commissioners' concerns are readily available.

“Simple investigation of the Code of Alabama would have provided the answer to many of these questions,” Salter said. “Also, conversation with me would have been most helpful.”

Teague said some answers are indeed available on a state-run website. But he stressed that he is not yet comfortable with the resolution.

“I would not be doing my job as a commissioner if I did not know all of those answers before I voted on an issue,” Teague told The Post. “I do not have a problem with allowing citizens to vote, but I feel like we need more specifics.”

In the letter, Salter repeated his earlier stated belief that splitting the jobs is in the best interests of the people.

“The cost of lost services to this county over the years due to lack of building codes, building inspectors, license inspectors, etc. far exceed what it would have cost in splitting these two offices,” Salter said.

Salter also listed several ongoing problems facing the county, and offered solutions. He assigned himself the problem of sewage, and requested that Teague tackle roadside litter; St. Clair deal with noise and overgrowth; Sprouse look into removal of junk cars; and Parker help with enforcement of mandatory trash pickup.

“These things are the responsibility that we all have,” Salter's remarks concluded. “Personally, I am going to take these issues seriously and I am sure you will too.”

Parker said he, too, was surprised by Salter's oration.

“I wasn't expecting Judge Salter's comments,” Parker said. “I agree that we all want to do what is in the best interests of the county, from promoting tourism, to recruiting business, to cleaning up the lake.”

Parker said he has been trying to improve trash collection in the county, and will carry on that effort.

“I've already been working on that with (solid waste officer) Wayne Cochran,” Parker said. “And I will continue to work with Wayne, at the request of Judge Salter. But these things take time.”

Teague said he has been working on the litter problem, as well.

“Last week I signed a contract with a statewide company that will clean up trash along our roadsides,” Teague said. “They will be in the county for the next couple of weeks.”

Sprouse declined to comment.