The Jefferson County Commission took an action Thursday that will assist a number of people with their rent and utility payments.

Commissioners approved a resolution sending as much as $500,000 of Emergency Rental Assistance Program funds to Bridge Ministries to provide that assistance.

The county learned that it had more money available than officials initially realized.

“We found out because of some admin money (that was) left over (that) if we don’t spend it, we’re gonna end up having to send it back to the Treasury,” said Frederick Hamilton, director of community services. “What we decided to do is contract with Bridge Ministries to spend that half a million dollars to help people that are already in the portal.”

Hamilton explained that persons applying for assistance must do so through a portal, which had closed when it appeared funds had been exhausted.

“That’s why we’re not opening it back up for everybody that may have that need to apply,” the director said. “We still have enough people in the portal that’s eligible that we can assist. That’ll be for rental and utility assistance, but they’re already in this portal.”

The portal may have had thousands of people who were in need.

“We couldn’t get to all of them because we didn’t think we had enough money,” Hamilton said. “Then we found out that we still have another half a million. Based on the priority eligibility, we’ll just go down the list until we spend a half a million.”

Commission Fills Vacancies on Mental Health Authority

In other business, the commission filled three vacancies on the 25-member board of the JBS Mental Health Authority, which covers Jefferson, Blount and St. Clair counties. The appointees are retired Probate Judge Sherri C. Friday; Kim Bullard, chief compliance officer of the Jefferson County Department of Health; and D. Wayne Rogers, executive assistant to Jefferson County Sheriff Mark Pettway.

Probate Judge Yashiba Glenn Blanchard said during the commission’s committee meeting Tuesday that the board is filled with individuals who have experience in probate court, especially in the area of mental illness.

“Judge Friday has a plethora of experience in mental commitment,” Blanchard said. “You’ve got Wayne Rogers, who’s a lawyer. He has various experience in all areas of law. And the other young lady (Bullard), she has a host of experience too.

“We need a board to get opinions from (that comprised of) experienced professionals that are … educated in that field,” the judge continued. “That’s what we use. So I’m elated about the board, and I’m welcoming everybody that’s coming in. It’s going to help me to do my job better.”