Category: Jefferson County Commission
Commission Considering Funding to Keep Magic City Classic in Birmingham
The Jefferson County Commission today sent a resolution to the agenda of Thursday’s meeting to pay $500,000 to the Alabama Sports Council in support of the Magic City Classic.
The resolution followed a vigorous discussion among commission members about the level of support the county will provide to the annual gridiron meeting between Alabama State and Alabama A&M universities.
Commissioner Lashunda Scales initially presented a resolution for the county to pay the ASC $750,000 for each of the next three years to help keep the game at Birmingham’s Legion Field, where the past 80 Classics have been played. Read more.
JeffCo Approves $5 Million Toward Construction of Amphitheater
The Jefferson County Commission today approved the next step in making a 9,000-seat, $50 million amphitheater part of The Star Uptown development on the campus of the former Carraway Hospital.
A $5 million contribution from the county’s economic development fund goes toward building the event venue. The county also approved a guarantee to cover any shortfall on the project up to $10 million.
The matter was approved on a 3-1-1 vote with Sheila Tyson voting no and Lashunda Scales abstaining.
The panel vote came after citizens – mostly residents of the area where the venue will be built – voiced their concern about the future of their community. Read more.
Commission Sets Hearing on Funding for Downtown Amphitheater
Birmingham is one step closer to having an amphitheater in The Star Uptown development after commissioners placed a public hearing on the matter on the agenda of Thursday’s Jefferson County Commission meeting.
Commission President Jimmie Stephens presented the resolution at the commission’s committee meeting Tuesday. It calls for a hearing concerning the county pledging $5 million on the project and making $10 million of its credit available if there is a shortfall in revenue to pay for the project.
“This is the $5 million pledge that everyone has done up to now,” Stephens said. “The City of Birmingham, the BJCC, the (Greater Birmingham Convention and) Visitors Bureau have all added to it. And Live Nation.” Read more.
Birmingham Schools Get More Than $600K From Scales’ County Account
JeffCo Funding for BSC Would Be ‘Very Difficult,’ Commission President Says
Jimmie Stephens said Tuesday that it is very difficult to give public dollars to a private institution.
The Jefferson County Commission president was asked by media after Tuesday’s committee meeting whether there was any update on Jefferson County possibly allotting funds to help Birmingham-Southern College, the private liberal arts college in Birmingham’s Bush Hills Neighborhood.
“Our position hasn’t changed,” he said. “The county has not considered that and I don’t know that they have any plans to.
“I can say at this time, based on our past pattern and practices, that it is very difficult to give public dollars to a private institution,” Stephens said. “If that were to happen, it would be something that we’ve never done before.” Read more.
Almost Ripe: Major Projects May Come to Fruition This Year, County Manager Says
Joe Knight had kind words for County Manager Cal Markert, his staff and county department heads as the Jefferson County Commission’s committee meeting neared its end today.
“All these people have put in the hard work on this,” Knight said. “I think you’ve got a good vision. I think you’re trying to pursue that vision. I know it’s a hard job. This isn’t easy stuff to do. It’s meticulous and it’s time consuming.”
Knight’s acknowledgement came after Markert listed several long-awaited projects that could this year come to fruition, including a new animal care facility, youth detention facility and several road projects. Read more.
County Sheriff in Talks Over Regional Jail, Says “It’s a Process”
Mark Pettway let the Jefferson County Commission know Tuesday that you can’t always believe what you hear.
The sheriff came to the commission committee meeting to ease concerns that a deal had been struck for the county jail to house inmates who are currently at the Birmingham Jail.
“There is nothing right now other than some talks that’s going on,” Pettway said. “If you hear something, you can check with me to make sure it’s happening. Right now, there’s nothing in writing. Nothing has gone forward.”
The sheriff said officials from the city of Birmingham have talked with him about the possibility of establishing a regional jail that could accommodate prisoners from Birmingham and surrounding areas. Pettway said he has also talked with attorneys for the city.
“We’re just talking some things out,” he said. “We need to have a chance to talk with the (county’s) legal department. We’ll find out some things that may not work. We’ll find some things that may work. It’s a process. Read more.
BWWB Collection Issues Raised During JeffCo Commission Discussion on Sewer Billing
A proposed extension of Jefferson County’s sewer billing relationship with Birmingham Water Works broached a discussion about why customer costs are rising.
County Attorney Theo Lawson told the Jefferson County Commission during Tuesday’s committee meeting that he has been negotiating with the utility company over BWW billing customers both for water and Jefferson County sewer service. Lawson said the current contract expires in December and must be extended six months while those discussions continue.
“We need to maintain the status quo,” Lawson said, “so that we do have collections in place until we can get this squared away.”
Commissioner Sheila Tyson said the dual billing relation has allowed some with BWW to blame Jefferson County for higher customer bills. “The collection method they have isn’t good because if it was, they wouldn’t be overcharging these people,” she said. Read more.
Scales Loses Two Titles as JeffCo Commission Reorganizes
The organizational meeting that followed the swearing in ceremonies for the Jefferson County Commission didn’t include a seating chart.
But Lashunda Scales didn’t need one as she swapped seats with Joe Knight after the commission established its leadership, with Knight succeeding Scales as president pro tempore.
That was one of two positions that Scales no longer has after commissioners did away with subordinate co-chairs of their committees. Scales had been co-chair of the economic development committee chaired by Steve Ammons, who said the change was done to provide greater efficiency.
“It’s just easier to have one commissioner,” he said. “We’re all on the same committee so there’s no need for a co-chair. We’re delivering information to all the commissioners. Since each commissioner is on every committee, then you just have the chair.”
“I’m at peace today because I recognize that a position or title don’t make you who you are,” Scales said in her closing comments. “You empower the position. The position doesn’t empower you.” Read more.
JeffCo Commissioners Discuss How to Fix Slow Emergency Response Times
Steve Ammons gave a 30-minute report during today’s Jefferson County Commission committee meeting, telling his fellow commissioners what he learned from countless meetings to address an ambulance crisis in the county.
“The problem is real,” one commissioner said.
“So, what’s the solution?” asked another.
As Rome wasn’t built in a day, Ammons said it will take time and continued effort to solve a problem that has been years in the making. He laid out short term, mid-term and long-term solutions to a situation that can leave county residents waiting hours for an ambulance. Read more.
