District Attorney Danny Carr told the Jefferson County Commission on Thursday that he is adjusting the salaries of his deputy district attorneys to help hold onto his veteran crew of prosecutors. “It’s hard to keep a good lawyer who sees what we see every day, who takes home what we take home every day and does what we have to do under the most strenuous circumstances, in all honesty, making $50,000-something a year,” Carr said. Read more.
The Jefferson County Commission on Thursday voted to reduce the time it may take for a municipality to be approved to receive assistance in debris removal in a disaster. It also approved funding for two organizations to help small businesses and delayed voting on a grant request for Midfield’s Senior Center. Read more.
The Jefferson County Commission on Thursday is set to provide $200,000 to a pair of organizations to bolster small businesses in the county. Central Alabama Redevelopment Alliance and Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama each is in line for $100,000 to aid with innovation, economic development and building a strong workforce to support the growth and development of Jefferson County. Read more.
Jefferson County can’t let the issues that followed The World Games keep the county from being involved with other economy-impacting events, Jefferson County Commission President Jimmie Stephens said Thursday. During the County Commission’s meeting, commissioners supported a piece of legislation that exempted the World Police and Fire Games, which are slated for Birmingham in 2025, from taxes. Read more.
County Manager Cal Markert could have a new link in his chain of command if the Jefferson County Commission passes a resolution on Thursday’s meeting agenda creating a separate Department of Fleet Management. Well, it’s not exactly new. Read more.
Sheila Tyson said Thursday that lobbyists for Jefferson County did not alert her and fellow commissioners about legislation she opposes. Tyson said commissioners were told about House Bill 191 on Tuesday, a day before the matter was considered by a legislative committee. That bill — introduced by Rep. Jim Carns, Vestavia Hills — would allow the governor to appoint a replacement when there is an off-cycle opening on the commission. Read more.
Jefferson County Commissioners on Thursday approved the sale of the old Salvation Army Building on Abraham Woods Jr. Boulevard to the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Authority. Read more.
Sheriff Mark Pettway made an early appeal to the Jefferson County Commission to consider allotting more money to his department to help keep deputies from leaving for other agencies in the area. Read more.
The Jefferson County Commission is expected to jettison the old Salvation Army Building on Abraham Woods Jr. Boulevard, selling it to the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Authority, during its meeting Thursday. “The county was looking to sell the surplus property,” BJCC Executive Director and CEO Tad Snider said in an interview. “Given its proximity to the BJCC and City Walk, we chose to purchase and will redevelop or repurpose for additional parking.” The sales price is $810,000. Read more.
Despite speaking on Super Bowl Sunday, Dan Pile chose not to say the Northeast YMCA will be a “Super Y” after a major redevelopment on that Roebuck campus. His hope, Pile said, is that the redevelopment will be the new norm, the standard for all YMCAs. “Actually, what I believe will happen is this will become a prototype of future YMCAs,” said Pile, the president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Birmingham. “We’re not the only provider but we’ve convened in bringing in other providers. I really believe this represents the future of the YMCA, especially here in Birmingham.” Read more.
