Tag: Jefferson County Commission

Jefferson Commission Cuts Time It Takes to Help Cities with Storm Debris

Solomon Crenshaw Jr.,

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.

Two Economic Development Agencies Set to Get $100,000 Apiece From JeffCo

Solomon Crenshaw Jr.,

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.

Commission OKs Incentive for World Police and Fire Games, Prez Says Don’t Let World Games Problems Deter Investment

Solomon Crenshaw Jr.,

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.

For the First Time in 37 Years, Jefferson County Makes Major Change to Tax Maps

Barnett Wright, The Birmingham Times,

For the first time in 37 years, the Jefferson County Tax Assessor’s Office has completed a comprehensive countywide resurvey that has modernized parcel data that will impact more than 600,000 residents and departments such as the Board of Equalization.

The tax map is the foundation for some of the county’s most important functions, from emergency services to the U.S. Postal Service and every municipality in the county. Read more.

Commissioner Tyson Calls Path to Bill on Filling Vacancies “Sneaky”

Solomon Crenshaw Jr.,

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.

JeffCo Commission to Consider Selling Property for BJCC Use

Solomon Crenshaw Jr.,

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.

How Jefferson County Pulled Off a Billion-Dollar Refinancing to Help Stabilize Sewer Rates and Regain Trust

Solomon Crenshaw Jr., Birmingham Times,

Jimmie Stephens remembers he wasn’t proud of Jefferson County when he took office as a county commissioner in 2010.

“I was embarrassed and ashamed of what Jefferson County had become and what its reputation was, in the state and in the nation,” recalled Stephens, now the president of the commission.

Jefferson County had become by most accounts one of the worst financially managed governments in the nation laying off more than 1,000 of its employees and filing the then-largest municipal bankruptcy in November 2011.

But Stephens, his fellow commissioners, county manager and department heads no longer feel that sense of shame and embarrassment, they say.

Last month, Jefferson County got positive reviews from investors and financial publications that would have been unimaginable more than 10 years ago. Read more.

  Education

  About News

  • Did a reporter really ask that question?

    It’s about five hours after a cargo ship hit the Key Bridge in Baltimore, collapsing it and sending six construction workers on the bridge into the water. The city’s mayor is holding a press conference when a reporter asks him: “How long is it going to take to rebuild the bridge?”

    Calmly and immediately, the mayor responds: “We shouldn’t even be having that discussion right now. The discussion right now should be about the people, the souls, the lives that we’re trying to save. There will be a time to discuss about a bridge and how we get our bridge back up but right now there are people in the water that we have to get out.”

    On social media, the mayor got mostly applause. The reporter got mostly ripped apart. One X poster wrote: “Shoutout to our mayor Brandon Scott for focusing on the people and showcasing empathy, because the nerve of that reporter to ask about the bridge repair. Like, sir read the (expletive) room.”

    I understand why many people saw the reporter’s question as disrespectful to the victims. But I don’t have a problem with it. How about you? Read more.

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  Birmingham Southern College

  • Neighbors Worry About Future of BSC Land as Officials Discuss Redevelopment Options

    The mood was somber in the auditorium at A.H. Parker High School Monday night as neighbors of Birmingham-Southern College expressed their concern about the announced closing of the liberal arts college as of May 21.

    State Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, hosted a town hall to field questions about the school. Of particular concern was what will happen to the 192-acre campus. More than one compared BSC to the old Carraway Hospital property, which deteriorated for years north of downtown. Read more.