Jefferson County Commission

JeffCo Commission to Consider Selling Property for BJCC Use

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

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.

‘Don’t let a pandemic go to waste:’ Y Leader Says COVID Shined a Spotlight on Community Needs

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.

JeffCo Commission OKs $1.87M for Y With Comprehensive Community Services

The Jefferson County Commission today provided $1.87 million to fill in the gap in the YMCA’s revitalization project for its Roebuck Community facility. Inflation created the nearly $2 million shortfall in the plan to build a new, comprehensive center, to include mental health services, veteran crisis intervention services and services to address inequities in health care, early learning and housing, among others. Read more.

JeffCo to Consider Funding for Roebuck Y With Comprehensive Community Services

Jefferson County Commissioners on Tuesday decided to send a resolution to Thursday’s agenda that would provide ARPA funds to fill in the gap in the YMCA’s revitalization project for its Roebuck Community facility. Inflation left the Y with a $1.87 million shortfall in its efforts to build a comprehensive center to include mental health services, veteran crisis intervention services and services to address inequities in health care, early learning and housing, among others. Read more.

Commissioners Endorse Amendment 1, Say It’s Needed to Address Local Issues

The Jefferson County Commission on Thursday passed a resolution endorsing Amendment 1 on the March 5 ballot, but not before two commissioners gained greater understanding of the measure. Joe Knight explained during Tuesday’s committee meeting that the amendment would make it easier for legislators to pass local legislation earlier in the session. It would allow legislators to take up bills that are specific to one county before it takes up the state’s budgets. Normally, the legislators must have 3/5 of a quorum vote to OK a budget isolation resolution, which allows them to take on other bills before the budgets. It often is late in the session before the budgets are passed. Read more.

Earlier This Week: JeffCo Commission Considers Backing Amendment to Make Passing Local Laws Easier

County Works With Cities for Quicker Emergency Response Times in Unincorporated Areas

Jimmie Stephens said the decline in complaints about lengthy emergency response times in Jefferson County is no accident. The president of the Jefferson County Commission said it is because the county has established agreements to partner with municipal fire and rescue departments throughout the county to provide service beyond the limits of their town or city. Read more.

JeffCo Commission Considers Backing Amendment to Make Passing Local Laws Easier

The Jefferson County Commission on Thursday will be considering its support for an amendment on the March 5 ballot that would make it easier for legislators to pass local legislation earlier in the session. The resolution supporting the adoption of Amendment 1 was discussed in the commission’s committee meeting Tuesday. District 4 Commissioner Joe Knight, president of the Association of County Commissions of Alabama, explained following the meeting that the amendment simplifies matters that are specific to individual counties. “The commission is saying we’re in support of voting for Amendment 1, which is an amendment that will take off the BIR (budget isolation resolution) requirement hurdle before you can get to your local legislation if the budgets haven't passed,” Knight said. “And they're never passed until late.” Read more.

JeffCo Finance Officer Awarded for Excellence

Angela Dixon, Jefferson County’s chief finance officer, was praised Tuesday during the Jefferson County Commission’s committee meeting for having received a certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association.

JeffCo Has a Great Day at the Market Refinancing Its Sewer Debt

Jefferson County has completed its refinance of $2.24 billion in sewer revenue warrants for a gross savings of $1.17 billion, which reduces the county’s payments on the overall sewer debt. Additionally, the refunding was accomplished without extending the maturity of the sewer debt. The refinance includes a provision for a customer assistance program and stabilizes rate increases. Read more.