Jefferson County Commission

Civil Rights District Groups Get Nearly $2.7M in Support From JeffCo Commission

The Jefferson County Commission today approved $2,691,642 in federal ARPA funding to organizations in the Civil Rights District to improve civil rights tourism. The $1.9 trillion economic stimulus bill was enacted to speed the country's recovery from the economic and health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Jefferson County determined that tourism had been affected by the pandemic. After their applications were vetted by consulting firm Witt O’Brien, 16th Street Baptist Church, Urban Impact Inc., Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and historic Bethel Baptist Church in Collegeville were allotted funds for unique projects. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Jefferson County About Halfway Through With Houses Listed for Demolition

Docena is next up in Jefferson County’s bid to remove dilapidated houses. At its committee meeting Tuesday, the Jefferson County Commission moved to the agenda of its Thursday meeting a resolution declaring 29 structures in the unincorporated community off Minor Parkway public nuisances and targeting those structures for demolition. Those structures are part of Batch 3 of the county’s demolition program. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Knight Backs Plan to Sock Away County Money for a Rainy Day

Jefferson County Commission Finance Chairman Joe Knight repeated Tuesday his plan to continue on a conservative path that includes squireling away money in the county’s reserve accounts. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

JeffCo Commission Agrees to Support Magic City Classic for 1 Year, Will Consider Longer Contract Later

Lashunda Scales was moved to tears Thursday as she lobbied to get a 3-year deal for Jefferson County to support the Magic City Classic. But Scales’ tears didn’t move her fellow Jefferson County commissioners to go beyond the 1-year, $500,000 commitment that was on their meeting agenda. The commission approved the professional services agreement with the Alabama Sports Council on a 4-1 vote with Scales voting no. Sheila Tyson hesitated before voting with commissioners Jimmie Stephens, Joe Knight and Steve Ammons. The money comes from the county’s economic development fund, although Stephens, the commission president, questioned whether that was the appropriate source. Read more. Earlier this week Commission Considering Funding to Keep Magic City Classic in Birmingham

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

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.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Birmingham Schools Get More Than $600K From Scales’ County Account

Eleven Birmingham schools were to be presented with checks totaling more than $600,000 donated through Jefferson County Commissioner Lashunda Scales’ county discretionary funds. “I have been a Partner In Education with Birmingham City Schools since 2004, which is longer than the time I’ve served in an elected position,” Scales said in a statement from the

by BirminghamWatch

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.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

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.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

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.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

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.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.