Jefferson County Commission

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.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

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.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Jeffco Commission Discusses Proposed Downtown Amphitheater

A proposed $50 million amphitheater that could seat up to 9,000 people received a less-than-enthusiastic reception when it was presented during Tuesday’s committee meeting of the Jefferson County Commission.  Commission President Jimmie Stephens doled out copies of The Star Uptown Amphitheater Opportunity, a seven-page information booklet produced by Corporate Realty, to fellow commission members. The plan calls for an amphitheater that could seat from 8,500 to 9,000 and would be owned by the Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center Authority and managed by Live Nation.  The downtown entertainment venue would be located north of Protective Stadium and west of The Star at Uptown development on the old Carraway Hospital campus. It would replace the “aging” Oak Mountain Amphitheater, which is managed by Live Nation.  Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Tyson Pushes for Saturday Absentee Voting, Commissioners Demur

Sheila Tyson was determined to have her say. The Jefferson County commissioner whose resolution to open the courthouse for absentee Saturday voting declared that commissioners who voted against the matter going onto today’s agenda were wrong to not open the courthouse. Arguing for in-person absentee voting on two Saturdays in October, Tyson said the underlying problem is voter suppression. “Voter suppression is rampant here in the state of Alabama because that's the only reason I can see why these doors are not open,” she said. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Groups Lining Up for Extra Funding as Budget Year Closes, Commissioner Warns

Joe Knight alerted his fellow Jefferson County commissioners Thursday that some entities are lining up for any money left over from the county’s fiscal 2022 budget. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Garbage Point of Discussion for Jefferson County Commission

Discussion of garbage segued to garbage of a different sort during Tuesday’s committee meeting of the Jefferson County Commission. The agenda included a resolution to address garbage pickup at county facilities, including the courthouse. The resolution calls for EcoSouth Services of Birmingham to handle county facility garbage collection and disposal for three years for $785,400. County Manager Cal Markert said that cost is double what it had been. The aim, he said, is to keep coverage in place until proposals can be accepted from other vendors. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Scales Sets Town Hall on Public Safety for Monday Evening

A town hall on public safety will be held Monday at 6 p.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church on Huffman Road. Jefferson County Commissioner Lashunda Scales is sponsoring the meeting for her District 1 residents in response to the rise in shootings and murders. She said in a statement that many residents are

by BirminghamWatch

JeffCo Commission Passes Annual Budget of $962 Million

With no fanfare, the Jefferson County Commission passed the county’s 2023 fiscal budget at its meeting Thursday. The budget was one of 73 resolutions that passed without discussion as part of the commission’s consent agenda. The proposed budgetary appropriation for all funds is $962,149,935 with $672,306,998 in the operating budget and $289,842,937 in the capital

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

JeffCo Commission Approves Extra Money for TWG Over Tyson’s Objection About Lack of Information

Sheila Tyson was determined to take her stand, even if she stood alone. The Jefferson County Commission today approved allotting an additional $4 million to help offset the deficit incurred by organizers of The World Games. The matter passed on a 4-1 vote with Tyson casting the dissenting vote. The District 2 commissioner said there was too much information that had not been made available to the commission or citizens. “We don’t know who they hired, how much they paid. Nothing was brought up about how the money was spent,” Tyson said. “I just feel like the taxpayers were due this information, that the commission was due this information.” Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

JeffCo Commissioners to Debate Budget in Thursday’s Meeting

The Jefferson County Commission is set to consider the county’s 2023 fiscal year budget during its meeting Thursday. The proposed budgetary appropriation for all funds is $962,149,935, with $672,306,998 in the operating budget and $289,842,937 in the capital budget. The capital budget represents 30% of the total budget and the operating budget accounts for 70%. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.