Jefferson County Commission

Ouch! Pain at the Garbage Bin Comes to Residents of Unincorporated Jefferson County

Pain at the pump will be felt at the garbage bin for residents of unincorporated Jefferson County. The Jefferson County Commission on Tuesday approved an emergency contract amendment with AmWaste, the franchise holder for residential garbage pickup in unincorporated parts of the county. The amendment allows the company to establish its rates based on fuel costs, which are based on the Alabama Department of Transportation Fuel Index, and the consumer price index. For instance, residential customers with regular trash pickup will see an increase of about $30 on their quarterly bills – $39 if they also have yard waste pickup. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

JeffCo Puts Beavers at Top of Most Wanted List on Accusations of Abetting Flood Waters

Beavers do what beavers do, so Jefferson County has to do what it has to do. During its committee meeting today, the Jefferson County Commission moved to its agenda a resolution to award a contract to Nuisance Wildlife Control for the removal of beavers from designated zones in the county as needed and directed by the county sheriff. “It's been an ongoing issue,” said Heather Carter, director of the county’s roads and transportation department. “Obviously, we have lots of areas of habitat and the little critters are industrious. Especially in the areas where we have more floodplain, they tend to get in there and dam things up.” Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

New Face Moves Into Jefferson County Deputy County Manager’s Office

County Manager Cal Markert has moved into the office of his former boss. Now he has someone to move in next door, in the office where he worked as deputy county manager. Jefferson County has hired Dave Strahl to fill Markert’s former post. Strahl comes from Illinois, where he served as interim village manager of Schiller Park. He has more than 30 years of experience working with municipal governments of all sizes. Markert said being short-handed has made things pretty difficult because there are vacancies in some director positions, including human resources. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

JeffCo Hears About Juvenile Justice Efforts

The Jefferson County Commission saw an extensive presentation Tuesday morning on the entities involved with youth detention and the juvenile justice system. After hearing about rehabilitation, recidivism and the humanity of the young people in the system, commissioners learned that they’ll have to tune in next time to find out what’s being sought monetarily. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

JeffCo Commission OKs Store Near New Hospital in McCalla; President Says It’s a Bad Call

Jefferson County Commission President Jimmie Stephens said that someday a future panel of commissioners will say an action taken by the commission Thursday was shortsighted. Stephens cast the one nay vote to a request to rezone property in McCalla from agricultural to commercial to accommodate a convenience store with a gas station and deli. The property, at 4476 Bell Hill Road, next to the UAB West Hospital that’s currently under construction. The current land use plan for that area is rural. Stephens said the immediate future should have been weighed more heavily. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

As More Dilapidated Structures Are Demolished, Jefferson Commissioners Discuss Ways to Redevelop the Properties

During its committee meeting Tuesday, the Jefferson County Commission applauded the demolition of public nuisance properties but expressed concern for blight that could follow. Mike Thomas, building inspection services manager with the county’s Department of Developmental Services, presented a resolution for about 30 nuisance properties to be torn down. County Manager Cal Markert commended Thomas, who has 17 demolitions under bid already and another 30 in line. “That'll be 77 within 24 months,” Markert said, “so I’m superexcited.” Said Thomas: “We've always been reactive, looking at when we have complaints. Now we've had the opportunity to go proactive and try to clean up some communities and make things better for the people who live there. “What we want to do is make an impact. We don't want to do one house here and one house there.” Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

County Crews Will Clean Up Storm Debris in Smith Camp (Even if it’s Quite a Commute)

Jimmie Stephens said you would be wise to pack a lunch if you’re driving to Smith Camp on the Warrior River. And maybe take dinner. “It's past Oak Grove,” the Jefferson County Commission president said with a chuckle. “You pass Oak Grove, go down Alliance (Road) and it's on the left down there. “I call it the far reaches of Jefferson County,” Stephens continued. “It's our responsibility as a county commission to take care of all of our citizens. We intend to do that whether you live in Southside or whether you live in Smith Camp on the Warrior River. We're gonna do our best to service their needs.” At the moment, the service Smith Camp needs is clean up of debris from a recent destructive storm. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Yours, Mine or Ours? Jeffco Commission Discusses Who Should Get Credit for Distributing Relief Money for Food

The Jefferson County Commission heard Tuesday from entities seeking funds for feeding people adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. But the discussion spilled over to who was getting credit for the federal funds being sought. Commission President Jimmie Stephens closed the meeting by saying it appears that American Rescue Plan Act funds were being distributed by individual elected officials. “If we will depoliticize what we do, I think that this commission can move forward as a better unified body,” he said. “It's the entire commission who votes through majority, through resolution, as actually the donor of those funds. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

JeffCo Commission Again Stalls Food Assistance Funding for Questions

Sheila Tyson took another swing Thursday at getting federal funding to three organizations with sights set on feeding people. Once again, her swing came up empty as her fellow Jefferson County commissioners couldn’t agree unanimously to bring the matter up as new business during their morning meeting. Tyson admitted after the meeting that she held little hope that the matter would come up for discussion and possibly a vote. “No, I did not,” she said, recounting that she talked to her fellow commissioners before the meeting. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Food Program Funds Delayed by JeffCo Commission Questions

Jefferson County Commissioners on Tuesday put the brakes on doling out federal money to COVID-prompted food programs. The agenda for the commission’s committee meeting had three entities that were being considered for awards of American Rescue Plan Act funds. Some commissioners said they wanted more information on how and where each organization is distributing food and their policies for doing so. Sheila Tyson cast the lone “no” vote. “So let me get a full understanding,” Tyson said. “We're getting ready to pull these off of the agenda, these programs that will be feeding hungry senior citizens, for our lack of understanding?” Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.