Jefferson County Commission

Jefferson County Nears Deal for New Humane Society

Commissioner Joe Knight said Jefferson County is “getting close” to making a deal to provide a new home for the Greater Birmingham Humane Society. During their committee meeting Tuesday, commissioners discussed a memorandum of understanding with the Humane Society and U.S. Steel to buy two lots along Lakeshore Parkway at Sydney Drive. GBHS would purchase a third lot and build an animal hospital and adoption control facility at the site. Commissioners agreed to take up the issue during their formal meeting Thursday. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

New Garbage Service in Unincorporated Jefferson Has Rocky Start

Jefferson County Commission President Jimmie Stephens said ‘I told you so’ when it came to a new waste disposal company’s roll out of service to unincorporated Jefferson County. Since Amwaste took over April 1, customers have complained of missed pickups, undelivered garbage carts, errantly taken carts and confusion about contracting with the new company. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

JeffCo Commissioner Applauds Employees for Actions During COVID War

Jefferson County Commission President Jimmie Stephens closed today’s commission meeting with gratitude for county employees and staff who fought their way through the “wartime” environment of the pandemic. “It was a wartime atmosphere,” Stephens said. “We were at war with this virus. It actually changed our day-to-day lives and how we conducted business. I wanted to commend and thank our county commission and our county staff for being able to stay on top of this wartime environment and to be able to win as many battles as we have. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

JeffCo Commission Moves Toward Buying Land Next to Shady Grove Fire Station, Selling Old West End Health Center

The Shady Grove Fire Department will benefit from a “fire sale” transaction between the state of Alabama and Jefferson County. During their committee meeting today, commissioners moved a resolution to the agenda of Thursday’s commission meeting to buy property from the state that is adjacent to the fire department and plan to offer $100. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Jefferson County Spends $1.4 Million for New Sheriff’s Vehicles

The Jefferson County Commission Thursday sent an additional $1.4 million to the sheriff’s department to replace aging vehicles. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

JeffCo’s County Manager Plans Retirement After 10 Years Helping to Navigate Rough Waters

Tony Petelos, the only county manager Jefferson County has had, told county commissioners at their committee meeting today that he will soon retire. “After 34 years of public service in many different jobs throughout the years and 10 years here at the county, I'm going to announce my retirement this year,” he said from his seat at the end of the board table. “I don't have a date set, but I just want to give you a heads up that I do plan to retire this year. I've got a couple of projects I'm still working on and I want to get those done, but it's been a pleasure and an honor to work with you.” Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Jeffco Commission Gets Clean Bill of Health After State Review of Its Accounts

Jimmie Stephens ended Thursday’s meeting of the Jefferson County Commission by saying that the county had received a clean bill of health from the Alabama Examiners of Public Accounts. “They come in and check our books, our records, to make sure that everything is done in accordance with state law,” the commission president said. “No news is good news, and this is a no-news report that we have.” Had there been significant findings, Stephens said, the commission would have been duty bound to report that also. The report assessed the current commission and the one immediately before it. Each included Stephens and Commissioner Joe Knight. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Jefferson County Commission OK’s More Cleanup Help in Fultondale

Joe Knight didn’t want Fultondale tornado victims to miss out on help from whomever that aid might come. The District 4 Jefferson County Commissioner suggested that a resolution on today’s commission agenda be tweaked to broaden the scope of entities that could come to the north Jefferson County city to assist in cleanup. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Jefferson County Commission May Hire More Road Clean Up Help

Jefferson County commissioners Tuesday put in motion the hiring of temporary workers to address road cleanup. During their committee meeting, Commission President Jimmie Stephens offered a proposal to hire 12 laborers to pick up trash along county roads. That dozen will also aid, as needed, in clean up from the tornado that recently struck Fultondale and Center Point. The proposal, which will be on the agenda of Thursday’s commission meeting, will cover the remainder of the fiscal year. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

JeffCo Commission Picks Up Where Feds Left Off, Will Pay for COVID Time Off

Today, Jefferson County picked up where the federal government left off, covering the cost of employees taking off because they’ve been exposed to or contracted the novel coronavirus. Following its committee meeting today, commissioners reconvened their Jan. 7 commission meeting to retroactively extend what had been provided under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.