Jefferson County Commission

Jefferson County Attacking Opioid Crisis With a Multi-Prong Strategy

Jan. 23, 2018 – Jefferson County Commission President Jimmie Stephens called opioids the biggest crisis facing Jefferson County and said it is “a pandemic that affects everyone’s lives.” Stephens’ comments came after officials from Cooper Green Mercy Health Services and several other health agencies presented Jefferson County’s response to the national opioid epidemic during the commission’s committee meeting Tuesday. The response laid out the county’s use of a three-year, $3.9 million grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

JeffCo Commission Discusses Its $30 Million Commitment for a Stadium Downtown

The Jefferson County Commission today took the first step toward the construction of an open-air stadium near the Uptown Entertainment District with a commitment of $30 million over 30 years for that project. “Our commitment has been solid for a long, long time,” said Commission President Jimmie Stephens, who also sits on the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Authority. “It’s now time to bring that money forward and begin the process of aligning the finances. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

A Walk Across the Park: Birmingham’s New Mayor Meets with JeffCo Commission

Dec. 14, 2017 – The Jefferson County Commission received a visit from a neighbor Thursday morning – Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin. “It’s 100 percent important,” Woodfin said. “Birmingham is the largest city in our county, so city and county should work together. … “We can’t be in a space where we’re operating in silos.” Commissioner Sandra Little Brown, a former Birmingham City Council member, acknowledged that the lines of communication haven’t always been open from the two governmental sides of Linn Park. “We represent the same people that you do,” Brown said. “I hope we can get the message to the council members.” Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Be Ready: Jeffco Commission Makes Plans to Get and Keep Storm Sirens Functional; Announces Changes at Polls

Nov. 14, 2017 – Joe Knight conducted a show and tell presentation for his fellow commissioners at the Jefferson County Commission’s committee meeting Tuesday morning. When he was done, the body agreed to go with the fourth of four options presented for addressing the issue of severe weather sirens throughout the county. The option selected

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Jefferson County Takes on Drugmakers in Opioid Crisis

The Jefferson County Commission today hired four law firms to recoup expenses incurred because of the opioid crisis. The county entered a legal services contract with Napoli Shkolnik, PPLC; Edmond, Lindsey & Hoffler, LLP; Perkins-Law, LLC, and Riley & Jackson PC. The four firms were hired to file suit on Jefferson County’s behalf against manufacturers and distributors of opioids alleging they fraudulently marketed and distributed the drugs. County officials contend the opioid crisis has brought about great expenses for cities and counties, including the increased cost of staffing the coroner’s office, the cost of providing indigent residents with opioid addiction treatment, the increased cost of law enforcement, the cost of administering potential overdose treatment and the decrease in employable citizens as a result of their addiction.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

No Crossover Voting Violations in Jefferson County

Oct. 31, 2017 – Probate Judge Alan King told Jefferson County commissioners that reported crossover voting in the runoff of the special U.S. Senate election didn’t actually happen. King, the chief election official in Jefferson County, said the matter was largely traced to a single precinct. The chief inspector at that precinct crossed off names of absentee voters, creating the impression they had voted twice. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

After Delays, Concord Storm Shelter Needs to Be Finished, Commissioner Says

Oct. 17, 2017 – Jefferson County Commissioner Jimmie Stephens said he’s tired of giving excuses to residents of Concord concerning the storm shelter for which they’ve been waiting. “They’ve been waiting for six years for that storm shelter,” he said at Tuesday’s committee meeting. “It’s time we took action and completed that storm shelter for the citizens of Concord. They have experienced numerous, large tornadoes. They need this shelter and protection for their community.” The contractor who was to build the shelter went bankrupt. And while the building is up, commissioners said, the roof is not tied in. “It’s important that we correct his mistakes,” Stephens said, “so we can move forward and get that done as quickly as possible.” Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

JeffCo Rejects Zoning Request Related to Landfill

Oct. 6, 2017 – Bethel Baptist Church of Dora’s church picnic was ruined by flies that frequent the area because of a waste transport business, the Rev. John Foles told the Jefferson County Commission on Thursday. “I want you to imagine a roadkill that has flies all on top of it, and them being very aggressive,” he said to a packed commission chamber. “That’s what we had to endure for over an hour. We threw food away. It’s not just the flies, it’s the aggressiveness of hundreds and hundreds of flies.” The flies – and the smell – with which residents of West Jefferson and the like have dealt prompted the overflow crowd to applaud when commissioners denied a request by Sumiton Timber Company and Sky Environmental to change the zoning on a 4-acre property on Snowville Brent Road in Dora. Sky Environmental has been transferring waste from trains to trucks and then transporting that waste to a landfill in Adamsville. The property is zoned for a pulpwood yard only, and the company sought to change that zoning to permit the legal continuation of its business there. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

US Supreme Court Takes a Pass, Won’t Hear Challenge of JeffCo Bond Refinancing

Oct. 3, 2017 – Jefferson County Commissioners reported this morning that the U.S. Supreme Court had opted not to hear the latest challenge to the county’s refinancing of bonds backed by the 1-cent sales tax. “The Supreme Court denied even hearing it,” Commissioner Joe Knight said during committee meeting. “It’s over. It’s done. The Supreme Court said, ‘We don’t even think it worth hearing.’” Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

JeffCo Commission Closing Its Books on Time and on Budget

Sept. 26, 2017 – Jefferson County Commissioners will have a brief meeting Wednesday to deal with a “good” problem, according to Commission President Jimmie Stephens. Wednesday’s meetings, arranged during today’s committee session, will be conducted to close the financial books as the fiscal year comes to a close. “Really, that’s a good problem to have because

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.