Jefferson County Commission

JeffCo Commissioners Shut Down Residents With Bankruptcy-Related Petition

A largely uneventful meeting of the Jefferson County Commission ended Thursday with an effort by a resident to get commissioners to rescind their appeal of a federal judge’s decision to hear the county’s bankruptcy case. The commission president told the visitors they could not present a petition because they were not on the agenda. “You can rescind the appeal,” Bob Friedman of Committee to Save Jefferson County told commissioners who remained to listen. “As a result of all the chaos that’s going on with the Water Works, collection issues and (people) having their water cut off, you’re a part of it.” Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr., BirminghamWatch

Citing Improved Finances, JeffCo Commission Debates Reinstating Road Maintenance

June 6, 2017 – Two matters on the Jefferson County Commission’s committee agenda Tuesday showed that the county is on better footing than it had been. Commissioners talked about reinstating agreements to provide service for through roads in some area cities and renewing a resolution for the county to again participate in the back-to-school sales tax holiday. “The county has turned the corner and we’ve established a new baseline for service within Jefferson County,” Commission President Jimmie Stephens said. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr., BirminghamWatch

WellHouse Works to Rescue and Restore Victims of Human Trafficking

A representative of The WellHouse told the Jefferson County Commission that 40 percent of human trafficking in the U.S. is in the Southeast. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr., BirminghamWatch

Whew! Jeffco Commissioners Relieved to Learn They Wouldn’t Be on the Hook for New Election Tablets

Jefferson County commissioners’ concerns that a state Senate bill requiring new election technology would cost the county money proved to be unfounded. The Alabama County Commission Association had fired off a red alert to county commissions about the possibility that Senate Bill 108 might cost counties. “It turns out there is some federal money for this that the ACCA was not aware of,” Jefferson County Registrar Barry Stephenson said. “So as far as affecting the general fund of Jefferson County, it doesn’t. It all got worked out.” Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Jefferson County Commissioners Stunned by News of Possible Election-Related Expenses

The Jefferson County Commission was jolted this morning with word of a possible $300,000 bill that could come via a change in election equipment. The expense would involve putting tablets at polling places to sign in voters more quickly, and issue being debated in the Legislature. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

JeffCo Commissioners Pink Up for Cancer Awareness

Thursday was a hair-raising day at the Jefferson County Commission meeting as commissioners made a grand entrance wearing pink wigs in tribute to the fight against breast cancer. Read more

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Jeffco Commission Looking for Development Land

The Jefferson County Commission Tuesday agreed to transfer $10,000 from its economic development fund to the Jefferson County Economic & Industrial Development Authority to acquire land for county development. Read more

by Virginia Martin

From Vacant Industrial Land to Puppy Palace? Residents Debate Use of Old Trinity Steel Land in Titusville

Sixty Titusville residents sat in the sweltering gymnasium of Memorial Park Recreation Center to consider giving their support for the old Trinity Steel property going to the Greater Birmingham Humane Society. “It is so hot in here,” said Greater Birmingham Humane Society President and CEO Allison Black Cornelius, “but they stayed.” When each side had made its case, 52 residents voted for the Humane Society to move to the long idle property from its Snow Drive location in Homewood. Eight voted no. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Joining Forces: Jeffco Debates Combining Inspections, Storm Water and Development Offices

Jefferson County could someday come close to being a one-stop-shop when it comes to inspections, storm water and land development. Commissioners heard a report during their committee meeting Tuesday morning about merging those three departments, as called for by a federal receiver in charge of the county’s human resources. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Jeffco Commissioners Favor Donating Titusville Property to Humane Society

Four of five commissioners seem set to give Jefferson County's share of the old Trinity Steel property to the Greater Birmingham Humane Society. But one commissioner wants to hear more before possibly voting on the move. Read more.

by Virginia Martin