Important issues were: 1) a $500 one time pay increase. this increase did not apply to elected officials.
2) Sheriff's department to purchase 2 radar speed units from Commissioner Clemons pay fund.
3) Then we have the issue of the license inspector. The commission voted on a 3 to 1 vote to hire a full time license inspector. the vacancy announcement will be made within the county personnel system only.
Update-Dec. 16, 2011: Permanent License Inspector position anouncement, click on image for an expanded view.
Commission Chairperson Sadie Bias hired the current License Inspector, Bradley Tyler Smith.
At last Thursday's work session the commissioners agreed to advertise the position within the county system and outside of the county system. At Mondays commission meeting Commissioner Allen was not happy with the decision and voted against the issue. Mr. Allen stated, "that is not what we agreed on at Thursday's meeting." After the commission meeting Monday Mr. Allen commented to me that the Commission Chaiperson Sadie Bias and the License Inspector's Grandfather, Commissioner Jack Smith had apparently already made up their mind about the hire. Indicating they would hire Smith's Grandson Bradley Tyler Smith. Article from the Daily Sentinel: http://thedailysentinel.com/news/article_c3ef7d62-25e1-11e1-ad81-0019bb2963f4.html
Bradley Tyler Smith was hired at the Public Works Department and then hired for a temporary license inspectors position. The License Inspector is an admitted felon, theft 2nd degree and robbery 3rd degree, Criminal Case #2010- 544 & 545, the Grandson of Commissioner Jack Smith.
The License Inspector is enrolled in Drug Court but has not completed the legal proceedings.
A license inspector in Alabama has the authority of law enforcement in enforcing the licensing laws of the State and County. In the case of Jackson County the license inspector is a felon. Apparently if you are a relative of a County Commissioner law does not matter.
Bradley Tyler Smith was not bonded upon hire or immediately after the hire. The commission purchased a bond of $25,000 from Auto-Owners Insurance Co. signed by the local agent Thomas Harding on Nov 14, 2011 after the issue was brought forward to the commission recently. The Commission Chair and County Attorney stated they were not aware of any requirement for a bond and previous inspectors had no bond. The License Inspectors bond has not been approved by the Governor. Alabama law requires a license inspector's bond to be approved by the governor.
Articles from this blog on the issue of the license inspector. http://arklite.blogspot.com/2011/11/jackson-county-commission-ch-48-news.html and http://arklite.blogspot.com/2011/11/jackson-county-commission-work-session.html
WAFF-TV Ch 48 coverage of the story. http://www.waff.com/story/15981371/jackson-county-officials-ask-for-better-checks-in-hiring-process and http://www.waff.com/story/15964911/jackson-county-employee-faced-felony-charges-prior-to-being-hired
If this county commission didn't have enough problems concerning failed stewardship of Jackson County. They are attempting to take the pay from the Probate Judge Floyd Hambrick. This document was provided to me yesterday concerning the taking of his pay. The bottom line of this document states, "Please begin with his December payment and deduct $1646.70 monthly through October of 2012. This will be 11 deductions totaling $18,113.66. The pay removal order is signed by Sadie Bias Chairperson of the Jackson County Commission. Previous blog entry about this issue. http://arklite.blogspot.com/2011/03/jackson-county-commission.html Previous Daily Sentinel article: http://thedailysentinel.com/news/article_963de83c-4f53-11e0-b368-001cc4c03286.html Judge Hambrick Responds: http://thedailysentinel.com/news/article_77036bd8-5663-11e0-8eb1-001cc4c03286.html Judge Hambrick's Attorney, Gary Lackey, had this to say about the county's actions as reported in the linked Daily Sentinel article. ""The action of the county commission in purporting to reduce Judge Hambrick's compensation is in clear violation of the Alabama Constitution," said Lackey. "[The constitution] provides that the compensation of a judge shall not be reduced during his or her term. This is the same rule we have in the U.S. Constitution, as our founding fathers knew that this protection is important to an independent and fair judiciary."" The following is a quote, "Constitution of Alabama, Amendment 92 (ratified) "Increasing or Decreasing Salaries, etc., of State and County Officers....nor shall the legislature or any county of the state in any manner or by any means decrease, or authorize the decrease of, the salary, fees or other compensation of any such officer, during the term for which he is elected or appointed..." http://law.justia.com/constitution/alabama/CA-245935.html How much more is this county commission going to cost the citizens of Jackson County before they are gone? What in the hades is wrong with the commissioners and public officials supporting them, can they not read?
Jackson County Commission Agenda, click on image for an expanded view.
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