Jackson County Commission Meeting - Probate Judge Pay Issue

Monday, November 26, 2012 was a regular meeting of the Jackson County Commission. Due to a previous commitment I was not able to attend the meeting at 5PM. However, The Daily Sentinel (DS) has an excellent front page article concerning the Probate Judge pay issue and business covered. The commission will seek an Alabama Attorney Generals Opinion concerning the Probate Judge pay issue.  http://thedailysentinel.com/news/local/article_5c595f48-397b-11e2-94a9-0019bb2963f4.html

 

DS article on district voting: http://thedailysentinel.com/news/article_469083d2-38ac-11e2-80fc-001a4bcf887a.html

 

Next meeting of the commission will be Monday Dec. 10, 2012 at 5PM

 

AGENDA

 

The Probate Judge Issue on this blog. The article in this mornings Daily Sentinel says an AG Opinion was not acquired. However, that is questionable, all articles on the Probate Judge pay issue: http://arklite.blogspot.com/search/label/probate%20judge

 

State law on the matter: http://law.justia.com/codes/alabama/2006/12057/12-13-20.html

 

Attorney Generals Opinion: http://www.ago.state.al.us/opinions/pdf/2010-091.pdf 

 

SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL POOLS/NUCLEAR TRASH-A NATIONAL SAFETY & SECURITY THREAT

Boiling Water Reactors are a National Security threat. Fact Sheet on hazards of Boiling Water Reactors (BWR). https://www.nirs.org/factsheets/boiling-water-reactors/

"A drained spent fuel pool in the U.S. could lead to a catastrophic fire that would result in long-term land contamination substantially worse than what the Chernobyl accident unleashed." https://www.ips-dc.org/blog/safeguarding_spent_fuel_pools_in_the_united_states

Brookhaven National Laboratory studied the consequences of a severe spent fuel pool accident at a closed U.S. reactor in a 1997 report prepared for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. "In the most severe case, if the fuel rods rapidly caught fire after water completely drained from the spent fuel pool, an accident could:"

• Contaminate up to 2,790 square miles of land, makng it unfit for human habitation,
• Cause as many as 143,000 cancer fatalities over time, in a radius of 500 miles from the accident site, and
• Cause property damage up to $780 billion (in 2011 dollars).

"In short, the possibility of a Fukushima-like loss of coolant to spent fuel pools - and ensuing release of radiation - is quite real in the United States, whether as a result of an earthquake, terrorist attack or other disaster. The risk of such a disaster varies from plant to plant and can be mitigated in various ways, but it cannot be fully eliminated given current spent fuel pool designs." https://www.frontiergroup.org/blogs/blog/fg/what-are-risks-posed-spent-fuel-pools-united-states

Foundation for Resilient Societies NRC petitions on issue.
https://www.resilientsocieties.org/nuclear-regulatory-commission.html

Radioactivity and the Systematic Falsification of Nuclear Risk

https://www.ratical.org/radiation/radioactivity/

Scottsboro City Council - FINANCE DIRECTOR AND CITY CLERK, RETIREMENTS-REAPPOINTMENTS

Monday, November 26, 2012 was a regular session of the Scottsboro City Council. Note last Monday's Work Session meeting posting on November 20, 2012.

 

AGENDA

 

Next Meeting of the City Cuncil will be Wed., Dec. 5, 2012

 

VIDEO

  

Scottsboro City Council Work Session - Proposal to Combine City Clerk and Finance Director

Monday was a work session for the Scottsboro City Council.

 

CITY COUNCIL AGENDA

 

 

Mayor Potter explains plan to combine City Clerk and Finance Directors Position. Daily Sentinel article: http://thedailysentinel.com/news/article_9ac5a51a-33f5-11e2-b99d-001a4bcf887a.html

 

Council Meeting Video

  

Jackson County Commission Work Session (Video)

Monday November 19, 2012 was a work Session of the Jackson County Commission. After the commission work session Budget Hearings were conducted in the commission board room.

Commission Agenda

 

Video of Commission Meeting

The Nuclear Truth in Video

What the nuclear industry and their puppet politicians will not tell you the citizen - Nuclear power is dangerous and it kills people. A series of video exposes.

Dr. Jeffrey Patterson on Nuclear Power and Human Health ( Dr. Patterson's bio: http://www.psr.org/about/board-of-directors/jeff-patterson.html )

Dr. Ernest J. Sternglass on Nuclear Contamination and Cancer, unfortunately the embed mode is disabled for these videos.
Part1: http://youtu.be/TPO7Tft0YlQ
Part2: http://youtu.be/hN7rcjSnxZs  
Part 3: http://youtu.be/sf5v83xnd1A

April 13, 2011- Dr. Ernest Sternglass is Professor Emeritus of Physics at the University of Pittsburgh. He is Co-founder and Director of the Radiation and Public Health Project (www.rphp.org), and author of "Secret Fallout: Low-Level Radiation from Hiroshima to Three Mile Island". Dr Sternglass has extensively studied and published on the public health effects of atomic bomb testing and nuclear power.

 

Down Wind Death - Dr. Ernest Sternglass speaks on the bad effects of radiation

The truth of 3-Mile Island, a coverup to protect the nuclear industry.

Savanah River Site and Small Modular Reactors

"Shh," says DOE.  "We have secrets, we are killing people but don't tell them the truth." (claims and costs: http://www.dol.gov/owcp/energy/regs/compliance/weeklystats.htm )

Ionizing Radiation from nuclear plants, fuel facilities and weapons complexes-colorless, odorless, tasteless radiation death. In many instances you will not know the extent of cellular mutations until you are diagnosed with cancer. In some cases, many years later. For more info: http://radioactivepoison.blogspot.com/

Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Skin - credits: Medical Pictures from uIowa.edu: UI Dermatology / Tom Ray.

 

""Under a Cloud" presents evidence that the Savannah River Site in South Carolina had a recent, unreported radioactive fallout event. That fallout threatens human and environmental health. This is a "wake-up call" for the communities neighboring the Savannah River Site: we must take action to secure site accountability and to protect our health and our environment."




The TVA is spending hundreds of millions of dollars of your money for a project you will never see any results. Welcome to the SMR (small modular reactor) story, a project which you the rate payer are paying so the nuclear industry will benefit. A project in which there are no orders for the atomic mechanism, no approvals; our government is spending hundreds of millions of your hard earned dollars in the experiment for which only the nuclear industry reaps the financial benefits.

SMALL MODULAR REACTORS, SMR,  PRESENTATION BY TOM CLEMENTS
"“While SRS may superficially appear to present certain attractive aspects for the location of SMRs, the site has not had experience with operation of nuclear reactors in over twenty years and has no current expertise in reactor operation,” said Clements.

  “While DOE is set to chose two SMR designs to fund for further development, SRS affirms that no construction funds will be provided, leaving vendors with the difficult and perhaps insurmountable task to find private funding for SMR construction.”"

"Two of the three separate “Memoranda of Agreement” for three different and still hypothetical SMR designs include deployment timelines which are already admitted by DOE to be inaccurate since they were signed less than six months ago."

"As SMRs are being promoted for overseas markets, SRS officials will not say what plans are for used reactor vessels or highly radioactive spent fuel which would be taken back to the production site." http://aikenleader.villagesoup.com/p/documents-reveal-time-line-and-plans-for-small-modular-reactors-smrs-at-the-savannah-river-site-sr/840884

TVA and SMR's http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/advanced/clinch-river.html

Tom Clements Small Modular Reactor Overview for tva meeting 6.26.2012 from MATRRorg
 

TVA Quarterly Meeting Nov.15, 2012 Rainsville, Al.

 

 

TVA Chief Executive Officer Tom Kilgore's last Quarterly meeting.

 

 

 

TVA CEO Select Bill Johnson

 

 

November 15, 2012 Rainsville, Alabama
Videos of Listening Session and Board of Directors Meeting
News Release
TVA Presentation (PDF)
Video of listening session
Video of meeting
Video of media briefing
Notational document for search firm
Notational document for CEO appointment

TVA Agenda Item 9 A and B below were moved to the beginning of the agenda. There was a reaffirmation of the Boards secret vote concerning the approval of the incoming CEO Bill Johnson, former Duke Energy CEO. (http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/power_city/2012/11/former-duke-progress-energy-ceo-to.html?page=all )  The secret Notational Approval process resulted in a complaint being filed with TVA's Office of the Inspector General for violation of the Federal Sunshine Act. http://www.chattanoogan.com/2012/11/12/238400/Complaint-Filed-Says-TVA-Ignored.aspx

 

LISTENING SESSION YOU TUBE VIDEO LINKS

 

Presentation to the TVA Board of Directors on November 15, 2012 by Sandra Kurtz, VP, Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League and founding member of Belleffonte Efficiency and Sustainability Team. Ms. Kurtz speaks about the nuclear waste/trash produced by nuclear power plants and the fact there is no solution for the millions of pounds of radioactive reactor waste which is expanding in the Tennessee River Valley. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BytuU37oWyQ

 

Presentation to the TVA Board of Directors on November 15, 2012 by Tom Clements with the Alliance for Nuclear Accountability. Mr. Clements discusses the Plutonium MOX nuclear reactor fuel issue with the TVA Board of Directors. http://youtu.be/UZusbEa6Bao

 

 

 

TVA FINANCIAL STATEMENT 

 

A look at TVA Accounting and Finances for 2012

When looking at TVA finances use care and read carefully explanations given. All is not what it may seem. For instance: TVA claims they have $60 million positive income for FY2012. After review, it appears the income is derived from debt refinancing. For example: 1st qtr. reflects a $173 million loss; 2nd qtr. reflects a $94 million loss; 3rd qtr. reflects a $23 million loss. The first 3 quarters equals a $290 million loss. This would mean for the TVA to achieve a $60 million positive income they would have a $350 million income gain for the 4th qtr. of the 2012 Fiscal year. Good luck in finding the $350 million. There are also some peculiarities reflected in the environmental cleanup accounting. TVA's financial statement history may be found at http://investor.shareholder.com/tva/sec.cfm?DocType=&SortOrder=FilingDate%20Descending&Year=&Pagenum=2

 

2012's lotal long and short term debt is listed at $25.078 billion. Short term debt has grown considerably, it is at $3.328 billion.

 

Total Contingencies & Commitments $65.954 billion.

 

Pension Plan is is funded at 58.6%, $7.029 billion; obligations are $11.995 billion; pensions are underfunded by $4.966 billion-41.4%. In 2011 the pension fund was 58.1% funded; in 2010 the fund was 65% funded. In 2 years the pension funds underfunding status has grown by 7%, but realized a 1/2% positive gain for funding this year in the financed fund amount (80 years for the fund to be financed?).

 

>>UPDATE: TVA In Lieu of Tax Payments for FY 2013<<

The Daily Sentinel article: http://thedailysentinel.com/news/article_0187fda6-303c-11e2-8f3d-0019bb2963f4.html

 

 

Aquatic Nuisance Species and the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce Director

Many thanks to Marshall County Alabama State Representative Wes Long ( http://www.mclo.org/index.php?/about/biography/2 ) for speaking at the TVA Board Meeting in Rainsville Thursday. Mr. Long brought forward the continuing problem of Aquatic Nuisance Species on Lake Guntersville Alabama. He stated the facts concerning this problem and asked assistance of the TVA Board in resolving this problem. This was the first political representative from Northeast Alabama to speak before the TVA Board concerning this continuing problem.

Unfortunately, Mr Roden of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce misspoke concerning this and other issues. He stated, "Many people today speak against Bellefonte and against the TVA. They do not speak for the majority in Jackson County."

 

Mr. Roden, Jackson County Chamber of Commerce Director, is sadly mistaken. In his presentation Roden misrepresented the people of Jackson County and Scottsboro; he mischaracterized those speaking before the Board of Directors.

 

At no time did anyone speak against the TVA or Bellefonte. His comments were a kick in the pants for Mr. Long requesting assistance from the TVA in resolving the Aquatic Nuisance Species problems on lake Guntersville. Many folks expressed their concern and suggested areas where TVA management could make improvements. Citizens expressing themselves before a government agency is a citizen's right and does not reflect non-support for the agency or a project. Mr. Roden needs to grow up and stop with the sophomoric attacks directed at citizens who may not agree with his personal opinions about government.

 

Why didn't Mr. Roden offer support for Mr. Long's suggestion to TVA? He could have asked TVA to take a leadership role. Instead, Mr. Roden was busy bashing citizens, submitting fallacies, and "brown nosing" the TVA instead of listening to the citizens suggestions for improvement. 

 

 

Scottsboro's The Daily Sentinel's Report: http://thedailysentinel.com/news/article_6e92d390-3004-11e2-b286-001a4bcf887a.html

 

Chattanooga Times Free Press article on Executives pay. The overall pay levels [of TVA Executives] were denounced by U.S. Rep. John Duncan, R-Tenn., today as “ridiculously excessive.”

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/nov/16/tva-boosts-pay-top-officers-chattanooga/

 

 

New Jackson County Commission Takes Office - Swearing In Ceremony

The Jackson County Alabama Commission, from left to right: Place 2-Jason Venable; Place 4-Stacy Ledwell; Commission Chairman-Matthew Hodges; Place 1-Tim Guffey; Place 3-Dennis Miller

 

 

 

Today was the organizational meeting of the Jackson County Commission; agenda posted below

 

County Commission meetings are to be held on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Monday of each month at 5PM. First and third Mondays will be work sessions while second and fourth Mondays will be regular session meetings. Special call, emergency and holiday meetings to be announced separately. 

 

Daily Sentinel coverage: http://thedailysentinel.com/news/article_fe4910ec-2e76-11e2-8a0d-001a4bcf887a.html

  

A short video on photo opportunities for the new commissioners.

 

Jackson County Commission Organizational Meeting

Scottsboro City Council - A New Chapter Begins

One chapter ends as another one begins; Mr. Matthew Hodges resigns to take his new position as the Jackson County Commission Chairman.

City Council President Patrick Stewart presents Matthew Hodges an award of Distinguished Service for his dedication and professionalism as a Scottsboro City Councilman for 10 years. Matthew Hodges was the youngest city councilman at 18 years of age in Alabama at the time of his election. Patrick Stewart was elected as Council President last week at the organizational meeting of the new city council.

 

Agenda with my notations

 

 CITY COUNCIL VIDEO 

 

Jackson County Alabama Election Results - President Obama Wins Election

 Jackson County Election Results

From Poll to Courthouse-Faces of an Election

 

 

 

 Probate Judge: Manning(D) 12,738; Dooley(R) 7,530

Chairman Jackson County Commission: Hodges(D)11,993; Woods(R)8,062

Commission District 1: Guffey(R)9,930; Colvin(D)9,563
Commission District 2: Venable(R) 10,586; Cornelison(D) 9,173
Commission District 3: Miller(D) 10,500; Thompson(R) 9,325
Commission District 4: Ledwell(D) 10,821; Sisk(R) 8,876

Local Amendment #1: Yes-8,889; No-4,996

Dailky Sentinel Report on Republican Party: http://thedailysentinel.com/news/article_88516ed4-29b7-11e2-a87a-001a4bcf887a.html

CNN declares President Obama the winner.

 

 

Roy Moore Wins Chief Justice of the Supreme Court 

 

Alabama Amendments: http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Alabama_2012_ballot_measures

Alabama Amendments: http://thedailysentinel.com/news/article_0b281b32-29b8-11e2-8300-001a4bcf887a.html

Scottsboro City Council

 

Scottsboro City Council Agenda - Organizational Meeting & Election of Council Officers

Daily Sentinel article: http://thedailysentinel.com/news/article_a125bb38-2825-11e2-901c-001a4bcf887a.html

 

The new city official swearing in ceremony was conducted at the First Methodist Church yesterday prior to the council meeting with no public notice given in regards to this ceremony's location.

National GOP Engages in Bad Judgement

(Vote Thieves - courtesy of  The Black Commentator: http://www.blackcommentator.com/119/119_cover_vote_thieves.html )

GOP claims of massive voter fraud concerning the Democrats unfounded: http://www.brennancenter.org/content/resource/policy_brief_on_the_truth_about_voter_fraud/

The Republican Party has waged a campaign of deceit and racist tactics nationwide. Now their tactics include criminal activity.

There are various news stories around the nation about the Republican Party's concern over voter fraud. A closer look reveals it is the Republican Party who is stealing the vote and committing the most un-American of activities: voter disenfranchisement, misrepresentation and voter fraud, as depicted in the reports below.

GOP operatives claim to be public officials: http://www.politicususa.com/pretty-mormon-girl-evidence-gop-voter-fraud-colorado-springs.html

Interfering with voter rights: http://www.opednews.com/articles/Why-we-fight-to-prevent-st-by-Harvey-Wasserman-121101-259.html

GOP cuts ties with firm after spending millions for their corrupted, shady services. http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-republicans-voter-fraud-florida-20120927,0,5472858.story

GOP voter fraud spreading nationwide: http://elections.americablog.com/2012/09/gop-voter-fraud-scandal-in-florida-spreads-statewide-possibly-nationwide.html

Republican Party operatives arrested - voter registrations found in dumpster: http://elections.americablog.com/2012/10/gop-contractor-arrested-for-vote-fraud-in-pa.html

Widespread election fraud by GOP - electronic voting machine tampering: http://www.addictinginfo.org/2012/10/27/gop-rigging-elections-for-romney/

Ohio voting machines have untested patch installed one week before the election.  http://nomorestolenelections.org/news/free-press-ohios-voting-machines-have-experimental-patch-installed-week-election