Alternative news and discussion for Scottsboro, Jackson County Alabama and the Tennessee River Valley as I see it. Responsible comments to articles welcome. As always, "Watch for Snakes," particularly those wearing suits.
JAMES MADISON QUOTE - 1822
"A popular government without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or, perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives."
UPDATE - Scottsboro, Al. Jan 3, 2017 Unfortunately my sinusitus has grown worse and has caused a secondary maxio-facial infection. I will not be publishing articles or videos regarding Scottsboro and Jackson County government reports on "In the 'boro" http://arklite.blogspot.com for at least two weeks,maybe three.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR TO ALL, GOD BLESS AMERICA AND THE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR ARMED FORCES, MAY YOU STAY SAFE.
I did not attend the Jackson County Commission nor the City Council Meeting today due to sickness.
Here is the Jackson County Commission Agenda. I have not received the Scottsboro City Council Agenda.
BREAKING NEWS UPDATE- December 14, 2016 I have confirmed from separate sources that officials of Nuclear Development LLC and Mr. Frank Haney met with local political leadership in secret last Thursday at 1:30pm at The Council on Aging to discuss a time frame regarding Nuclear Development LLC at the Bellefonte Nuclear Facility. Members of the Scottsboro City Council, Jackson County Commission and other political entities and the Jackson County EDA attended the December 8, 2016 secret meeting. No local press were invited to this important meeting. According to sources interviewed, introductions were made and Nuclear Development LLC laid out its plans to begin construction toward the end of 2017. Upon contacting TVA it was revealed that no sale has been completed. Before the sale is completed, Nuclear Development LLC must provide a 60 day notice in order that TVA may vacate the premises. TVA will issue a major Press Release once the sale of the Bellefonte Nuclear Facility is completed. Once the sale is completed, Nuclear Development LLC will have to request a change in the nuclear construction license before they may begin any work on the Bellefonte Nuclear Facility, more on that below.
The Deceivers Dreamscape - Bellefonte Nuclear Facility depicting Units 1, 2, 3 and 4. Cost for a 4 unit completion $43 billion dollars; cost of Units 1 and 2 completion $15 billion dollars in today's money. Unit 1 is 55% complete, Unit 2 is 35% complete. The entire facility was cannibalized in the 2006-2007 time frame when the plant's nuclear construction license was cancelled. In 2009, 2010 time frame the plants construction license was reinstated. More from the Chattanooga Times Free Press: http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2016/nov/15/reviving-nuclear-powerhaney-pay-111-millifini/397760/
TVA EIS photo, Fair Use for non-profit news reporting and commentary.
TVA further commented in the below linked sale notice/press release, they no longer have a need for power.
Public Works/Solid Waste Director Director Eddie Blizzard delivered a request for additional vehicles and landfill space based on speculation of growth regarding the Bellefonte Nuclear Facility. According to Blizzard, Bellefonte construction will begin "sometime in 2017," based on what the unnamed people from the nuclear plant told him.
"The need is there and it will be coming a lot faster than what we saw back in the 70's, for those of you who remember that far back, when you bring 5000-6000 people into this area, it gets crowded here, we are anticipating a lot of growth..." according to Mr. Blizzard.
Unfortunately, Mr. Blizzard did not fulfill his responsibilities to provide an annual required Solid Waste Report, instead he provided speculation on the Bellefonte Nuclear Facility.
Many local businesses have suffered because of TVA's failed promises. Local public officials deceiving the public is uncalled for after the financial loss the community has suffered due to bad management of the TVA regarding Bellefonte. The proposal to spend millions of dollars on landfill space and additional vehicles based on a word of mouth notice without any official notice regarding future construction plans of Bellefonte would not be a smart decision by the city council.
There has been no change in the license status of Bellefonte. Before construction may begin by another nuclear corporation, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission requires a new or amended license application from the new owners. Before any such change takes place a public meeting will be held by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and published in the Federal Register.
The official statement of the TVA says in part, "As part of the deal, TVA requires Nuclear Development, LLC to make a $25 million minimum investment in the Bellefonte property during the five-year period following the closing. This minimum investment will promote economic development activities in Jackson County, Ala....Nuclear Development, LLC has up to two years to close on the property. Until then, TVA will maintain the site." More official info on the TVA Bellefonte Nuclear sale may be found at: https://www.tva.com/Newsroom/Press-Releases/TVA-Completes-Bellefonte-Sale
Jackson County Courthouse, South Side - photo by G. Morgan. According to the Chair of the Jackson County Commission, Matthew Hodges, there was asbestos discovered in the Jackson County Commission Board Room in the floor tiles. The carpet which was removed, new tiles installed were installed over the top of the old tiles. Asbestos materials when disturbed present a serious health issue. There should have been a comprehensive Asbestos Mitigation Plan for the Jackson County Courthouse, apparently this has not been accomplished after millions of dollars have been spent historically on renovation and removal of asbestos beginning in 1993 when large quantities were discovered throughout the Courthouse.
Previous Video
AGENDA
Hot Topics - 1) Disaster Relief Aid and Public Relief Aid Approved as a result of recent Rosalie Tornado; 2) Jackson County Park change orders continue; 3) Resolution of Support for lowering the Largemouth Bass Creel limit on Lake Guntersville from 10 to 5 per day.
There will be a work session and regular session meeting on December 19, 2016.
VIDEO
Jackson County Commission and Jackson County Community Corrections Letter and temporary resolution. Click on image for an expanded view.
Jackson County Courthouse south side, photo by G Morgan.
AGENDA
Important Issue - Creel Limits on Guntersville Lake
"...In summer, a good number of the fish that go through the weigh in process just don't make it because of the heat and the low oxygen," Carter said. "When you have thousands of fish being weighed in every weekend in these big events, even though most survive release, the ones that die have an impact...Mike Carter also cited bowfishing during the spring spawn as a possible issue...The bowfishers are not supposed to shoot bass, but after every tournament I see dead bass with arrow holes in them," Carter said. "Also, I think running airboats over the beds in the shallows is a big negative during that spawning period..." http://www.al.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2016/06/famed_lake_guntersville_bass_f.html
Political involvement - "A meeting in Scottsboro of the Lake Guntersville Conservation group drew more than a hundred anglers as well as State Senator Steve Livingston, State Representative Tommy Haines and other local officials as well as Alabama DCNR biologists and officers...The session was aimed at restoring the bass fishery on the 69,000 acre lake sprawling across Jackson and Marshall Counties. Many said the fishing has been in a significant slump in recent years, resulting in not only reduced sporting opportunities but a decline in revenue for the many small businesses that depend on recreational activities at the lake as an economic driver." http://www.al.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2016/08/lake_guntersville_fans_meet_to.html
Winter Picture of Jackson County Courthouse, FaceBook photo by J.Holt - Fair Use for non-profit news reporting and commentary.
AGENDA
Reference Agenda Item 7 - The sooner an Information Technology Director is hired the better. It was revealed in this session that Jackson County has serious issues relating to information security.
Reference Agenda Item 9 - Letter of Support from the Commission to Community Corrections is conditional, depending on an independent audit within 90 days and its outcome. It will be interesting to see the outcome of this audit, or if Community Corrections refuses the audit. There are probably issues regarding Conflicts of Interest involving Board Members and the Director of both Community Corrections and Court Referral due to both organizations non-profit status and affiliations with outside organizations and profits received by the director and board members as a result of internal and external conflicts. The continuing saga of Court Referral and Community Corrections: http://arklite.blogspot.com/search/label/Jackson%20County%20Community%20Corrections%20and%20Court%20Referral
$5 Billion of our money spent, sold for $111 million, and who is ecstatic about such a deal?
Franklin Haney-hahaha. If he builds it as a nuclear plant, he will suffer the same fate as TVA who had many more dollars than Haney. But then again , Haney is TVA's landlord.
WAAY Video
"Sum'n good will come out of it," says current plant manager - Hahaha, what Franklin Haney goes bust and TVA laughs while ratepayers cry?
11-14-16 Sale of
Bellefonte – Press Stories
Estimated costs in today’s
money for the 55% complete Bellefonte Unit 1, 8-9 Billion dollars; Unit 2, 35%
complete, 10-12 billion dollars.
TVA Press Release: HOLLYWOOD,
Ala. ― The Tennessee Valley Authority announced today the sale of the 1,400
acre Bellefonte property, near Hollywood, Ala., to Nuclear Development, LLC for
the purchase price of $111 million. The sale concludes a six-month competitive
auction process designed to promote job creation and investment in northeast
Alabama. http://www.snl.com/Cache/1001216661.PDF?O=PDF&T&Y&D&FID=1001216661&iid=4063363
Daily Sentinel,
Scottsboro, Al. article: “Today marks the first step of an exciting new journey
for the people of Alabama and Tennessee,” said Franklin L. Haney, who
established Nuclear Development in 2012. “The Bellefonte Nuclear Station will
help transform communities across the region many of which have been hit hard
by the forced closure of coal power plants over the last decade. This project
will bring new life to the region by creating thousands of jobs while providing
assured access to reliable, affordable, zero-emission energy.”
Haney said he also would
like to thank the Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors and Chief
Executive Officer Bill Johnson “for their diligent work in executing this fair
and open bidding process. I am grateful for the entire Alabama and Tennessee
congressional delegations – especially Senators Shelby, Sessions, Alexander and
Corker, as well as Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley – for their continued support of
nuclear development throughout this process.”
Chattanooga Times Free
Press - HOLLYWOOD, Ala. — Chattanooga developer Franklin L. Haney, who has spent
the past decade trying to acquire TVA's Bellefonte Nuclear Power plant, emerged
today as the winner at an auction of the abandoned nuclear plant.
Haney, who organized an
investment group known as Nuclear Development LLC, agreed to pay $111 million
to acquire the abandoned twin-reactor complex and the 1,600 acres it occupies
along the Tennessee River here.
Al.com press release: An
unfinished nuclear power plant in northeast Alabama this morning was auctioned
for $111 million. Nuclear Holdings LLC, a Washington D.C. based company,
promises in its bid to bring 2,000 permanent jobs to north Alabama and up to
4,000 temporary construction jobs. The company says it plans a $13 billion
investment to bring the plant online as an energy producer. http://www.al.com/news/huntsville/index.ssf/2016/11/an_unfinished_alabama_nuclear.html
Just the traceable
donations from Haney's businesses to Bentley's last campaigns total about
$300,000, much of which moved into Bentley's campaign account after the last
election was over. Again, that's only what's easily traceable. That campaign
account subsequently paid the salary of Rebekah Caldwell Mason, the governor's
senior political advisor with whom he is accused of having an affair. http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2016/05/after_hefty_campaign_donations.html
Rapid increases in the
estimated cost to complete Bellefonte also may have also contributed to the
utility taking it out of future plans for new generation capacity. In 2013 the costs reportedly jumped from
about $5 billion to a range of between $7.4 and $8.9 billion. A private equity effort headed by Franklin
Haney, an investor, offered to complete the reactor and operate it for $10
billion. TVA turned him down saying the
plan didn’t have good enough numbers to proceed. http://www.theenergycollective.com/dan-yurman/2216491/tva-backs-away-bellefonte
TVA, Tennessee Valley Authority, has boasted about the first new nuke plant in many a year. Actually it isn't new and it cost about 7 billion dollars to complete over 43 years. There are other costs, a "chilled work environment," contributing factor, STRESS to get the plant on line. The question - has safety been compromised? Photo by TVA - Fair Use for non-profit news reporting and commentary.
UPDATE - NOVEMBER 10, 2016
FALSIFICATION OF RECORDS, NRC SAYS LOW SIGNIFICANCE?? WATTS BAR NUCLEAR PLANT - NRC INTEGRATED INSPECTION REPORT 05000390/2016003, 05000391/2016003 AND NOTICE OF VIOLATION AND OI REPORT NUMBER OI-2-2015-039
This report released today after the "Chilled Effects" meeting last Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016 regarding the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant. Low significance?? Notice of Violation for willfully falsifying Fire Watch Records and destroying said records. There may have been retaliation by a contractor involved in this incident regarding an employee refusing to sign a falsified report.
Quote: "Severity Level IV. The NRC identified a Severity Level IV violation of 10 CFR 50.9 "Completeness and Accuracy of Information," for the failure to maintain continuous compensatory fire watch information that was complete and accurate in all material respects. The licensee’s actions of creating falsified fire watch completion records...(from page 6 under Findings) "According to the testimony received by the NRC OI, on the morning of April 28, 2015, the licensee contract fire watch foreman attempted to persuade four fire watch laborers to sign fire watch records indicating that they performed the missed fire watch from the day before. Three of the individuals each signed the fire watch turnover records. However, one fire watch laborer refused to sign the fire watch turnover records. A meeting was held with the contract fire watch foreman, the contract fire protection specialist, and the TVA fire protection foreman. When it became clear that one individual would not sign the fire watch turnover record, the contract fire watch foreman disposed of the paperwork. The missed fire watch was reported to management, prompting investigations about the root causes of the missed fire watch. The licensee initiated condition report 1019953. The falsified fire watch record was never recovered."
The NRC fined TVA $70K for falsifying Fire Watch Records at the Sequoyah Nuclear Plant, op-ed from Pam Sohn back in April of this year.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, NRC, March 23, 2016
NRC to TVA
As discussed during the public meeting held on March 22, 2016 in the RII office(ML16083A403), we initiated a review in late 2015 at the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant into the environment for raising and addressing safety issues. We began this review in light of information received through our inspection and allegations process associated with the Safety Conscious Work Environment (SCWE) within the Operations Department and its influence onthe safe operation of the plant. Our review includes information received through allegations, inspections, and interviews of your staff over the past few months. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, NRC, has concluded that a Chilled Work Environment exists in the Operations Department because of a perception that operators are not free to raise safety concerns using all available avenues without fear of retaliation. We have not identified any serious safety violations or instances involving significant plant safety issues, but the information gathered has led to concerns about the impact the work environment is having on plant operations raises
questions about your commitment to emphasize safety over competing goals to ensure protection of people and the environment. We want to ensure that TVA has a clear understanding of the scope of our concerns and to communicate specific requests and expectations for your response.
The Safety Culture Policy Statement (76 FR 34773; June 14, 2011) sets forth the Commission's expectation that licensees establish and maintain a positive safety culture commensurate with the safety and security significance of their activities and the nature and complexity of their organizations and functions. The NRC defines nuclear safety culture as the core values and behaviors resulting from a collective commitment by leaders and individuals to emphasize safety over competing goals to ensure protection of people and the environment. A safety conscious work environment is defined by the NRC as an environment in which “employees feel free to raise safety concerns, both to their management and to the NRC, without fear of retaliation” and is one trait of a strong safety culture. NRC Regulatory Issue Summary 05-018, “Guidance for Establishing and Maintaining a Safety Conscious Work Environment,” dated August 25, 2005, further describes the NRC’s expectations in this area. More on this letter: http://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML1608/ML16083A479.pdf
4) September 2016 "TVA OIG Report on Work Environment for Nuclear Oversight" The bottom line of the OIG report regarding nuclear oversight - Employees should "feel free to raise concerns without fear of retalliation." http://oig.tva.gov/reports/16rpts/2016-15398.pdf
5) Public Meeting Scheduled in Athens, Tn. regarding the Chilled Work Environment at Watts Bar Nuclear Plant on November 3, 2016, videos listed below.
The Problem With The Regulator, NRC, and the Nuclear Industry
Failures of nuclear safety culture are not enforceable actions. Comprehensive report on Safety Culture:
"Nuclear professionals, members of the public, Congress, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), and concerned non-industry stakeholders agree on one issue: nuclear plant safety is paramount and must be the number one priority. However, the actions, and inactions, of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), and nuclear plant owners, have led to financial considerations taking priority over nuclear safety. The current focus on nuclear safety via what the industry and its regulator call “safety culture,” unless redefined and clarified, is a dead end. To truly achieve nuclear safety, “regulatory compliance and enforcement ” must be the frame used to gauge Nuclear Safety Culture." Paul Blanch (PE) Energy Consultant, author of the linked report.
Part 1 Selected Citizen Comments - The NRC would not disclose any retaliation events or occurrences. An employee states she has witnessed retaliation in the work place and discriminatory activity. Ann Harris, Retired TVA Employees who worked at Watts Barr for many years, describes her experiences in this video.
Jackson County Courthouse, north entrance, photo by G. Morgan.
This was the last business meeting of the current county commission for FY 2016. The commission post-election organizational meeting will be November 16, 2016. The next regular meeting is scheduled for November 28, 2016
The Dylan McQueen case continuation took place today at the Jackson County Courthouse, Court Room 1, in Scottsboro today.
After nearly an hour recess, 1:40PM until 2:37PM, Prosecution and Defense reached an agreement in the Bond Revocation Hearing of Dylan McQueen. McQueen's bond was continued. He may not return to Tennessee, he must remain in Jackson County Alabama under House Arrest with monitoring. The motion McQueen's mother submitted in the case to remain in South Pittsburg, Tn. was denied.
VIDEO
Dylan McQueen Booking Photo
Previous stories on this case and the saga of Dylan McQueen:
June 2016 -"Four Scottsboro teens are facing charges after a home invasion and robbery Wednesday morning in Pisgah-Police say they arrested 18-year-old Hector Guevara, 17-year-old Dylan McQueen, 16-year-old Jallen Hammonds and 16-year-old Tyson Woods. They each face numerous felonies including burglary, kidnapping, robbery, theft, menacing, and possession of burglary tools. " http://www.waff.com/story/32286028/4-teens-arrested-in-armed-jackson-co-home-invasion
September 2016 - McQueen cleared to play football in Tennessee while on bond for felonies in Alabama
Monday's City Council Meeting revealed the 2017 budget, posted below. November 7, 2016 Swearing in Ceremony at the First Methodist Church Fellowship Hall at 9AM; organizational meeting of City Council at City Hall at 12 Noon.
South Side, Jackson County Courthouse, photo by G. Morgan
AGENDA
Reference item 1 on the agenda - Discussion regarding Letter of Support from the Jackson County Commission to Community Corrections.
Several months previous this writer submitted a records request to the Jackson County Community Corrections and Court Referral, CC/CR, for audit and procedures documents. The court agency refused to produce the documents requested. However, presentations to the county commission resolved the issue. Below is the initial reply excerpt from their attorney regarding documents disclosures.
There is the appearance that the program was set up to be non-accountable. This agency of the state and county government is required to have a letter of support from the county commission. There were no documents on file at the county commission. Minimum accountability has been acquired as evidenced in the below documents and previous disclosures. All of this was so unnecessary - you would think the folks at Community Corrections would readily disclose important documents, however that was not the case. There are still unanswered, bothersome questions.
AUDIT Documents Released upon Records Request from the Jackson County Commission.
Thank you county commission, commissioners, and Community Corrections for these disclosures. Important note - There are no "Court Referral" disclosures. All disclosures are that of Community Corrections, which are monitored by the Alabama Department of Corrections.
All Rights Reserved for writings, video, photographs and art by Garry L. Morgan.
U.S. Copyright Office Fair Use Rule: "Section 107 contains a list of the various purposes for which the reproduction of a particular work may be considered fair, such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, nonprofit educational purposes and research. Link: http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl102.html
Total "In the Boro" Pageviews
Scottsboro Police Department Web Site
""The police are the public, the public are the police. The police are the only members of the public who are paid to give full time attention to duties that are incumbent on every citizen in the interest to community welfare and existence." - Sir Robert Peel, 1829 https://www.scottsboropd.org/
The Sunlight Foundation uses cutting-edge technology and ideas to make government transparent and accountable. Click on image to learn more.
THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY
"I can say with confidence that the federal government needs a major overhaul. Don’t get me wrong, most public servants in government are highly educated and dedicated professionals who are committed to “the greater good.” At the same time, the government has become a bloated bureaucracy that is based on past conditions and in too many cases, federal programs and policies can’t demonstrate that they are generating real results that benefit the American people."
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David Walker President and CEO The Peter G. Peterson Foundation http://www.pgpf.org/ ; former, recently served for 10 years, Comptroller General of the United States and head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO).
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NPR's story on David Walker: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124460237
"public intelligence"
"What is Public Intelligence? Public Intelligence is an international, collaborative research project aimed at aggregating the collective work of independent researchers around the globe who wish to defend the public’s right to access information." http://publicintelligence.net/
A Nuclear Engineer's Report on the Bellefonte Nuclear Plant
Danger Zone: Aging Nuclear Reactors
Incident at Browns Ferry (PBS 1977)
History of nuclear power safety issues which the 1975 Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant fire brought forward. This video has been censored by the nuclear industry. The trillion dollar multinational nuclear death industry prefers to keep you the citizen in the dark and feed you crap.
Renaissance artists including Michelangelo, Sandro Botticelli, Pietro Perugino, Pinturicchio and others. Click on image for a tour. Left click & hold mouse to move image.
Bellefonte Efficiency and Sustainability Team/Mothers Against Tennessee River Radiation http://www.matrr.org/
"TVA at the Crossroads" a SACE Film.
"America is at an energy crossroads and the Tennessee Valley Authority has a choice to make: Will it cling to old coal power because of its historic significance or will it retire its oldest, dirtiest and least efficient plants and lead America into a clean energy future?" TVA At The Crossroads from SACE.
****************************I'm GARRY MORGAN, a Christian, U.S. Army (AMEDD) retired, Race Relations/Equal Opportunity Specialist (U.S.Army, Retired DOD-DRRI-DEOMI) a citizen of Scottsboro Alabama, a Baylor University grad-Go Bears, a political activist and a political Independent as I believe political parties divide the citizenry whom they are suppose to represent. We must learn the lessons of our history or we will surely repeat our mistakes. I think the greatest problem facing our nation is the massive national and personal debt.
