Bellefonte Nuclear Plant and Insanity = Are our Political Leaders Stoned?

The Nuclear Zombie by Edwin Vasquez published in The Nation in an article by Christian Parenti on aging nuclear plants http://www.thenation.com/article/zombie-nuke-plants/

Fair Use for non-profit news reporting and commentary.

Insanity - "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." Re: Bellefonte Nuclear Plant Potential Sale https://www.tva.com/file_source/TVA/Site%20Content/News/Bellefonte/Bellefonte%20Nuclear%20Plant%20Site%20Comment%20Report.pdf

The quote (courtesy Quora https://www.quora.com/Did-Einstein-really-define-insanity-as-doing-the-same-thing-over-and-over-again-and-expecting-different-results Fair use for non-profit news reporting and commentary.)  Insanity - "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."  " is generally attributed to Einstein in most online quote collections, however there seems to be significant debate about the authenticity of this attribution. Others like Mark Twain, an old Chinese proverb and Benjamin Franklin have also been suggested as the originators, but general consensus concludes that they have a significantly lesser claim than Einstein."

"The earliest claim is that Einstein used and published the quote in his "Letters to Solovine 1951" however no specific reference has yet been supplied from that source. There is apparently an attribution to Einstein using this quote in a transactions of the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference, Volume 71, p. 54, Wildlife Management Institute, published in 1975 although according to Bill Hood's answer, this volume was actually published in 2006."

"Other verifiable evidence of the quote's original authorship come from:

1.Rita Mae Brown's 1983 novel, Sudden Death, published by Bantam Books, New York p.68 (attributed to Jane Fulton)

2.Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) pamphlet - Step 2: A promise of Hope, p10, James G. Jenson, 1980.

3.Narcotics Anonymous - The Basic Text of Narcotics Anonymous which was copyrighted in 1981. It is found on page 11 of the final "Review Form" which was distributed to the fellowship in November of 1981. The quote in that text is "Insanity is repeating the same mistakes and expecting different results". "

It seems our political leadership have been drunk and stoned about the Bellefonte Nuclear Plant for more than 40 years.They succomb to corporate-governmental peer group pressure and are addicted to the drug of government promises and deceit. Unfortunately, they have never learned the lessons of our local history regarding Bellefonte. Such is the story with substance abuse. Shall we send our government's leadership to color code so that they may be tested for addiction?

Scottsboro City Council 4-25-16 Regular Session and Jackson County Commission Regular Session 4-26-16 Commission Makes Jackson County's Official Song, Curly Putnam's "Green, Green Grass of Home"

Photo of Paint rock Valley, photographer unknown - Fair Use for non-profit news reporting.

"The Green, Green Grass of Home"

Curly Putman's latest album.

The Official Song of Jackson County Alabama is a song about an inmate on death row.

In the below link, you will find a biographical video about Mr. Putman in the Country Music Hall of Fame.

POETS AND PROPHETS - A SALUTE TO COUNTRY MUSIC SONGWRITER CURLY PUTMAN

March 28, 2009

"Curly Putman’s career proves that sometimes elusive dreams come true. As writer or co-writer of the country classics “D-I-V-O-R-C-E,” “Green, Green Grass of Home,” “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” and “My Elusive Dreams,” among many others, Putman worked his way up from a struggling rural Alabama songwriter to become one of country music’s most heralded tunesmiths, moving through various cities and jobs along the way."

Read more: Poets and Prophets: Salute to Legendary Country Songwriter Curly Putman
Follow us: @countrymusichof on Twitter | countrymusichof on Facebook

                   Agenda of the Jackson County Commission

                        City of Scottsboro City Council Agenda

VIDEO

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) 2015 Assessment on TVA's Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, April 19, 2016

April 19, 2016, Decatur, Alabama at Calhoun College,TVA Browns Ferry Nuclear Facility Annual Assessment for 2015, Part 1 and 2 videos, Annual Report posted below via PDF, courtesy of the Chattanooga Times Free Press. Many thanks to the members and donors of BREDL/BEST/MATRR who make these reports possible. . Special thanks to Nancy and Meghan Muse for their timely entrance, you saved me from a NRC shutdown of questions in the public venue. "Let us hear the questions, the research," you said. Very important statement from you. Vitally important that multiple citizens attend these meetings and comment.

NRC Statement by Alan Blamey, Region 2 Chief of the reactor projects stated,"[We]determined that overall, Browns Ferry Units 1, 2, and 3 operated in a manner that preserved public health and safety and met all cornerstone objectives."

NRC Assessment Letter
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/business/aroundregion/story/2016/apr/13/nuclear-regulatory-commission-gives-top-ratings-browns-ferry-plant/359960/#document_1567

A big change, big improvement from this 2011 story regarding problems at the 3 GE Mark 1 Nuclear Reactors. http://blog.al.com/huntsville-times-business/2011/09/tvas_browns_ferry_reactor_need.html

VIDEOS of Assessment questions

PART 2


PART 1


About TVA's Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant - https://www.tva.gov/Energy/Our-Power-System/Nuclear/Browns-Ferry-Nuclear-Plant 

Significant recent news story - Radiation triggers high alert at Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant - http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/business/aroundregion/story/2016/apr/07/high-radiation-triggers-alert-browns-ferry/359266/

TVA's Sequoyah Nuclear Facility, 2015 Annual Assessment and SOARCA - April 20, 2016

Safecast Monitoring Info - Chattanooga to Sequoyah Nuclear Facility - https://api.safecast.org/en-US/bgeigie_imports/22879

April 20, 2016, Soddy Daisy, Tn.,TVA Sequoyah Nuclear Facility - NRC 2015 Annual Assessment Questions about the January 2015 Fine Levied Against TVA - Q&A about Event Reports - 5 Scrams on Unit 1 Sequoyah. NRC to increase oversight on Sequoyah Unit 1 due to number of unplanned shutdowns, scrams:http://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML1531/ML1531... Also in 2015, TVA was fined for earlier Sequoyah regulatory findings related to no Fire Watches and Falsification of Records by contractor - http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2015/mar/12/tvfined-fire-safety-violations-nuclear-plantc/292823/


April 20, 2016 Part 3 Soddy Daisy, Tn., TVA Sequoyah Nuclear Facility; Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) State-of-the-Art Reactor Consequence Analyses (SOARCA), Public Information Session.

The SOARCA Process

(NRC-The SOARCA Process - Fair Use for non-profit news reporting.)

Overall, the State-of-the-Art Reactor Consequence Analyses (SOARCA) process includes five general steps, as illustrated in the flowchart to the right. See the following pages for discussions of the methods and rationale that the project team uses in each step to determine the realistic consequences of the select severe accident scenarios:

• Step 1: Selecting Accident Scenarios to Model
• Step 2: Modeling Onsite Accident Progression and Mitigation Measures
• Step 3: Modeling Offsite Release of Radioactive Material
• Step 4: Modeling Emergency Response
• Step 5: Modeling Health Effects

Bias in Health Effects Modeling?

April 20, 2016 Soddy Daisy, Tn., Sequoyah Nuclear Facility; Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) State-of-the-Art Reactor Consequence Analyses (SOARCA), Public Information Session. This video highlights offsite health consequences of a severe accident, modeling; focus here is on skewered health risk factors - fact vs fallacy in NRC's modeling program. NRC - SOARCA site modeling of health effects indicates bias in modeling of health effects in support of the nuclear industry. The bias is evidenced in this video. 

NRC Reference: http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/regulatory/research/soar/soarca-health-effects.html There is no reference in the NRC link to the BIER VII Report which strongly supports the  linear no-threshold (LNT) model. However, the NRC site states - "The risk of a latent cancer fatality (LCF) from chronic exposure to low doses of radiation is very uncertain." The NRC site goes on to state it utilized the BIER V Report, which has been updated by the BIER VII Report which is ignored by the NRC. Inquiries addressed to NRC personnel and Sandia National Laboratory present indicated they apparently did not include specific groups of people in their health consequences modeling, e.g. infants, pregnant women young women of child bearing age and children who are most susceptible to ionizing radiation exposure.

April 20, 2016 Soddy Daisy, Tn., TVA Sequoyah Nuclear Facility Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) State-of-the-Art Reactor Consequence Analyses (SOARCA), Public Information Session. Presentation by David Lochbaum, Union of Concerned Scientists. 

My apologies for the sound quality. The training room has a speaker system, however it is never used for public meetings such as this. I have complained to the NRC about the poor sound quality and I have ask for them to utilize the sound system. Unfortunately they are not responsive to having good sound so that participants may actually hear the presentation. 

Scottsboro City Council Work Session April 18, 2016

Scottsboro city Hall photo by G. Morgan

AGENDA

Item 3 on Agenda, RDA presentation

Click on image for an expanded view.

VIDEO

Records Request to City of Scottsboro regarding contracts with Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne Law Firm. Request includes contract(s) involving personal representation for political officials, personnel actions representation and exactly for what reasons the law firm of Lanier and Ford represents Scottsboro and the amount of money paid to the firm.

Records Request

Click on image for an expanded view.

Jackson County Commission Work Session April 18, 2016

      PICTURES FROM THE COMMISSION MEETING
                 (All photos by G. Morgan

AGENDA

MEETING VIDEO

Agenda Item 12 - Sales Tax Bill, Questions and Explanation

Snail Mail - Super Mayor - Keith Smith - Bad Government - Discrimination - "Deep Throat 9" Scottsboro Informants, The Series Continues

"Snail Mail Rubber Stamp" Fair Use for non-profit news reporting and commentary.

(Edited 4-16-16 10:00 PM)Sometimes mail is slow, thus the "snail mail" designation. The anonymous mailing regarding what an anonymous writer thinks of Scottsboro Mayor Melton Potter takes snail mail to new heights, or lows as one may interpret. 

The street is redacted because of threats I have received. It seems some do not like criticism of local politicians. The childlike address entry on the envelope does not match the letter content which I'll post below.

I Received the December 30, 2015 postmarked letter on April 11, 2016.

The address was wrong, so was the spelling of my name. However, this is not the only anonymous mailing I have received in the attempt to support Scottsboro's failed leadership in the name of Mayor Melton Potter. Other anonymous mailings and postings within this blog were either derogatory in descriptions of employee informants or downright lies pointed at me. Frankly, I'm tired of the attempt to hide and cover-up bad government in Scottsboro, Alabama by the City Council and misinformed citizens. The election of  former long term political appointees serves to create BAD GOVERNMENT, and long term political appointees now elected represent a very select few of Scottsboro citizens.

photo by G. Morgan

In bringing forward issues to the City Council regarding failures of government, one official in Scottsboro has falsely characterized my writings within this blog as lies, that be Council Member Keith Smith. His statement is based on misguided ideology, un-Christian like behavior and the pompous self-righteous behavior of one government official attempting to cover-up another government official's bad behavior.  http://arklite.blogspot.com/search/label/Scottsboro%20City%20Council  

In my opinion, Council Member Keith Smith is a charlatan and supports his close knit group of elitist friends and power brokers, he does not represent all the citizens of Scottsboro, Alabama. Smith will say anything to support his ideology of pompous elitism in government, even if it includes deceit and untruthful allegations. 

Council Member Smith falsely accused me of destroying lives in Scottsboro, more than anyone, according to Smith because of my exposes on elected leadership in Scottsboro, Alabama, reference these articles  http://arklite.blogspot.com/search/label/Surveillance  

Everything I reported and included in my informant's exposes and associated articles are supported by written documentation, statements from Scottsboro Employees and court documents. For Council Member Smith to say, I have destroyed more lives than anyone is an intentional attempt to facilitate deceit, hatred and animosity toward me in support of public officials practicing what may be described as  BAD GOVERNMENT for a select few.

ARCHIBALDS on K Street - "A Washington Monument since 1969 - If you can find the Whitehouse you can find Archibalds."

Apparently Smith has a problem separating satire and investigative technique from reality. The question was asked, "I wonder what the strippers would have called our Mayor at Archibalds? Would it have been Senator as they called him Governor at the Cheetah." The mayor never said anything about any of it, he left that up to Council Member Keith Smith who went into a tirade about what he claimed are my writing lies (meaning this blog and Face Book articles). Smith said he didn't go to the strip club, he was home taking care of his family; the Mayor was at a revival, nor did he think anyone else from the City Council went to the strip club. My written reply, paraphrased, I never said Smith nor the city council went to a strip club. Council Member Smith's comments were subterfuge, attempting to take the heat off of the Mayor's discriminatory practices and bad leadership examples. 

I asked a satirical question which Smith answered with deceit and pompous ridiculousness. The Mayor said nothing, you said it all Council Member Smith, and there was no denying anything about the Cheetah escapades, as other City Employees were involved. You forgot your investigative techniques, you nor the Mayor didn't go to Archibalds when the Council and others went to Washington, but the fact you, the Mayor, nor others addressed the trip to Atlanta, to the Cheetah Club was revealing; that was the point of the satire: "Would they have called the Mayor Senator at Archibald's as they called him Governor at the Cheetah?" Nothing was said about previous trips to Washington , D.C. and visits to strip clubs, until now.

Demolition

At the same time Smith was ranting about my writing regarding the Mayor and attempting to deceptively convince others that my writings within were false, there were questions regarding the wrongful application of demolition and abatement of private property nuisances. Council Member Keith Smith implicated Mayor Melton Potter on video stating he went to Ms. Gross and offered to demolish the property per order of the Mayor, regarding the demolition of Margaret Gross's daughters property, formerly Margaret Gross's property. In that display of ridiculousness Council Member Smith stated Gross and he were not related, as I stated they were related (they may be related); but that was not the point, the point is personal favors for certain people in Scottsboro, Alabama. The Mayor stated, paraphrased,we have been doing this all along, mentioning 24 other properties, 6 identical property demolitions. Really Mr. Mayor, a failure to follow state law regarding property demolition in what appears to be the misapplication of abatement of public nuisances and private property demolition. Based on my research regarding demolition of private property, regarding the Mayor's and Council Member Smith's actions concerning the Gross property, appears to have cost the taxpayers anywhere from $3,000 to $8,000 in the scheme. How many more properties were involved in what may be illegal abatement and demolition practices by the city of Scottsboro officials?

Links to blog articles - http://arklite.blogspot.com/search/label/demolition%20on%20private%20property

photo by G. Morgan

The "Super Mayor" Letter received in the above pictured envelope.

(How many buildings did he leap in a single bound?)

Click on image for an expanded view.

Mr. or Ms. Concerned Scottsboro Citizen, here is your letter. It be my thoughts that it is citizens such as you who are responsible for BAD GOVERNMENT. Your letter is posted, I would have posted it sooner, but I just received it this week. 

Update: 4-18-!6 - About your letter Mr. or Ms Anonymous, it is a fallacy. To say Melton Potter accomplished all the things you say is not true. The two politicians who are previous city employees paint themselves as "the saviors" of  "The 'boro." 

You classify my writings as negative, that is also not true, that is an example of prejudicial thinking. I'm providing you reports, occasional satire and opinions. All to often there is a move on the part of those who are supportive of BAD GOVERNMENT, and those building personal realms of power, to typify and classify anyone who does not  agree with uninformed poor leadership into the category of negative. To say I write only negative items about our area is also not true.

 Here is another opinion of mine, you and those who follow your mind set are dangerous to the Republic and the City of Scottsboro, Alabama. You Mr. or Ms. Anonymous, would have made King George the 3rd an excellent Tory. The sooner elected representatives such as Melton Potter and Keith Smith are out of office the better off we will be, in my opinion. It is also my opinion that the City Council of the City of Scottsboro has a responsibility regarding the practices of government. They need to meet their responsibilities instead of remaining silent.

Gentleman on the City Council, what are you afraid of, being reelected, or not? It is your job to be stewards of the people and offer forth vision and leadership for Scottsboro. Silence about bad government and misapplication of public policy is not part of your responsibilities.

Discrimination pointed at Scottsboro Female Employees

It has been brought to my attention once again that our illustrious leader, Mayor Melton Potter, continues his policies reflecting discriminatory action and BAD GOVERNMENT. 

`QUESTION - WHO IS "RUNNING" THE CITY OF SCOTTSBORO?

LANIER-FORD LAW FIRM OR INCOMPETANT POLITICAL LEADERSHIP, MAYBE BOTH?

WAKE UP CITIZENS OF SCOTTSBORO, WE HAVE A PROBLEM AT CITY HALL

photo by G. Morgan

 Face Book posting. (Update 4-19-16)

A government entity whose leadership rules with tactics of fear and deceit instead of proven leadership principles is a drag on the community. This is the problem when citizens elect 25 year plus political appointees to Mayor and City Council positions. Particularly when those individuals demonstrate a lack of leadership skills.

Unfortunately we have some elected leadership in Scottsboro Alabama who are narcissistic, pompous, and elitist who do not represent all the citizens of the community. These two particular so called leaders (pictured above) are deceptive and have a degree of self importance which is reflective of their misguided examples of leadership failures.

In our Southern Culture we have, in many instances, been trained to not say anything regarding failed political leadership, even to demonstrate a worship type of mentality toward elected leaders. Folks, that is the propaganda of a theocratic state. Respect is earned, it is not a given. For the two individuals pictured above, it be my personal opinion they should retire immediately, and enjoy life as one says, "taking care of their family," instead of demonstrating deceit, discriminatory practices, bad leadership, a pompous degree of self importance and support of their special friends in the community instead of the entire community. 

Nuclear Regulatory Commission Open house and Public Comment Session onTennessee Valley Authority's Early Site Permit Application for Small Modular Reactors at the Clinch River Site, Oak Ridge, Tennessee - April 12, 2016 (Updated Apr. 16, 2016)

Small Modular Reactor Designs - Fair Use for non-profit news reporting, graphic from http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/Small-Modular-Reactor-Startup-Using-Molten-Salt-Nuclear-Design-Wins-7M-in

"TVA wants to build the small modular reactor (SMR) in an area on the Clinch River near the southwest edge of Oak Ridge.  This is the same site where TVA proposed to build the breeder reactor in the 1980s that was scrapped due to budget cuts and safety concerns." News article with video: http://www.wbir.com/news/local/tva-applying-for-permit-to-build-smaller-nuclear-reactor-in-oak-ridge/112723402

Union of Concerned Scientists - SMR's will not resolve cost, safety and security problems

WASHINGTON (September 26, 2013)—Nuclear power proponents pinning their hopes on small modular nuclear reactors to resurrect the industry’s fortunes will likely be disappointed, according to a report released today by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). The report, Small Isn’t Always Beautiful, concludes it will be extremely difficult for small reactors—which are less than a third the size of a standard 1,000-megawatt nuclear reactor—to generate less expensive electricity and, at the same time, be safer than their larger cousins.

“Nuclear safety and security don’t come cheap,” said UCS Senior Scientist Edwin Lyman, the author of the report. “A utility that thinks it can have its own little nuclear reactor at a bargain-basement price may get exactly what it pays for: a plant more vulnerable to serious accidents and terrorist attacks.” http://www.ucsusa.org/news/press_release/small-modular-nuclear-reactor-0404.html#.VxFoPZX2bIV

BREDL/BEST/MATRR

On April 12 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. members of the Bellefonte Efficiency and Sustainability Team/Mothers Against Tennessee River Radiation (BEST/MATRR), a local chapter of the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League (BREDL) attended the open house and information session. We conducted interviews with TVA Clinch River Project Manager, Dan Stout, and the Attorney with the Tennessee Sierra Club, Brian Paddock. The information session was held at the Pollard Center on the campus of Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge Tennessee.

SafeCast Ionizing Radiation Monitoring at Oak Ridge and Environs - 

https://api.safecast.org/en-US/bgeigie_imports/22565

High Count per Minute was 46cpm, low was 18cpm. The B-geigy Monitor was mounted on the right side of the vehicle 1 meter from ground level. Counts Per Minute (cpm) were within normal background radiation parameters for the area.

VIDEOS

Introductory Video

Interview with Dan Stout, TVA Project Manager, Clinch River SMR Site


Interview with Brian Paddock, Esq., Attorney with the Tennessee Sierra Club


NRC Explanation of Early Site Permit Process, selected segments.


Citizen Comments, Questions and Concerns, selected segments.


NRC VIDEO on SMR's - Nov 13, 2014



TVA Slide Show on SMR's http://www.slideshare.net/orau/stout-tva-day-1-panel-1


DOE on SMR's http://www.energy.gov/ne/nuclear-reactor-technologies/small-modular-nuclear-reactors

Small Modular Reactors Not Likely Before 2020  http://oakridgetoday.com/2016/04/13/small-nuclear-reactors-not-likely-before-mid-2020s/

NRC - Tennessee Valley Authority Clinch River Site Early Site Permit Application 
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) intends to submit an Early Site Permit Application (ESPA) for two or more small modular reactor (SMR) modules (up to 800 MWe, 2420 MWt) at the Clinch River Nuclear (CRN) site to the NRC for review in the second quarter of NRC fiscal year (FY) 2016 (first quarter of calendar year (CY) 2016). The application will use the Plant Parameter Envelope (PPE) approach, by which an applicant provides sufficient bounding parameters and characteristics of the reactor or reactors, and the associated facilities, so that assessments of site safety and environmental suitability can be made by NRC.

For additional information, please use the Advanced Web Search feature of our Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS), and enter PROJ0785 in the "Docket Number" field.
For additional detail, see the following topics on this page:

• Letters and Other Pre-Application Correspondence
• Regulatory Framework Development

 http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/advanced/clinch-river.html

                                BREDL FACT SHEET ON SMR's
                        Click on image for an expanded view.)

Complaint to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission OIG for violation of the Federal Sunshine in Government Act. 

The NRC held a separate meeting for public officials at 9AM on April 12, 2016. This separate meeting makes no sense, since the only information to be presented is allegedly public information. The separate meeting effectively isolates public officials from the public. The NRC General counsel has confirmed receipt of this complaint.

COMPLAINT TEXT

NRC OIG Complaint – 4-8-16 
Subject: Separate Meeting for public officials Regarding SMR Project.
From: Garry Morgan, Scottsboro, Alabama


Violation of Government in the Sunshine Act Pub.L. 94–409, 90 Stat. 1241, 5 U.S.C. § 552b - Regarding holding a separate meeting, secret meeting, with local public officials, outside of a public meetings scheduled on April 12, 2016 - Reference NRC Public Affairs Notice 16-016, regarding Small Modular Reactors at the Clinch River Site near Oak Ridge, Tn. There is no mention of the separate secret meeting in the official notice with public officials which is scheduled on 4-12-16 at 9AM, location Hilton Hotel or Pollard Auditorium, per "un-named" (names redacted, confirmed from 2 separate officials) NRC Officials.


Although this is not a deliberation of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission it is a Public Meeting as scheduled and there will be many different public officials from various public entities attending this secret meeting for public officials which is allegedly to discuss the same information to be presented at the afternoon and evening public meetings in the described NRC meeting announcement. 


Why a secret meeting prior to the regularly scheduled meeting? Could it be there are site problems or other problems which the DOE, NRC, TVA does not want the public to know about? Are there secret site plans which federal and local officials will consider which the various federal agencies involved do not want the public atlarge to be aware? Surely all involved want to hear public comments - why would a federal agency move to isolate public officials from the public? Is there a need for secrecy involving what should be public information? 


The legislative intent of the Sunshine Act is as follows: "The basic premise of the sunshine legislation is that, in the words of federalist No. 49, 'the people are the only legitimate foundation of power, and it is from them that the constitutional charter ... is derived.' Government is and should be the servant of the people, and it should be fully accountable to them for the actions which it supposedly takes on their behalf." (U.S.C.C.A.N. 2183, 2186).


The NRC's intentional isolation of various government officials from the public in a separate meeting violates the very spirit and intent of the United States of America's Federal Sunshine in Government Act. Many items discussed in these public meetings will be deliberated on at a later date in various governmental entities. 


It is vitally important that all government officials hear all public input, not just the input from federal officials and contractors connected with the Small Modular Reactor Projects. Holding a separate public officials meeting isolates public officials from the electorate, taxpayers and ratepayers, the stakeholders which the NRC are supposed to protect. 


Isolation of public officials from the public in a separate secret meeting for public officials does not facilitate open government as described in the Federal Sunshine Act and does not display
your role as the regulator in a positive light, the isolation of public officials by holding a separate meeting for public officials violates the intent of the Federal Sunshine Act.


I am asking the NRC OIG to initiate action to stop any separate meeting which isolates public officials from the public in NRC Public Meetings.

Scottsboro City Council Meeting, Mrs Gail Duffey, Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast Ticket Sales to City Council

Mrs Gail Duffey encourages City Council Members to purchase Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast Tickets. All proceeds for the Pancake Breakfast goes to fund Scholarships for Scottsboro High School Students. (photo by G. Morgan)

AGENDA

VIDEO

Jackson County Commission Regular Session - Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast Ticket Sales by Mrs. Duffey April 11, 2016

Mrs. Gail Duffey sells Kiwanis Club Pancake Breakfast Tickets to Commissioners. All proceeds go to Scottsboro High School Scholarships. (photo by G. Morgan)

AGENDA

Secretary of State Letter Regarding Voter Registration

(Click on image for an expanded view.)

VIDEO

Scottsboro City Council Work Session - A Question of Priorities - Financial Info Regarding City Capital Projects - Raymond James Financial $2.83 Million Payback for $3 Million in Bonds?? First Monday Weekend, "Cruz'n the 'Boro"

Scottsboro City Hall (photo by G. Morgan)

AGENDA

Click on agenda for an expanded view.

Special Video - Segments from Raymond James Financial Services on proposed bond issue. Mayors comments on project dates, Council Member Smith and Wallingsford expresses concerns and ask important questions.

Recent photo of tornado taken from roof of Highlands Medical Center. (photo WHNT-TV Fair Use for non-profit News Reporting.)

There seems to be a question of priorities regarding spending of money. There is not one shelter in Scottsboro built by the City of Scottsboro. The Jackson Coiunty Courthouse is the only approved shelter; this leaves areas west, east and south in the City of Scottsboro without sufficient storm shelters. There are large mobile home communities in these areas.

HIGH RISK CORRIDOR - New Research of the increased frequencies of Tornado Activity in the Tennessee River Valley. http://blog.al.com/breaking/2013/09/birmingham_huntsville_part_of.html

(Fair Use rights for non-profit news reporting.)

Analysis in a research paper co-authored by a researcher at UAH showing the average annual path length (in km) of all significant (F2-F5) tornadoes passing within 40 km (25 miles) of a point between 1973 and 2011. The research graphic demonstrates that the Deep South has emerged as the nation's new tornado alley. (Coleman & Dixon research/American Meteorological Society).

Full City Council Meeting Video

First Monday Trade Days Weekend - Saturday Scottsboro Cruz'n


                            SCOTTSBORO BBQ COOKOFF

Jackson County Commission Results of Alabama Department of Public Examiners Report16-97

South side Jackson County Courthouse (photo by G. Morgan)

WAFF News Report Friday, April 1, 2016

"JACKSON COUNTY, AL (WAFF) -A new state audit criticizes a loan that the Jackson County Commission took out to pay for road repaving...

http://www.waff.com/story/31624214/state-auditors-warn-jackson-co-commission-on-use-of-loans

The complete audit report may be found at the State of Alabama Department of public Examiners

Enter - Jackson County Commission, Jackson County Alabama, 10-1-2013 to 9-30-2014

Audit Report # 16-97 Link: http://www.examiners.state.al.us/ReportSearch.aspx

.The auditor reported 2 findings

2014-001 Finding:

The Code of Alabama 1975, provides specific methods in which the County Commission may borrow funds for long-term debt. The Jackson County Commission entered into an installment loan with a local financial institution to obtain matching funds for the ATRIP program to be used for various resurfacing projects in the county. This method of borrowing funds for long-term debt was not authorized by statutes as provided in the Code of Alabama 1975.

Recommendation:

The Commission should ensure funds borrowed for long-term debt are authorized

by statute in the Code of Alabama 1975 (11-28-1 thru 11-28-7)

This pertained to a Motion made and approved on Feb.10, 2014 pertaining to borrowing money for ATRIP Loans. Motion with my notes regarding cited violation.

Link to commission meeting: http://arklite.blogspot.com/2014/02/jackson-county-commission-regular.html  The applicable portion in the video may be found at approximately 14min.50 sec.. 

Discussion of this project took place on Jan 21, 2014 at the Work Session.

Link: http://arklite.blogspot.com/2014/01/jackson-county-commission-meeting-on.html

I discussed this issue with Mr. Manning, County Administrator and Mr. Hodges, Chair of the Jackson County Commission; both Hodges and Manning indicated this is a technical issue of wording, and the state auditor mentioned the issue could be easily corrected by changing the wording to comply with the Code of Alabama 11-28-1 thru 11-28-7, specifically 11-28-2 regarding financial warrants. In 11-28-1 it is stated that the legislative intent of the chapter mentioned is to be "liberally construed" as to conformity with the code stated.

The second finding also involved financial matters from the year 2010 carried forward.

2010-001 Finding:

The Code of Alabama 1975, Section 11-8-3, provides the County Commission must prepare and adopt a budget for each fiscal year which estimates the anticipated revenue under its supervision and control including all unexpended balances. Additionally, the budget should include an estimate of expenditures for county operations. The appropriations made in the budget shall not exceed the estimated total revenue of the county available for appropriations. The Commission adopted a budget for the General Fund and Gasoline Tax Fund in which the expenditures/appropriations exceeded the anticipated revenues and unexpended balances. This resulted in the Commission budgeting a deficit fund balance.

Recommendation: The Commission should not budget expenditures in excess of anticipated revenues including unexpended balances in accordance with the Code of Alabama 1975, Section 11-8-3..

County Revenue in Alabama

This is a continuation of the deplorable state of the Alabama Constitution which is a holdover from Post Civil War Jim Crow Era of Alabama, the state must control everything local. The Counties in Alabama have no self rule. Municipalities have the authority to issue ordinances as authorized by the state. Counties can not pass any law without the approval of the State Legislative Body. Jackson County has no authority to raise taxes for the operation of its General Fund Budget. A previous voter referendum for a tax increase was voted down. 

Services cost money, if citizens are not willing to pay for services, they will receive the service they pay to receive. In the case of Jackson County Alabama  Commission General Fund that is a drop in income from a general fund amount of $12,000,000 in 2006 to a current general fund income of $7,000,000 for 2016, in a time of inflationary costs. The available amount of general funds are expected to continue to plunge approximately 12%  for FY 2017 due to further TVA in Lieu of Tax decreases.