Jackson County Commission Meeting - Work Session and Regular Session - 8-28-17

Jackson County Courthouse, North Side photo by G. Morgan

AGENDA

VIDEO

Scottsboro City Council Regular Session - Porter Road Public Hearing - August 28, 2017 - Past Videos on Porter Road Issue

Scottsboro City Hall photo by G. Morgan

AGENDA

VIDEO

Porter Road public input begins at 22:10 in the video.

Blast from the past - previous videos about Porter road. This is not the first time residents have been up in arms about Porter Road.

Jackson County Board of Education, August 24, 2017 - "We Vote for Our Buddies Around Here" - Use of Executive Sessions

Video by the Jackson County Board of Education, Scottsboro, Alabama, meeting on August 24, 2017. Fair Use for news Reporting, commentary and satire when applicable.

An Executive Session was voted on at approximately 1 minute 45 seconds into the video, the chair voted no, there were 4 yes votes to go into an executive session. However, this session was not certified by the County Board of Education Attorney. I have been informed by anonymous sources one of the reasons for the executive session was to discuss items that have been reported by the press about the Jackson County School System and the Board. Seems some on the board do not like for their shenanigans to be exposed.

"We vote for our buddies around here," full story from the Clarion    http://www.theclarion.org/index.php/news/top-stories/227-jcboe-votes-on-personnel-issues

Scottsboro City Council Work Session, Scottsboro Police Officers Lt. McGee and Patrol Officer Roney Receive Life Saving Award August 21, 2017

Scottsboro Police officers Lt. McGee and Patrol Officer Roney receive Life Saving Award from the City of Scottsboro officials for saving the life of a woman in a burning vehicle after a traffic accident. Thank you, job well done! Watch Video for more info. photo by G. Morgan

AGENDA

VIDEO

Scottsboro, Alabama - August 18, 2017 Press Conference - Jackson County Commission Chair Resigns Effective September 30, 2017

Jackson County Commission Chair Matthew Hodges - photo by G. Morgan

Today a letter of Resignation from the Jackson County Commission Chair, Matthew Hodges, was submitted to Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, effective date September 30, 2017. Governor Ivey is expected to appoint a Chair to the Commission shortly after Mr. Hodges resignation.

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Previous blog articles regarding this issue: http://arklite.blogspot.com/2017/07/jackson-county-commission-in-bridgeport.html

VIDEO of PRESS CONFERENCE

Jackson County Commission Meeting, Regular Session, 2 Part Video - UPDATE-Biosolids Update (8-21-17) Poisoned Water? - When Does Pollution via Sewage Sludge Spreading on Farm Land and in Mines Become a Problem? August 14, 2017

It has been stated by parties appearing before the Jackson County Commission that the spreading of sewer sludge from Chattanooga, Tn on farms and reclaimed mining property by contractors of the City of Chattanooga, Tn, is safe, that is questionable. The questions which must be asked, how severe is the contamination/pollution and all sources.

Foam from so called Biosolids application on farmland in the Flat Rock Community in February 2016. photo provided by Darlene Higdon

More foam run off, Feb. 2016 photo provided by Darlene Higdon

DEATH FROM SEWER SLUDGE

UPDATE - 8-21-17: An Overview of the Dangers of Sewer sludge (Biosolids) by Thomas Maler, Ph.D.

http://biosolidsbattleblog.blogspot.com/2017/02/an-overview-of-dangers-of-sewer-sludge.html

Many thanks to Luca Vincent for her input on Facebook regarding sewer sludge/biosolids pollution.

Luca Vincent -  It is so important to remember that sewer sludge aka biosolids is NOT just poop - it is a concentration of all domestic and industrial pollutants that go down drains and sewers. It has some good stuff in it, which plants can use, but a huge load of thousands of other contaminants. Please read what independent scientists have to say on this issue - 

Three Informed Views on Sewer Sludge (aka Biosolids)

Dr. Caroline Snyder - "Land-applied municipal sewage sludge (biosolids) is a highly complex and unpredictable mixture of biological and chemical pollutants. Biosolids generated in our large industrialized urban centers is very likely the most pollutant- rich waste mixture of the 21st century."

Dr. Marilyn Cameron - "We are concerned that farmers are not being provided adequate information about biosolids and the negative impacts that its use could have on your soils, groundwater and surface water sources, livestock health, and property values. Farmers will be the ones left paying the price for any damaged land, contaminated water, or human, wildlife and livestock illnesses, etc. Farmers may also suffer losses resulting from lack of consumer confidence in local foods"

Dr. Richard Honour - ""Few in any governments appreciate that nearly all chronic diseases are caused by long-term exposure to low levels of environmental contaminants and pollutants. We should be trying to minimize this exposure, not amplifying it. It is time to end land disposal of Toxic Sewer sludge, and look at cleaner, greener alternatives - gasification / pyrolysis."
Let's get on the right side of history, and use this waste resource to make energy. It is time to stop covering Mother Earth with our cities' toxic sewage. 

And see this link for a great overview of the issues - http://bit.ly/2kehQlP by Dr. Thomas Maler 
A great article from Scientific American - https://www.scientificamerican.com/.../drugs-chemicals.../

Scientists against land dispersed "biosolids"
Canadian- http://bit.ly/1sb2qOP 
UK- http://www.wte-ltd.co.uk/sewage_sludge_biosolids.html
US- http://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.est.5b01931

Biosolids on Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jz0LlFEFSs - For the section of the film dealing with Toxic Sludge start at the 32.40 minute point ... 
Dr David Lewis interview - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEhl57IoaPo
Trailer for upcoming film - Biosludged - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrhdM3QFwf0
NFB Crap Shoot -https://www.nfb.ca/.../crapshoot_the_gamble_with_our_wastes/
Sludge Diet - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYvU15dwFeA
Spreading sewage sludge on farmland - https://vimeo.com/24854061

The Green Alternative - The answer is gasification / pyrolysis ...not simply dispersing this toxic waste on farms and forests - 
see - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7EZjUOywzE
and see - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcq_soCc6dc
and see - http://www.cbc.ca/.../plasma-gasification-alberta...
and see - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUDyKpOyYa4
lets get energy out of this resource AND rid the environment of these toxins.

Why does Jackson County Alabama have a high cancer rate? Sewer Sludge is but one reason, it is the total waste of individual and corporate America. It is poison and not all of the contaminants can be removed. Cancer death rate of Jackson County Alabama and the entire state from the National Cancer Institute. 

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management, the Health Department, the Legislative Delegation, the Jackson County Commission have all been contacted. Politicians and public officials seem to not be concerned about this pollution problem, or give lip service to this problem without resolution. 

Area of Sludge Contamination is Large, area within the yellow line.

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VIDEO - Field Investigation Bryant Creek, Rosalie Alabama on the property of Mr. Jim Kirby.

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VIDEO County Commission Meeting Part 1,Environmental Concerns Expressed from Fabious to Rosalie on Sand Mountain; Tennessee River from Coon Gulf to Jones Cove.



                 Petition regarding the Sewer Sludge Biosolids Issue
                         (Click on image for an expanded view.)

                                              VIDEO Part 2

Scottsboro City Council Meeting August 14, 2017

Scottsboro City Hall, photo by G. Morgan

AGENDA

VIDEO

Scottsboro City Council Work Session and 1st Public Hearing on B.B. Comer Bridge Sculpture at the Scottsboro High School August 7, 2017

Scottsboro City Hall photo by G. Morgan

AGENDA

VIDEO PART 1

Public Hearing and Items 1 and 2 on Agenda

VIDEO for PART 2 AGENDA Items 3 - 11 

Jackson County Commission Work Session, August 7, 2017 More on Flat Rock Sewage Sludge - Historical Practice of Intentional Contamination of Water Supply

North entrance of the Jackson County Courthouse Scottsboro, Alabama - photo by G. Morgan

AGENDA

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Note item 2 on the agenda - "Fertilizer" that is not what some citizens in Flat Rock call it, they say it smells like "crap." 

There has been a long history of sewage sludge and mining pollution on Sand Mountain. In 1995 time frame there was a massive fish kill in Coon Gulf, off the Tennessee River below Fabious in what citizens demonstrated via photos and documents, intentional violations of law involving the dumping of Sewage into mining pits by the City of Chattanooga in the mid 1990's time frame, under the not so watchful eyes of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management and apparently the TVA according to sources interviewed. More on this situation as documents are received.

Reference item 2 in agenda - States fertilizer spraying in Flat Rock, Alabama on fields. Representatives of Denali Water Solutions, contract holder to spray treated waste water sludge from the City of Chattanooga, Tn. Representatives of Denali Water solutions are contracted by the City of Chattanooga to apply biosolids application to fields

UPDATE - 8-9-17 Letter to Private Citizen Regarding the Application of Biosolids. The folks from Denali Water Solutions nor Lake Majestik Farms indicated they were not aware of this letter. The letter states the City of Chattanooga will not be applying biosolids on farm land owned by Lake Majestik Farms. In conversations and inquiry to representatives of Denali Water Solutions they indicated they were contracted by the City of Chattanooga for the application of biosolids to farmland in Jackson County.

Some farmers have purchased treated sewage sludge from the Chattanooga, Tn. wastewater facility at the Moccasin Bend sewage treatment facility. There have been several citizen complaints about this action from citizens. I have pertinent information regarding this "Biosolids" program, but I'm waiting for historical info and letters from the Mayor of Chattanooga regarding complaints related to the Biosolids program. When I receive the historical documents I will update this blog with the historical and new information.

Dumping of biosolids, sewage sludge had contaminated several wells on Sand Mountain in the mid 1990's. Article from the Huntsville Times in 2008. Over 60% of the wells in the Fabious area were contaminated due to sludge dumping from the City of Chattanooga into mining pits. Article from the Huntsville Times in 2008.

I am in possession of a Health Department document indication over 60% of the wells, of 137 total wells, are contaminated in the Fabious Community due to apparent illegal dumping of sewage waste from Chattanooga, Tn. I will not be posting the document within to protect the privacy, addresses, of contaminated well owners.

Guidance on Sewage Sludge Application: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-05/documents/land_application_of_sewage_sludge_december_1994.pdf

Plain English Rule to Biosolids Applications: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-05/documents/a_plain_english_guide_to_the_epa_part_503_biosolids_rule.pdf

EPA info on Biosolids: https://www.epa.gov/biosolids/frequent-questions-about-biosolids

State by State Biosolids Regulations: https://www.scribd.com/document/41719143/Sludge-Regulations-Alabama

VIDEO