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."
Scottsboro Police Officer Shelton (left center) and Officer Henegar (right center), receive Life Saving Award. Chief Dawe on Right, Captain Godfrey next to Officer Henegar, Officer Shelton with Major Latimer, Mayor Shelton, City Council President Tony Wallingsford. (photo by G. Morgan)
Scottsboro Police Life Saving Award, Left to Right, Officer Shelton, Officer Henegar (Photo Scottsboro Police Department, Fair Use for non-profit news reporting)
Jackson County Commission Regular Session. Hot topic was the Sara Laine Subdivision issue in Stevenson, Alabama. Plat Map of the subdivision was dated in 1976 for the two parts of the subdivision, a north and south portion. Note map below, the portion above Jackie Circle., appears to be the north portion of the subdivision, which is not shown on the below plat video. (Photo by G. Morgan)
5 citizens spoke about the Sara Laine subdivision issue in Stevenson, Alabama at the commission meeting. (Photo by G. Morgan)
Approximation of City Limits of Stevenson, Alabama in relationship to the Sara Laine Subdivision, Sharon Drive and other streets. The City of Stevenson's representatives have requested the annexation of the entire subdivision. It was stated yesterday at the commission meeting that the Stevenson Mayor wants to only annex the streets, according to the commission chair. The Stevenson Mayor was not present; however, that is not how the Jackson County Commission agenda reads, items 3 & 4 on the agenda. Some of the subdivision is in the city, some is not as shown on the above google earth satellite map with approximation of the Stevenson City Limits.. A group of citizens residing there do not want to be in city limits. A public meeting, Jackson County Commission work session will be held in Stevenson on March 19, 2018. This seems to be a nightmare in the making if not handled properly. Additionally, there is the appearance that newer homes are dissected by the city limit boundary at some locations. (Map by G. Morgan utilizing Google Earth and Google Maps, Fair Use Rights for non-profit news reporting and commentary.)
Congressman Brooks asks where is the TV Stations, and ask who I worked for, I told him "Myself." I asked him his thoughts on cyber security, Mr. Brooks is on the Cybersecurity Caucus. The Congressman commented that President Trump has not implemented sanctions on Russia as a result of their meddling in U.S. elections. Special Counsel Mueller's investigation is ongoing with the recent indictments of Russians last week. (photo by G. Morgan)
Concerned Citizen asks questions about Federal Law Enforcement Pay when the employee is Retired Military. Mr. Brooks would not agree to look into retirement pay problems with this category of Federal Employees. (photo by G. Morgan)
Mr. Brooks has discussion with local citizen regarding health care, he displays rudeness toward citizen and tells her to sit down, she refuses, saying "I will not sit down, I have more to say." Mr. Brooks appears to be intimidated by women of the opposing political party, this has been witnessed at other Town Hall Meetings. Citizen comments may be seen in the 2 part citizen Q&A videos listed below.(Photo by G. Morgan)
VIDEOS
Opening - Mr. Brooks Opening, Debt and Deficit Spending
CITIZEN COMMENTS, Q and A SESSION, 2 PARTS
HEALTH CARE DEBATE
Scottsboro, Alabama February 20, 2018 Town Hall Health Care Debate - Scottsboro Citizen Jenny Carter (D) vs Congressman Mo Brooks (R. Al.) 5th Congressional District.
VIDEO EXCERPT OF THE DEBATE - Ms. CARTER vs Mr. BROOKS
Political elected officials are the stewards of OUR GOVERNMENT, not our dictators.
My thoughts, Jenni Carter wins the debate, post your thoughts or any comments in the comments section.
BELLEFONTE
Rick Roden, CEO Chamber of Commerce follow up after his comments at the end of Citizen Comments in the Part 2 Video.
It is important to remember that Bellefonte is still owned by the TVA. Mr. Franklin Haney has an option to purchase Bellefonte from the TVA and has placed earnest money of approximately $22 million dollars indicating his intent to purchase. His purchase option is open until November of this year; Mr. Haney had the high bid for the sale of $111 million. Ratepayers of the TVA area have over $5 billion dollars invested into the Bellefonte Nuclear Plant.
Haney states he believes he can finish the 55% completed Unit 1 and the 35% completed Unit 2 for $13 billion dollars. It has also been reported that he will probably apply and be granted a DOE Nuclear Grant of approximately $6 billion dollars.
It is estimated by private sources the plant will cost $15 billion dollars to complete. Every year that passes completion costs increase. Units 1 & 2 were both cannabilized when the construction license was surrendered in 2006. It will take approximately 5 to 7 years to complete Unit 1 and over 7 years to complete Unit 2. If the sale of the nuclear plant is finalized the nuclear construction license will need to be transferred resulting in public hearings related to the license transfer.
Congressman Brooks commented to a reporter on Bellefonte. Mr. Brook's support staff did not want me to video the ongoing interview. I asked of Mr. Brooks before he left, "What did he think about President Trump's plan to sell Transmission assets. He stated other Presidents had suggested the sale of TVA. I reminded Mr. Brooks that other Presidents suggested the sale of the entire TVA, not just the transmission assets. When asked if he would support such a sale he said, "Yes, if it lowered our debt." He also commented that he did not think there was legislative support in Congress to sell the TVA. Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee commented this past week about President Trump's suggestion of selling TVA transmission assets as "looney."
Segment of Interview about Bellefonte
There would be a problem with the sale of power outside of the TVA due to the TVA Act. There is also 'wheeling charges,' transmission of another corporation's generated power across TVA transmission assets. It appears the rate payers of the TVA area are being neglected as to financial benefit in this scheming of how to benefit Haney's Nuclear Development LLC in the deal.
Meanwhile it appears many organizations have not learned that the promises made and broken over the last 40 years plus do not give citizens and businesses any confidence that what the Chamber of Commerce and politicians are saying is more than idle banter. There is no definitive date of completion of the TVA Bellefonte Nuclear Facility purchase much less a discussion on license transfer and construction startup.
Council Members Keith Smith and Gary Stewart provide suggestions regarding Employee Retirement Incentives Program, City Clerk Whitney Phillips, on right, enters notations about council session.
City Council President Tony Wallingsford expresses concerns regarding the number of personnel eligible for retirement and the problems which would arise if a considerable number retired. 31 are eligible for retirement in Fiscal Year 2018, another 13 are eligible in 2019, total for the next 2 years would be 43 city employees would be eligible for retirement in the next 2 years.
Jackson County Commission in Session, photos by G. Morgan
AGENDA
VIDEO
Young Republicans sponsored Jackson County Sheriff Candidates Q and A Session at Pine Brothers Coffee Company, Scottsboro, Alabama; 2 Part Video presentation.
City Council President Tony Wallingsford delays City Employee Retirement Incentive Plans, or as it is called this week, "Service Reward for Employees." Agenda item 4 on this weeks agenda and item 5 on last weeks agenda. An attempt to have the Personnel Director make a presentation was blocked by Council President Wallingsford last week.
The committee work product, Retirement Incentive Plans, was evident as the work product was in the hands of a committee member last week, however the documents could not be presented as the Council President blocked the presentation.
A Committee consisting of Council Members Keith Smith, Patrick Stewart, Mayor Robin Shelton and Personnel Director Erin Dixon was appointed by Mr. Wallingsford several weeks previous. Why has Mr. Wallingsford blocked the findings and presentation of the committee? All postings related to Retirement Incentive Plans. http://arklite.blogspot.com/search/label/Retirement%20Incentives%20city%20employees
(Note January 22, 2018 city council video at approximately 11 minutes 30 seconds.)
Mr. Harold Prince complains about speed bumps, and requests their removal, placed on Sara Laine in Stevenson; Mr. Prince claims the speed bumps are outside of Stevenson City Limits and on county controlled roads. The Commission stated they will investigate and discuss the situation with Stevenson City officials.
Mr. Bill Payne of Bridgeport, along with other Bridgeport City Officials, requests that a County Probate and Revenue satellite office be located in a building which is yet to be built. County Officials stated that a satellite office would need to be funded and would be investigated as to a practical future plan.
County Jail and Sheriffs Department Officials make the 3rd presentation, the first being in 2013, regarding computer equipment improvements, specifically relating to fingerprinting equipment. This request was submitted in July of 2017. System upgrades will now cost near a thousand dollars more over last year. System upgrade costs are approximately $18,000. Software expenses and repairs for the obsolete system has increased substantially. There will also be a $500 reinstatement fee for the software service. Fingerprinting services are required for several background checks including ATF Firearm licenses, teachers, child care workers, postal workers and other agencies requiring background checks.
AGENDA
VIDEOS
Part 1 with Citizen Comments
Proposal to open satellite Probate and Revenue office in Bridgeport originating from public officials in Bridgeport. 3rd request from Sheriffs Department for update of fingerprint machine and software upgrades. First request goes back to 2013 when Sheriff Phillips requested computer upgrades for jail. The last request for the upgrades prior to today was July 2017.
VIDEO
Part 2 County Park contracts with restaurant and tackle shop/boat rental businesses discussed, plus other issues.
City Council President Tony Wallingsford center, City Clerk Whitney Phillips on left, City Attorney Steve Kennamer on right, opening of meeting. (photo by G. Morgan)
Council Member Keith Smith's Birthday (photo by G. Morgan)
Council Member Jessica Butler makes motion to adjourn. (photo by G. Morgan)
AGENDA
Discussion of city employee retirement Incentives, per Incentives Committee, agenda item 5, discussion stopped by Council President Tony Wallingsford. City Personnel Director was not allowed to present incentive amounts as discussed by Incentives Committee when called on by Council Member Patrick Stewart.
Discussion regarding purchase of 13 new police vehicles, agenda item 4, Chevy Tahoes fully equipped, approximate cost $44,000 each. (Photos Fair Use for non-profit news reporting, top photo by Scottsboro Police Department, bottom photo of Tahoe interior for police pursuit vehicle autoweb.com)
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
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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.
