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: May 14, 2019 Creating a Hostile Work Environment/Sexual Harassment - Public Records Request
On March 19, 2019 I submitted a public records request in accordance with the laws of the State of Alabama regarding allegations of Sexual Harassment and creating a Hostile Work Environment in the Municipal Court of Scottsboro against female personnel. On May 6, 2019 I received one document, a complaint made by Mrs. Caroline Starr, documentation confirms the complaint was made. As a result of this document receipt and interviews I have requested further specific documents to inform the public of alleged misconduct and/or illegal activity which have not been disclosed to the citizens of Scottsboro.
May 10 2019 - Public Records Request to the Mayor and City Clerk of the City of Scottsboro, Alabama.
Under the Alabama
Open Records Law 36-12-40 et seq., I am requesting an opportunity to
inspect or obtain copies of said public records, (Describe the records or
information sought with enough detail for the public agency to respond.) Also give the reason why you wish to review
these records. (You must give a valid reason)
Dates of Records Requested – (on or about)
February 1, 2019 thru May 3, 2019
1)Records Requested:
Reply to Mrs. Caroline Starr’s complaint to the City of Scottsboro on Municipal
Court Letterhead regarding “Harassment,” alleged false reports by City of Scottsboro Finance
Director Rick Wheeler and Former Municipal Judge Scott Berry. Only date on Mrs.
Starr’s complaint is
January 8, 2019
2)Records Requested: Disciplinary Action document,
dates between February 1, 2019 and April 30, 2019 - Written Reprimand from the Mayor of
Scottsboro Robin Shelton regarding Scottsboro Director of Finance Rick Wheeler involving
complaints registered to the City of Scottsboro involving “harassment,” alleged
misconduct toward Mrs. Caroline Starr and/or other personnel in the Municipal
Court.
3)Records Requested: Scottsboro Director of Finance
Rick Wheeler’s reply to
Disciplinary Action document/Written Reprimand addressed to the Mayor of
Scottsboro Robin Shelton, dates between March 1, 2019 and May 1, 2019
Records Requested are to be utilized for non-profit
news reporting on my blog, “In the Boro,”https://arklite.blogspot.com
. Records provided may be released to other area media outlets. Information
requested serves a public purpose to inform citizens.
AGENDA
Click on agenda image for an expanded view.
The City Council Meeting on May 20, 2019 will be a Work Session and Regular Meeting due to the Memorial Day Holiday on Monday, May 27, 2019
Jackson County Courthouse, North Side, photo by G. Morgan
AGENDA
--Voting place changes, item 1 on agenda.--
Click on agenda image for an expanded view.
VIDEO SHORT - REVENUE ISSUES
Statement from Tim Guffey, Chair of the Jackson County Commission, Regarding Budget and Revenue; dated May 10, 2019 (Tim Guffey's Facebook Page)
Jackson County is starting
to grow. New industry is moving in and existing industry is expanding
operations and hiring more people. This growth is great for the state and
cities they benefit from the growth but the county has no growth tax in place
and it has caused a massive financial problem.
Over the last six years,
we have lost over a million dollars in TVA in lieu of tax dollars. We DO NOT
receive any sales tax dollars. The two cents collected is earmarked for the City
and County School Systems.
--When you purchase a
driver license the county receives $1.50.
--When you purchase a tag,
the county receives $1.25
Our largest tax revenue is
with land taxes and it is not adequate to operate the county. We have cut out
wasteful spending, and now have 27 fewer employees today than we had 6 1/2
years ago.
The County Commission has
been responsible and has made as many cuts as we can without cutting the
services to our citizens. The County needs a growth tax that will grow as the
economy grows One penny of sales tax will fix the current financial problems
and make a way for paving around a 100 miles of roads per year, repair
dilapidated bridges and continue current services.
Federal grants for
projects are available but we currently cannot meet the match requirement. Most
of the matches require a 75/25 or 80/20 matching funds.
The County Commission’s
hands are tied since we cannot create revenue; therefore, we cannot fix the
problems we have here in Jackson County.
We have to depend on our
local legislators to increase the revenue needed unless they give the County
Commission that authority.
We have kicked the can
down the road for too many years and talked about fixing the problem, but now
is the time to fix the problem.
The people of Jackson
County deserve better roads and safer bridges. The citizens of Jackson County
just deserve better!
My door is always open to
anyone that would like to come in and talk about our budget situation or the
way our County operates.
Jackson County Courthouse, south side, photo by G. Morgan
Good News for Jackson
County Tax Payers - Secret Advisory Board for Historical Documents Display –
GOP Evangelical Wing Political Stunt.
When Special Interest
Groups attempt to use religious beliefs deceitfully to gain political power,
including facilitating religious hatred of Muslims in deceitful schemes of religious
discrimination to gain power, it is time to draw the line in the sand. We are a
nation of laws, a nation where law is king, not the President or the malicious
intents of a political party led by an unprosecuted criminal liar and con-man.
Recently the Jackson
county Commission appointed a Historical Documents Advisory Board to make
recommendations to the Jackson County Commission as to funding, and what
historical documents which are to be placed on county property. Additionally
there is no indication this board will meet in the public venue, at this point
their meetings will be conducted in secret. In reality, this is an excuse by a
right wing extremist Political Action Committee, 10 Commandments PAC, founded
by the evangelical wing of the Republican Party, to erect religious statuary on
government property which has no bearing on any religious freedom, it is an
attempt by GOP politicians to be recognized and elected by deceit.
There is a catch, County
Commission members and so called Historical Documents Board members, best take
note, who will pay if you are sued in Federal Court if you place religious
icons or religious documents on county government property?. After consulting
with ATTORNEYS on this matter, YOU, personally commission members and advisory
board members will pay, quote: ". . . the amendment specifies that no
public funds can be used to defend its constitutionality." Best find you
that 3rd Party that will pay for your hypocrisy and trickery before you act.
Article explaining the Constitutional Amendment: https://www.alabamapolicy.org/2018/09/07/understanding-constitutional-amendment-one-the-ten-commandments-and-religious-freedom/
By the way GOP evangelical
hypocrites, you might want to communicate to our President the 10 Commandments
apply to him, reference stealing, adultery, bearing false witness, etc.
Brad Green of Raymond James Financial Services made presentation to the city council about the City Bond Issue financing arrangements, percentages and time.
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.
