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."
AN EXAMINATION OF FAILED LEADERSHIP, NEGLIGENT ACTIONS AND POLITICAL EXTORTION
Council Member Keith Smith stated he wanted to remove the Mayor from the supervisory chain of Mr. Eddie Blizzard, Department Head of Streets and Sanitation Departments.
Mr. Smith's Comments Video
Mr. Smith may suggest anything as a seated council member, he may not act in violation of the laws of the State of Alabama. It appears there is an intentional effort by Mr. Smith, Mr. Blizzard and outside influences to interfere in the legal day to day operations of the City of Scottsboro in a strange political extortion attempt by removing the Mayor of Scottsboro from supervising the Street Department and Sanitation Department Director/Department Head by attempted improper, if not unlawful action.
The City of Scottsboro has serious Personnel Policy issues created by past Mayors and City Councils. The current relationship between the current City Council and the Mayor is hampered by the actions of Smith, Blizzard and others who have a misguided, vindictive political agenda. This vindictive agenda does not have the best interests of the Citizens of the City of Scottsboro at heart.
IMPROPER/ILLEGAL CONDUCT
Documentation regarding Mr. Eddie Blizzard and Mayors actions.
(Click on image for an expanded view.)
HEALTH-DISABILITY OR CIRCUMVENTION OF PERSONNEL POLICY, LAW VIA A POLITICAL EXTORTION SCHEME
The sick leave excuse from Mr. Blizzard's attending physician should be called into question, it is not a physician's expertise to state that a hostile working environment is a reason to excuse an employee from work for medical reasons, for an indefinite period of time. The sick leave excuse now appears to be utilized by Blizzard and Smith as an unscrupulous plan to remove the Mayor from Blizzard's supervisory chain. If there is a hostile work environment, as Blizzard and Smith claim, this is a legal/personnel issue and there is no proof offered in the open council meeting that a hostile work environment exists.
Council Member Smith does not seem to realize what the resulting actions would be on the efficient operation of the City of Scottsboro, nor the requirements of law regarding the Mayor's responsibilities, duties, including fiscal responsibilities. The Mayor MUST NOT SET SILENT regarding these wrongful, attempted actions on the part of Blizzard, Smith and other unstated parties.
This question must be asked - Is there a serious medical problem regarding Mr. Blizzard, or is this a political extortion attempt? If Mr. Blizzard is suffering from some sort of stress or Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD), shouldn't he be evaluated by a qualified person such as a Psychologist or Psychiatrist, then City Officials or appropriate authorities should consider permanent disability so that Scottsboro may fill the job if there is a true PTSD issue. If the issue is heart related, then a Cardiologist should provide input and permanent Disability should be considered if medical evaluation warrants. Has the Mayor caused this one Department Head all of these problems?
Because of Smith and Blizzard's actions, there should be a large question if Blizzard's problems are medically related or an action of unscrupulous political extortion?
LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES, DUTIES OF MAYOR AND COUNCIL
This article from the Alabama League of Municipalities, The Duties of the Mayor and City Council, very clear and concise duties regarding the Mayor and Council including their relationship as stated by the Code of Alabama (Current Code References listed). http://trussville.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Duties-of-the-Mayor-Council.pdf
UNNAMED SCOTTSBORO OFFICIAL SOURCE REPORT OF MEETING BETWEEN MAYOR SHELTON, MR. BLIZZARD, CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT
Paraphrased quote from Mr. Blizzard: 'I do not work for you Mayor, I work for the City Council, you can't fire me.'
FAILED LEADERSHIP AND OVERSIGHT
It is beyond ridiculous that one person manages the Street and Sanitation Departments. This occurred as a result of unprofessional management practices of the former Mayor, a broken personnel management system, an uninformed City Council, and personal favoritism benefiting an unqualified employee by the former Mayor of Scottsboro.
The lack of a trained replacement, second in command in the Street and Sanitation Departments separately is a demonstration of a lack of leadership on the Department Head, Mr. Blizzard; fixing long time standing problems with equipment function and breakdown is the responsibility of the Department Head, Mr. Blizzard. The Mayor and City Council are also responsible for this failure of leadership and personnel management.
The failure to provide Capital Expense oversight for equipment replacement and repair is the responsibility of the Department Head, Finance Director, Mayor and City Council.
INVESTIGATION NEEDED
There should be a full investigation by an outside agency to determine if law was violated and-or if legal/criminal actions should be pursued, and the extent of problems in Scottsboro's Personnel Management which still exist and exasperate the current personnel and legal problem. The investigation should also determine if there is a valid or bogus medical claim regarding Mr. Eddie Blizzard.
Investigation should also include violation of Bid Laws of the State of Alabama. Information has been obtained from a source that the invoices listed below were all on one invoice. It has been reported that a Scottsboro City Official requested the breakup of the invoices so they would not appear to violate the State Bid Law.
SEPARATE ISSUES - PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT REPAIRS
Equipment Repairs
Five separate invoices with one date - July 17, 2018 All invoices are from one vendor, "Tractor and Equipment Company" of Birmingham Alabama, Decatur, Alabama location.
2) Invoice W21530 Same Equipment as above, bulldozer - Repair - broken bolts, removal of rock guard and rollers; cost $769.50
3) Invoice W21529 Same equipment as above, bulldozer - Repair - cab air conditioner and heater; cost $8868.47
4) Invoice W21528 Same equipment as above, bulldozer - Repair - radiator, clean, repair, re-core; cost $9126.92
5) Invoice W21526 Same equipment as above, bulldozer - replace undercarriage; cost $17,210.49
Total for this equipment repair, a 2006D61EX12 Crawler, Komatsu Bulldozer - $37,385.84
A similar Komatsu D61 Bulldozer Fair Use rights for non-profit news and commentary, photo by machinerytrader.com (photo crop by G.Morgan)
Click on image for an expanded view.
Invoice sample, there are 4 more multi-page invoice documents as noted above. Note date and time stamp, they are all the same, also note name as purchase order block.
CAPITAL EXPENSE PLANNING THROWN OUT THE WINDOW?
A question that must be asked, what has happened to the City of Scottsboro's Capital Expense Program planning?
AGENDA
A short Budget Meeting was held after the council meeting, the video will be provided later.
Unfortunately there is much more to this crisis than meets the "public eye." Possible bid law violations is just the tip of the puzzle. I have been having conversations with past Mayors of Scottsboro prior to Mayor Shelton, 16 years, about serious shortcomings in the City of Scottsboro's Personnel Management system, this includes presentations to the City Council. The City Council is just as at fault as Mayors past and present regarding this issue. In this case, as well as the Blizzard issue, it appears there may be an intentional undermining of the Chain of Command at the City of Scottsboro. Instead of working together as a team to manage the City of Scottsboro, professionally, intelligently, and facilitating the principles of leadership and stewardship, there is intentional conflict and undermining of processes.
If you are a politician in the City of Scottsboro either act professional, do the peoples business, be a leader, work to resolve problems as a team, OR RESIGN. If you are an employee, politically appointed (Which is another problem, unresolved, several of the positions should be classified not appointed.) or classified (hired) follow the rules of the City, quit scheming, or you should expect to be terminated if you are not going to be a team player. The situation regarding Mr. Blizzard is part of the problem.
CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR - recommendations were made several years ago regarding needed improvements to the Scottsboro Personnel Management System, you have ignored those recommendations. The situation involved the Scottsboro Police Department, Mr. Smith as the Police Chief, Mayor Deason and the alleged improper termination of an employee. A Personnel Management Specialist was hired and gave a report of needed improvements. Instead of making improvements y'all have proceeded on a course of unprofessional conduct which does not have the best interests of the citizens of the City of Scottsboro as first and foremost in your agendas. STOP WITH THE PERSONAL EGOTISTICAL VENDETTAS AGAINST PEOPLE WHO ARE PART OF THE CITY STRUCTURE OF SCOTTSBORO! CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE.
Is it too much to ask for professional conduct on the part of elected leadership??
BE PROFESSIONAL - BE THE TEAM
Stop working against each other.
The Council President, Mr. Tony Wallingsford, Mayor Robin Shelton, and the City Attorney are to meet this week to discuss the issue of inappropriate expenditures.
VIDEO EXCERPT OF MR. SMITH'S PRESENTATION
AGENDA
Vote on the Scottsboro City Council for Place 1, vacated when Mrs. Jessica Butler resigned.
Jenna Bell received 2 votes, Mr. Wallingsford and Mr. Gary Stewart
Linda Bray received 2 votes, Mr. Smith and Mr. Patrick Stewart
A Special Call Meeting to be announced for a second vote on July 16, 2018 after the regular scheduled work session meeting.
THE LIST
VIDEO
Records request regarding documented Verbal Warning given to Mr. Eddie Blizzard by Mayor Robin Shelton. There are two items in this document which stand out: 1) Provoking comments documented, quote - Mayor stated - "I apologized for cursing him," 2) and an assault upon the Mayor by a Department Head, Quote from Mayor: "Blizzard said then we will just settle this right now, reached in and grabbed my necktie and started pulling."
Mr. Blizzard refused to sign the warning. H.R. Director Erin Stiles signed, Police Chief Ralph Dawe signed and the Mayor signed.
Facebook has permanently suspended my account, CENSORED, for telling the truth about Donald Trump's criminal history and disclosing facts about racial discrimination in Scottsboro and our nation. Garry Morgan : 03/15/2025
Copyright Info
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.
