Jackson County Commission Regular Meeting December 12, 2016 More on the Jackson County Commission and Community Corrections Temporary Resolution

Jackson County Courthouse, South Side - photo by G. Morgan. According to the Chair of the Jackson County Commission, Matthew Hodges, there was asbestos discovered in the Jackson County Commission Board Room in the floor tiles. The carpet which was removed, new tiles installed were installed over the top of the old tiles. Asbestos materials when disturbed present a serious health issue. There should have been a comprehensive Asbestos Mitigation Plan for the Jackson County Courthouse, apparently this has not been accomplished after millions of dollars have been spent historically on renovation and removal of asbestos beginning in 1993 when large quantities were discovered throughout the Courthouse.

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Hot Topics - 1) Disaster Relief Aid and Public Relief Aid Approved as a result of recent Rosalie Tornado; 2) Jackson County Park change orders continue; 3) Resolution of Support for lowering the Largemouth Bass Creel limit on Lake Guntersville from 10 to 5 per day.

There will be a work session and regular session meeting on December 19, 2016.

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Jackson County Commission and Jackson County Community Corrections Letter and temporary resolution.  Click on image for an expanded view.

Jackson County Commission Work Session, Largemouth Bass Creel Limits Discussed - December 5, 2016

Jackson County Courthouse south side, photo by G Morgan.

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Important Issue - Creel Limits on Guntersville Lake

 "...In summer, a good number of the fish that go through the weigh in process just don't make it because of the heat and the low oxygen," Carter said. "When you have thousands of fish being weighed in every weekend in these big events, even though most survive release, the ones that die have an impact...Mike Carter also cited bowfishing during the spring spawn as a possible issue...The bowfishers are not supposed to shoot bass, but after every tournament I see dead bass with arrow holes in them," Carter said. "Also, I think running airboats over the beds in the shallows is a big negative during that spawning period..."  http://www.al.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2016/06/famed_lake_guntersville_bass_f.html

Political involvement - "A meeting in Scottsboro of the Lake Guntersville Conservation group drew more than a hundred anglers as well as State Senator Steve Livingston, State Representative Tommy Haines and other local officials as well as Alabama DCNR biologists and officers...The session was aimed at restoring the bass fishery on the 69,000 acre lake sprawling across Jackson and Marshall Counties. Many said the fishing has been in a significant slump in recent years, resulting in not only reduced sporting opportunities but a decline in revenue for the many small businesses that depend on recreational activities at the lake as an economic driver."             http://www.al.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2016/08/lake_guntersville_fans_meet_to.html

Jackson County Commission Holiday Schedule

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Jackson County Commission Work Session and Regular Session - Infrastructure Problems in Courthouse August 22, 2016

North Entrance Jackson County Courthouse, Scottsboro, Al. Infrastructure problems continue to plague the courthouse.

Infrastructure problems

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                          Click on image for an expanded view

Commission Meeting Video

Jackson County Commission Meeting Regular Session - Fishing Pressure on Guntersville Lake Causing Bass Fishery Problem, Suggestion to Decrease Creel Limit and Implement Conservation Measures, August 8, 2016

Dead Bass after fishing tournament, photo credit Gene Mueller Fishing dot blogspot. Fair Use Rights for non-profit news reporting and commentary

Dead Bass on shore line on Tennessee River after fishing tournament. photo courtesy of Wide Open Spaces Link: http://www.wideopenspaces.com/dead-bass-litter-kentucky-lake-bass-tournament-pics/

Fair Use for non-profit news reporting and commentary.

These scenes are being repeated up and down the Tennessee River. It is uncalled for and results in depletion of the fishery. This type of abuse would cease if tournament holders and individuals would face stiff fines for this type of destruction to the fishery. This is not indicative of fishery stewardship, conservation, nor preserving our river system's ecosystem.

There is severe pressure on the Tennessee River's eco-system due to pollution. Many areas along the Tennessee River have no fish consumption or limited fish consumption advisories due to dangerous chemical and heavy metals pollution. Links: https://www.adph.org/tox/assets/2015_Advisory_small.pdf  and http://whnt.com/2016/06/08/alabama-has-no-swim-fish-consumption-advisories-for-same-chemicals-that-caused-water-warning/ 

2016 link to fish consumption and article: http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2016/06/alabama_fish_consumption_advis.html 

Sharon Thomas of the Lake Guntersville Conservation Group discusses Guntersville Lake Large Mouth Bass Fishing; creel limits decrease from 10 to 5, tournament fishing, over fishing pressures and failure to handle fish properly were discussed. Movement of a major tournament, Big Bass Splash, during spawning season has a detrimental result on the fishery

More info:  

http://www.al.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2016/07/conservation_group_to_meet_tod.html    WAAY article: http://www.waaytv.com/appnews/guntersville-couple-has-plan-to-combat-declining-fish-population-in/article_322bccb2-5aa4-11e6-8e15-bbcbca471988.html

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Click on image for an expanded view.

VIDEOS

Sharon Thomas Presentation on Guntersville Lake Bass Fishing


In other business related to pollution of our area's waters:

Statement by the Director of the Scottsboro Water Sewer and Gas Board  regarding the Alabama Attorney General's legal action listing the Scottsboro Water Sewer and Gas Board as Defendants, Case # CV900167.00 Filed Aug. 5, 2016 in the Jackson County Circuit Court for violation of the Water Pollution Control Act. “The State Attorney General's Office, along with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, has filed a complaint in civil court regarding certain violations of the Board's NPDES permit. These self-reported violations primarily occurred during heavy rainfall events that flooded our wastewater collection system. The Board will continue to work closely with ADEM, and our consulting engineers, to make improvements to our system and operate in full compliance of State and Federal regulations.”

Roy Light
Scottsboro WSG