Scottsboro City Council Work Session, Roseberry Creek Rescue Funding Request, Local Act 2018-270 Signed Into Law, One Million Dollars Disbursal indicated, Hwy 72 and County Park Road Intersection - Commentary on Stewardship/Political Leadership (a short course for our political leadership) - April 16, 2018

Mayor Robin Shelton, Mayor of Scottsboro, Alabama (photo by G. Morgan)

There are tales of stress within our Municipal Government related to stewardship, personnel management, ethics and "alleged privileged citizens." I say alleged, because poor or rich all citizens are deserving of the highest levels of public stewardship that public officials must provide related to services, laws and policies; all must be provided and enforced fairly. There should be no privileged group of citizens or individual voter where one person or group receives special privileges over the other. This has not always been the case in our fair city, I hope and pray this does not surface as a problem for our current public officials. For this reason I ask our local political leadership and all public officials to think about and read about STEWARDSHIP and the effective organizational leader. (Garry Morgan, D.O.D - RR/EO Organizational Effectiveness Specialist; U.S. Army Medical Department, Retired)

A short course on political stewardship, a benchmark for governance, and other leadership topics: http://nytimesineducation.com/spotlight/leadership-through-stewardship-a-foundation-for-organizational-success-across-cultures/ 

"Stewards are institutional leaders. They act as responsible caretakers for organizations, large and small, which seek to improve and expand. For stewards, the pressures of short-term performance, financial or otherwise, threaten to compromise long-term goals, and the challenge for institutional stewards is to navigate these external pressures. . . True stewards are often lost to history, but the accomplishments they create through institutional cohesion are endless. . . Our formula for stewardship is based upon two components: structure and purpose. Through the creation of a robust internal culture, a steward can ensure the organization is both structurally competent and purposefully strong. Institutional leadership is time-delineated; a successful steward can leave his or her post at any time knowing that the mission remains intact.. As such, a steward’s legacy is not personal, but collective. The steward creates a system of enduring values, and then empowers others to perpetuate them."

A BIT ABOUT PROBLEM SOLVING

Some folks might need some help in problem solving and analysis. Think of a problem as a tree, short course on problem solving: https://www.brighthubpm.com/project-planning/118441-problem-tree-a-comprehensive-analysis-tool/#imgn_1

NEVER ARGUE WITH AN EMPLOYEE, PARTICULARLY YOUR UPPER LEVEL MANAGERS. If there is a problem, discuss, form solution, DO NOT CREATE UNMANAGEABLE STRESS IN THE WORKPLACE. Failure to communicate is your problem, resolve it. Politicians, don't let the power go to your head, it is but a fleeting moment in time. If you do not know the principles and techniques of leadership and problem solving, educate yourself, ask for help. 

*END OF LECTURE*

AGENDA

Mr. Smith discusses concerns with the proposed changes to Hwy 72 and County Park Road Intersection, Agenda Item 2.

Reference Agenda Item 1 - Presentation from the Roseberry Rescue Group, request for funds, Lowell Bivens, relative to the Invasive Species in the Roseberry embayment area which includes the Jackson County Park and Scottsboro City Park areas. $30,000 from the Jackson County Legislative Delegation is designated in a local act as described by Mr. Bivens in his presentation. Senate Bill 387 which has been signed by the governor and designated as Act 2018-270. Link to the Act - http://alisondb.legislature.state.al.us/ALISON/SearchableInstruments/2018RS/PrintFiles/SB347-int.pdf   Local Act 2018-270 Signed Into Law by Governor Ivey, Discretionary Fund abolished, One Million Dollars Disbursal indicated in the local act.

VIDEO

TVA-In Lieu-of-Tax for Jackson County Alabama and the Discretionary Fund Committee

Discretionary Fund Committee meets, maybe for the last time. TVA-in-lieu-of-tax issue not resolved, indecision harms local groups and agencies who depend on the funds to operate.

Clarion Article by Heather Garner 

The Jackson County Legislative Delegation Discretionary Fund Committee met last week for what could be the last time. Committee members Senator Steve Livingston, Representative Ritchie Whorton, Representative Tommy Hanes, Commission Chairman Matthew Hodges, Commissioner Jason Venable and Revenue Commissioner Jeff Arnold were all present for the meeting. Livingston began the meeting by announcing that the discretionary fund account balance was over $1 million and the Legislative Delegation office account was around $69,000. Read more at the Clarion link - http://www.theclarion.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9507:discretionary-committee-meets-&catid=42:clarion-rotation-stories&Itemid=142

Former Jackson County Commissioner Horace Clemmons (photo by G. Morgan)

Former Jackson County Commissioner Horace Clemmons filed law suit against the delegation and members regarding the distribution of the funds.

"Clemmons responded to the new proposed bill and stated “While each bill the Delegation has proposed is better than the last, I still have problems with the latest one. My major concern is not with the bill itself, but the process that got us to the current bill. I have talked to several county and city elected officials and have yet to find one that was consulted. I believe the Delegation has a responsibility to determine what the other elected officials and the public want before passing a law that allocates our tax dollars. I also have an issue with the allocation of office expense and the County Commission Economic Development Fund. On the 2% office expense, I do not believe that it is legal for the Delegation to own a building that was paid for using tax money. I believe that we would all be better served if the County Commission provided office space and personnel for the Delegation. On the County Commission Economic Development Fund, I would only support that if it is clearly limited to support of local businesses. Large chains get plenty of (unneeded) support from State and Federal level. Local businesses are left out in the cold. Further it is worded so loosely that is could probably be used to fund a bond issue.”" Clarion link -  http://www.theclarion.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9498:clemmons-responds-to-most-recent-tva-in-lieu-bill-&catid=42:clarion-rotation-stories&Itemid=142


HISTORY ON THE ISSUE & CURRENT LEGISLATIVE ACTION

SCOTTSBORO, Alabama -- State lawmakers from Jackson County have taken the unusual steps of incorporating as a nonprofit and buying an office building on the courthouse square in Scottsboro.  http://blog.al.com/wire/2013/02/jackson_county_lawmakers_passi.html

2011 "In the Boro" article regarding Alabama Attorney Generals Opinion: http://arklite.blogspot.com/2011/03/jackson-county-commission.html

TVA-in-lieu-of-tax Breakdown - http://www.theclarion.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8373:tva-in-lieu-of-tax-breakdown&catid=42:clarion-rotation-stories&Itemid=142

Distribution of TVA-in-lieu-of-tax per Code of Alabama - http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/alcode/40/28/40-28-2

Uneducated, unwise decision making by elected officials - SB468, creation of secrecy: http://arklite.blogspot.com/2013/05/tva-in-lieu-of-tax-distribution-sb468.html

Current Bill before the legislature, SB2 - Action: 2015-09-08 - Read for the first time and referred to the House of Representatives committee on Local Legislation; Pending: House Local Legislation Committee ; Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF] 
link - https://legiscan.com/AL/bill/HB2/2015/X2

May 8, 2015 - Jackson County Legislative Delegation - 2015 Alabama Legislative Review

Jackson County Alabama District 8 Senator Steve Livingston (left) and 

District 23 Representative Tommy Hanes (right) discuss issues.

May 7, 2015 Scottsboro, Alabama - The Jackson County Legislative Delegation's 2015 Legislative Review at the Scottsboro Water Sewer & Gas Board's Operations Center.  TVA-in-lieu-of-tax discussion, funds to be returned to county commission, Discretionary Fund Committee to be cancelled. Management reform discussed for Medicaid, Mental Health, and Prisons. Governor Bentley's $541 million in tax increases not needed. "$350 million" is the amount Mr. Hanes indicated would cover the budget, not $541 million. Thoughts on ABC Store privatization.

VIDEOS


Video on TVA-in-lieu-of-tax-issue

Interview with Jackson County Commission Chairman Matthew Hodges March 21, 2014

Scottsboro, Alabama March 21, 2014 at the Jackson County Courthouse. Interview with Commission Chairman Matthew Hodges.

Questions for this interview were provided to Mr. Hodges 24 hours prior to the interview.

The interview - video below. 

 

3-21-2014 – Matthew Hodges Interview, Chairman of the Jackson County Commission

Intro: I'm Garry Morgan of "In the Boro" of Google Blogger at arklite.blogspot.com; I'm with Matthew Hodges, Chairman of the Jackson County Commission and this is a video interview with Mr. Hodges about his thoughts on challenges, accomplishments while he has been in office, and questions about the $225,000 transfer of TVA in lieu of taxes from the Discretionary Fund to the Jackson County Legislative Delegation Building Fund. There are eight questions in this interview which were provided to Mr. Hodges yesterday afternoon.

 Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule for this video interview.

1) Mr. Hodges how long have you been in office now as the commission chairman? 

2) What do you think is the biggest challenge facing the Jackson County Commission at this point?

3) What do you think are your largest accomplishments since being elected as commission chairman?

 Let’s discuss the fund transfer of $225,000 from the TVA in lieu of tax Discretionary Fund to the Legislative Delegation's Office Account.

4) The vote to transfer $225,000 of the TVA in lieu of tax from the Discretionary Fund to the Legislative Delegation's Office Account was 4 votes for the transfer, 2 votes against the transfer. All members of the legislative delegation  and you voted for the fund transfer, Mr. Crawford and Mr. Ledwell voted no. Why did you vote to approve the transfer of funds from the TVA in lieu of tax Discretionary Fund to the Legislative Delegations Building Fund in the amount of $225,000?

5) Did you have any prior knowledge of how the $225,000 would be utilized?

6) Is there any truth to rumors that you knew that the $225K was going to be utilized to purchase the current building the delegation uses instead of remodeling the previous purchased building?

7) Did any member of the current legislative delegation or private party suggest to you that it would be beneficial for you to support the transfer of the $225,000? 

8) Do you have anything that you would like to add? 

 Thank you Mr. Hodges for taking your time for this discussion.

 

VIDEO

Jackson County Discretionary Fund Committee Meeting, February 3, 2014 or "Mak'em Beg" for Adequate Funding

6 Videos in the "Mak'em Beg" Series of unconstitutional actions in violation of the separation of powers portion of our state's constitution.

The Jackson County Discretionary fund Committee met at the Legislative Delegation Office Monday morning at 10AM. This is a multiple part video report.

 Disbursal of funds should be limited to public safety (fire, police, sheriff, rescue squad), public health & welfare and education/schools.

The distribution methodology is being challenged as an unconstitutional act. Meanwhile, after several years of a secretive deliberative process, the Legislators opened the deliberative process to public scrutiny and placed 2 Jackson County Commission members on the committee.

Meanwhile the Delegation & Discretionary Committee authorized $225,000 for their office space while saying no or delaying funding for computers for schools, nursing funding and Sheriff's computers for vehicles which very well may be life saving regarding criminal and-or warrants information.

Disbursal of funds should be limited to public safety (fire, police, sheriff, rescue squad), public health and welfare and education/schools.

Discretionary Committee annual funding requests list. This is not all of the funding request. This reflects annual disbursements.

Part 1 Intro and funds discussion.

Part 2 Save B.B. Comer Bridge funding request.

Part 3 Save B.B. Comer Bridge final & Ms. Sheila Washington, Scottsboro Boys Museum makes fund request.

The Legislative Delegation Staff revealed there is no business plan that they have received for the Save the B.B. Comer Bridge project.

Make Them Beg for Educational Funds - This is the process that was started by those who care more for their personal re-election than they do for the citizens. IT IS RIDICULOUS, AND IS REFLECTIVE OF THE BROKEN STATE OF ALABAMA GOVERNMENT. The current Democrat and Republican ultra conservatives continue to support the Alabama process of post-civil war, 19th Century Alabama Government in a 21st Century United States of America.

Bravo to the Sand Mountain Concerned Citizens non-profit group and Mr. Cummings.


More on schools funding - ball field crushed brick before school nursing needs. Why is this unconstitutional legislative body making decisions on the distribution and disbursal of education money? Why do citizens have to BEG for money from this unconstitutional organization created for personal reelection of politicians?

Of course, the legislative delegations office expenditures before the needs of citizens. They approved a disbursal of $225K for their plush and elaborate office space last month instead of funding critical needs.Welcome to the dysfunctional government of Alabama!


Part 6, end of the "Make Them Beg Series"

Jackson County Discretionary Fund Meeting - Jackson County Alabama Legislative Delegation

Alabama State Senator Shad McGill serves as Chairman of the Jackson County Discretionary Fund Committee. (photos by G. Morgan)

 

The Jackson County Legislative Delegation has the following fund balances: Delegation Office Account - $86,393.00; Discretionary Fund Account- $830,446.65 as of today's date.

 

All requests for funds were tabled until "the Discretionary Fund Budget" could be reviewed. However, by a 4 to 2 vote it was approved that $225,000 be taken from the Discretionary Fund for the Legislative Delegation's office space. Revenue Commissioner Ron Crawford and Commissioner Stacey Ledwell voted against the $225,000 "loan," as described by Mr. Johnson and Mr. McGill to be transferred from the Discretionary Fund to the Delegation office fund. Please watch the video for more on this issue.

 

VIDEO

Sen. McGill describes Jackson County Commission involvement in Laurel St. building purchase, "County commission suggested the purchase of the building..."

 

WAFF News Story: http://www.waff.com/story/24377621/jackson-co-delegation-approves-new-move-project  Previous WAFF story: http://www.waff.com/story/24234183/plans-for-jackson-co-delegation-move-on-hold

SUNSHINES ON Jackson County Alabama Legislative Delegations Distribution of TVA-IN-LIEU-OF-TAX-FUNDS

Jackson County Alabama Discretionary Fund Committee to meet twice monthly to deliberate and decide on the TVA-in-lieu-of-tax funds distribution. Next meeting announced to be held Nov. 5, 2013, at 2PM.

 

 

10 Years in the making, SUNSHINE WINS!

Photo-Sunlight Foundation http://sunlightfoundation.com/

Today the Discretionary Funds Committee met at the Jackson County Legislative Delegation office in Scottsboro, Alabama. The Discretionary Funds Committee distributes the TVA-in-lieu-of-taxes. The committee consists of the three Jackson County Legislators, a representative from the County Commission and the County Revenue Commissioner. This is the first time the deliberations regarding the funds dispersal has been open to public transparency.

Senator McGill announced, due to less TVA-in-lieu-of-tax funds, all fund requests approved would be reduced by 25%. Some requests were apparently incomplete and did not have total amounts of money for specific items stated in their requests and could not be approved. "The Choices Program" funding request was approved for $7500 less the 25%=$5625.00.

It was reported that the current Discretionary Fund's account balance was $131,485.00

VIDEO