June 14, 2021 - Scottsboro, Alabama - Jackson County Commission Meeting - Regular Session and Work Session - Filthy Drinking Water Problems - EMA, County Emergency Communications Problems - Open Meetings Issue and Proprietary Information

 

Jackson County Courthouse, north entrance.  photo by G. Morgan

AGENDA

Link: https://www.jacksoncountyal.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06142021-140

Issues: 1) Concerned Citizens presentation  about Filthy Drinking Water; 2) Problematic emergency communications system; 3) Improvements on county roads system, see 4 below. 

Issue #4 requires a separate space -  Once again, information is presented in the OPEN MEETING that the engineer requests diagrams and photos not be revealed.

If there is proprietary information which should not be presented in the open meeting, why not place the confidential information in a presentation document/booklet/folder for the commissioners. Apparently the Alabama Open Meetings law takes a back seat to the ridiculous notions of the county engineer in violation of law. Worse, the commissioners and the county attorney fails to remind all involved of the open meetings law. You display a project in an open meeting it is apt to be recorded and placed forward in any and all reporting concerning the open meeting.

The county engineer's presentation and grandstanding of nearly an hour is ridiculous. All that is needed is a summary and all other specifics should be placed in a folder or document for each commissioner to review prior to the meeting, just as the proprietary information should have been placed into a folder for review, commissioner questions could be asked after the engineers summary presentation. Unless there is another problem related to laziness?

In another matter, in this meeting we discover Mr. Venable has been having discussions with private individuals regarding grant availability connected to private property purchases near or in Hytop, Al. for recreation purposes related to the Walls of Jericho. Since when is a county commissioner authorized to act as a special interest representative for real estate transactions involving private parties outside of commission approval? This item has not been presented before the commission previously, however Venable and others have begin project planning and conducting inquiries as to property purchases utilizing State/Federal and local dollars.

Association of County Commissions of Alabama, ACCA, guide regarding open meetings process, some need to review. https://www.alabamacounties.org/resources/open-meetings/

Jackson County Commission Video Link on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=950018682519961&ref=watch_permalink 

Jackson County Commission Work Session - Property Tax Late Fees Discussed - January 3, 2018

Jackson County Courthouse, Snow Day, Facebook photo by J. Holt. 

Fair use of photograph for non-profit news reporting.

AGENDA

VIDEO

                                     VIDEO Photo Captures

Jackson County Revenue Commissioner, Jeff Arnold, discusses local law regarding Property Tax late fee of $2.00 per day for unpaid property tax. Previously the fee was going into Jackson County's General Fund. The law allows for the Revenue Commissioner to be provided an administrative fee. This will be the first time an administrative fee has been provided to the Jackson County Revenue Commission according to Mr. Arnold. The first payment requested will be 10% of the total tax penalty collected for the first year. Thereafter it was requested that the fee be set at 5% to the Revenue Commission. (photo by G.Morgan)

Commissioners discuss job classification amendments for the County Park, Solid Waste and Public Works. (photo by G. Morgan)

Mr. Felix Jackson, Candidate for District 2 Commissioner, 2012 Jackson County Commission Election (photo by G. Morgan)

During last weeks regular session, December 27, 2017, Mr. Felix Jackson was selected as the Jackson County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director, competing with 9 other candidates for the EMA Director Position. Mr. Jackson has been employed by the EMA Office since April 2013. 

Mr. Mike Ashburn was appointed by Alabama Governor Kay Ivey to be the Chairman of the Jackson County Commission in September of 2017 after the resignation of Chairman Matthew Hodges.  http://jcsentinel.com/feature_story/article_83d30d4e-9fd8-11e7-87f8-57791450beaa.html , the County Commission selected Mr. Jackson as the Interim EMA Director in October of 2017. 

Jackson County Commission Regular Session, Storm Sheltering, Citizen Presentation - April 13, 2015

Jackson County Courthouse, South Side (photo by G. Morgan)

AGENDA

See video for storm sheltering presentation & problems.

VIDEO

Removed from the Jackson County Courthouse During a Tornado Warning - Pets Not Allowed - Citizens Not Informed

BeBe

A report on my experience at the Jackson County Court House during the tornado warnings this evening, April 3, 2015, approximately 8:30-9:00PM. There were two radar reported tornadoes during this time frame on or near the Jackson-Madison County Line. My Weather Underground Radar subscription indicated one tornado near the Jackson - Madison County line near Gurley. At that point I left to go to the nearest storm shelter, the Jackson County Court House.

Unfortunately some folks employed by Jackson County do not realize the importance of pets to people in storms. I was removed from the Jackson County Court House this evening during the tornado warnings because I brought my pet with me. Never before had this been a problem with pets in the court house during storms.

Mr. Felix Jackson, EMA Representative stated I must remove my dog, my reply, “I would not leave until the storm was over.” Jackson informed me, “I could stay but the dog had to go because of insurance reasons.” Again he was informed, “I would leave as soon as the storm was over.” (BeBe, my dog, was in a harness and on a leash, very quiet and much behaved.) His reply, "the dog must go but you may stay," My reply, "no, I'm not leaving unless you get the Sheriff’s Department to make me leave," and he did. If I must remove my dog, I would not have been present in the shelter.

Mr. Jackson left for a few minutes and returned with two Sheriff’s Deputies, one Lieutenant and one Sargent. On that note, Mr. Jackson informed me, "the dog must go, but you may stay." Again I stated, "I'll leave as soon as the storm is over," again Jackson stated, "the dog cannot stay." I was not going to put my dog out into the storm, BeBe was given to me by my wife before she passed away. No way was I going to treat my beloved pet in such a fashion

The answer would have been to say this - "Mr. Morgan, dogs are no longer allowed in the Court House, as soon as the storm is over please take your dog out and remember that you may not bring your dog into the court house unless it is a service dog." When I left I informed Mr. Jackson, with the two Sheriff's Deputies present, "you have not heard the end of this." Mr. Jackson replied, "You know where I'm at."

There are no signs posted at any entrance or exit at the Jackson County Court House that pets, during a storm, are not allowed.

I've attended 99% of regular commission meetings where decisions are made by vote, and never has there been any notice or information placed into the public view or discussion during any meeting about no pets in the court house storm shelter. BeBe has been with me on several occasions in the court house to take shelter from inclement weather. Never has there been a problem until this evening, when BeBe and I were put out into the storm.

Update: April 4, 2015 - 4:00PM I have been informed by Face Book message by those present witnessing the incident in the courthouse storm shelter, there was at least one other small dog present and Mr. Jackson went straight for me immediately after my arrival. Within 5 minutes of my arrival Mr. Jackson was asking me to remove my dog. 

Discussing this incident with retired law enforcement, there is a question whether there is a law affecting Jackson County which prohibits pets from public storm shelters in Jackson County. 

Today there is a printer originated notice on the door of the storm shelter entrance that says, "No Pets Allowed." I saw no such notice last night posted on the door to the shelter entrance. When was there a county commission resolution passed stating this policy? After review of video and agendas for the past 3 years I can find no such policy approved by the Jackson County Commission. County Animal Control Ordinance passed by resolution contradicts the actions taken by officials of Jackson County.  

As it turns out, pets in shelters is a national problem, there is an answer, "pet carriers."

http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/tornado-shelters-doggy-dilemma-pets-allowed-article-1.1768691