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."
Item 8 on the Regular Session City Council Agenda, Tax Use Incentive for commercial development was approved for Hutton Development. The property involved is the old #1 China Restaurant, previous Shoney's Restaurant property between the Kentucky Fried Chicken and Dunham's Sporting Goods on John T. Reid Parkway, U.S. Highway 72. The vote for approval was 4 to 1, Greg Mashburn being the single dissenting vote. Current fast food restaurant owners in Scottsboro had spoke against the project development at a previous city council meeting.
Hutton Development personnel in attendance would not confirm the property will be utilized for a Chick-Fil-A Restaurant; however Hutton representatives did confirm real estate contracts for the 2 acres for the restaurant property and an additional 8 acres are in the process of being sold. The property is currently owned by Garcia Properties. The sale was contingent on the road safety renovation, including a traffic light and extension of the service road, regarding Hwy 72 and County Park Rd. being approved along with the city tax incentive.
There has been considerable rumor and discussion that the property would be utilized as a Chik-Fil-A restaurant, although not confirmed by the developer at this time, Hutton Development representatives did confirm they had recently finished a similar project with tax incentive's in Sylacauga, Alabama. That specific project was a Chick-Fil-A, more info on the Sylacauga Chick-Fil-A : https://www.sylacauganews.com/local/developer-confirms-chick-fil-plans-sylacaugas-new-marble-city-square Hutton Development of Chattanooga, Tennessee has developed several Chick-Fil-A projects.
90% of 2019 - 2020 Budget approved for $19,891,869.00
AGENDAS
(Click on image for an expanded view.)
See work session agenda, items 1-7 are items 2-8 on regular council agenda. Item 1 on the regular agenda, Library Board Appointments, was postponed until a November council meeting due to a board member resignation. Interested citizens have until November 4 prior to 4:30PM, to submitt applications for the 3 Library Board vacancies.
Item 3 - Approval for $11,800 regarding professional services for Hope Hicks, Attorney regarding the Judge Scott Berry case and problems within the municipal court.
Item 6 (added to agenda) - County Park Rd. and U.S.Hwy 72 Safety and Improvement Project; 3-2 vote, project not approved.
UPDATE February 27, 2019 - County Park Rd. U.S. Hwy.
72 - Late Developing Story - Current business influences may have impacted the
Scottsboro City Council's decision to vote NO on the Hwy.72 County Park Rd.
improvement project which involves approximately $1 million dollars for the
City of Scottsboro to improve the safety problem of the Hwy 72 County Park
roadway and intersection.
INCOMING DEVELOPERS AND
COMPETITION - There were at least 3 potential businesses/corporate expansions
and developments which will be adversely impacted as a result of the NO vote.
Approximate amount of investments and jobs adversely impacted, approximately
$8,000,000 to $10, 000,000 million in investment and jobs.
Apparently, current
business influences afraid of competition have influenced the city council to
vote NO, say concerned citizens, on this safety improvement project. Proposed development includes High Country Toyota on the North side of Hwy 72 and a Chattanooga Group, Hutton Developers; Hutton's Facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/WeKnowDirt/ on the south side at the Chinese Restaurant location, which includes a total of 10 ac. The Part 2 video from last weeks council meeting, February 18, 2019 may be seen at: https://youtu.be/7tlInCSLgTk
UPDATE: More on the John T. Reed Parkway, U.S. Highway 72 Safety Improvement Project - I asked each Scottsboro City Council member the following question on Facebook Messenger: "Do you have any comment as to your NO or YES vote reasoning for the Hwy 72, County Park Road project. Info to be utilized on my blog." All received the question, and all answered my question directly except for one, read about it at: https://arklite.blogspot.com/2019/03/scottsboro-alabama-march-3-2019-update.html
Problem? - Mr. Stewart stated, "Judge Scott Berry's resignation was accepted." Shouldn't this be a council action if needed, as one person does not have the authority of the entire City Council?? Surely there was no secret vote, if a vote is needed to accept the resignation. No city council member had a comment on this issue.
VIDEO OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Delegation representing the Jackson County Spay and Neuter group for pets requested $3,500 for auto show event at Goose Pond Colony. (See video above.)
Mayor Shelton stated he was disappointed in the failed vote regarding U.S. Hwy 72 and County Park Rd. safety improvement project. Vote was 3-2 against the improvement. This vote may affect future development in the area.
Robert Avery presentation on U.S. Census - need for Census Takers, info on jobs.
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PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST, AS OF THIS DATE RECORDS HAVE NOT BEEN PROVIDED.
Public Records Request(Original request signed, submitted February 18, 2019)
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)
Records Requested: 1) On or about February 1, 2019; or during the first week following Feb. 1, 2019, the Chief of Police, Ralph Dawe sent forward to the Mayor and City Council a information memorandum or notice, outlining Scottsboro Police Department concerns regarding the case activity and or conduct of the the current Municipal Judge, Scott Berry. Please provide a copy of this public document as soon as possible. 2) On or about November 1, 2018 to January 31, 2019, per information from City Officials, a payment for legal services utilizing City of Scottsboro, Al. funds was made to an attorney, per report by the last name of “Snow,”to represent Municipal Judge Scott Berry in the sum of approximately $7000.00. It was also reported that travel expenses were paid to Judge Berry for this reported trip to Montgomery, Al. where lawyer “Snow” was located. Please provide copies of any vouchers or checks paid by the City of Scottsboro, Al. related to this event, eg. Attorney fees and or travel documentation as soon as possible, to include any other attorneys or firms related to Judge Berry’s representation paid for by the City of Scottsboro, Al.
The documents information requested is of a public interest which may be utilized as a news story in various news media outlets to include but not limited to my blog, a non-profit news and information blog regarding local issues and news events, “In the Boro,” https://arklite.blogspot.com
Historical articles regarding this incident and the history of the Municipal Court of Scottsboro, concerns and events associated with sexual discrimination and harassment within the Scottsboro political entity: https://arklite.blogspot.com/search/label/Municipal%20Court
VIDEO of the Save the B.B. Comer Bridge - Chattanooga Times Free Press
Nesting Ospreys on B.B. comer Bridge
The B.B. comer Bridge as it stands today. (Photo's courtesy of the Save the B.B. Comer Bridge Group.)
Monday's City Council Work Session had 1 item on the agenda, A presentation by Ms. Julie Bowers of the "Workin Bridges Group" of the N. Skunk River Greenbelt Association in Grinnel, Iowa, link: http://www.skunkriverbridge.org/the-project.html
The B.B. Comer Bridge was opened in 1930 as a toll bridge. The act authorizing a series of 15 memorial toll bridges, located throughout the state of Alabama, was authorized during the term of Governor Bibb Graves in 1927. The State Toll Bridge Act authorized the State of Alabama to issue bonds to finance the construction of 15 such spans on the states waterways.
The B.B. Comer Bridge officially opened on August 2, 1930. On September 29. 1936, the tolls were lifted,the bridge could be crossed without cost.
The B.B. Comer Bridge is the last of the 15 memorial toll bridges -- the other 14 have been demolished.
"B.B. Comer Bridgein Pictures" You Tube Video by Arnold Wheeler
CITY COUNCIL VIDEOS
Part 1
Part 2 VIDEO
FIRST, THERE MUST BE VISION AND A PLAN
VISION or DESTRUCTION Is this how the community wishes to remember this great icon of progress built during the Great Depression?
It is true, not all of our history can be saved nor should it be saved. But the real question before the community and the State of Alabama, is this piece of history worth saving and does the community and the state have the will and vision to save the bridge and turn it into a tourist attraction which can be sustained over time?
Maybe the greatest question for our community - do we have VISION? Without vision, our community begins to die. Look around the square in Scottsboro, there is a distinct lack of vision. This was not always true as there was a wonderful plan for the revitalization of the downtown area. The vision was lost, planning was cast aside for immediate gratification. Now the downtown area suffers from urban blight. It does not have to be this way!
Planners and those responsible for economic development have lost their vision. Instead, our economic developers have depended on projects such as the TVA nuclear plant at Bellefonte for our future. They have became complacent and short sighted. Our industrial parks remain empty, no vision except for personal gain of a very few.
If the bridge is to be saved there must be a definitive business/financial plan brought forward demonstrating the sustainability of the bridge preservation effort over time. A developer or the state government must come forward to "save the bridge" if it is to be saved. The local county and city government cannot afford the project. Unfortunately, some politicians are not being honest with local citizens wanting to save the bridge, some politicians are obviously more concerned about their reelection and their personal vanity. What is the answer? Vision - Planning and Financing, vision must come first.
Or is this the VISION?
These are the possibilities if there is VISION for our future.
Site of a new Cracker Barrel Old Country Store or the new Buena Vista Restaurant between Home Depot and Zaxby's, on the service road? A look at the Cracker Barrel's new opening sites reveals it is not listed: http://www.crackerbarrel.com/trip-newstore.cfm?doc_id=18 Recently a City Official had informed me a Cracker Barrel will be coming to town.
Development or Urban sprawl in a small rural city. And yes, Scottsboro makes the cut as a city. It's always good to see development in the area. The first photos are of the Scottsboro Industrial Park, the next 2 are of development on Hwy 72, John T. Reed Parkway and Snodgrass Rd. I'm wondering if our downtown area is starting to witness urban blight? Something for city planners to think about.
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
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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.
