Scottsboro City Council Work Session and Railroad Crossing Public Hearing

Monday May 7, 2012 was a Scottsboro City Council work session. Agenda is listed below, click on image for an expanded view.

1) The Owens Rd issue was not discussed. 2) Mr. Bob Mellert suggested a name change of Jefferson Drive to Hero Drive in reconition of veterans and first responders. 3) Public Transportation request discussion - $60,164 is the annual budget amount set aside for the Rural Transportation Program. 4) Discussion concerning surplus property at the police department. 5 vehicles, breaking down frequently - 3 Ford Crown Victoria's and 2 chevrolet Impala's; 2001 - 2005 models, all over 100K, some 200K for milage. 5) Street Department surplus property discussion, some can only be scraped out due to mechanical failure - fork lift, air compressor and auto lift. 6) Six candidates have applied for the Goose Pond Colony Board position, decision to be made at next Mondays regular meeting. 8) Electric power board applicant discussion.

PUBLIC HEARING


A Public Hearing was conducted concerning closing the Railroad Crossing at North Broad Street due to a request from Norfolk Southern Railroad. Two persons spoke, Mr. Howard Hill and Mr. Garry Morgan.

The railroad crossing at North Broad Street, Market Street and Kyle Street are dangerous due to a high incline. Tractor and Trailer vehicles should never use any of the 3 crossings listed as they are unsafe for towed vehicles. Crossing warnings - "No Entry To Tractor and Trailer Vehicle" signs are present at one crossing, North Broad St.,  but no signs on Market and Kyle Street's  railroad crossings.

An accident involving a train derailment blocking Maple Street where hazardous cargo is involved has the possibility of isolating the North side community from emergency vehicle access or evacuation if required. City Council members stated they would need to work on an Emergency Response Plan in the event of an accident blocking crossings from North Cedar Hill Dr. to Tupelo Pike. Obstructed crossings results in an extended emergency response time. Travel from 5 Points via East Willow St. to  Ridgedale Dr. to Tupelo Pike back to Maple St. at Tupelo Pike is 11 minutes.

A train derailment blocking Maple Street with a hazardous materials spill could lead to catastrophic consequences for the North Side Community. There are no Emergency entry or exits to or from the north side if Maple Street is blocked and Cedar Hill Dr., North Houston St., Market or Kyle Streets were obstructed.

Daily Sentinel links on this issue:
 http://thedailysentinel.com/search/?t=article&d1=1+year+ago&q=railroad+crossing+

PHOTOS

 North side approach to railroad crossing, North Broad Street. Note sign on the left, "No Tractor and Trailer Trucks."

Another photo displaying a closer look at the angle and short approach and departure on the north side of the North Broad Street railroad crossing.

The North Broad Street Clossing should not have a bearing on Emergency Planning related to the North Side Community. Emergency Preparidness must take precedent involving this issue.

The crossings are hazardous and emergency planning is lacking.

South side approach to the North Broad Street crossing. Note the sign to the right, "No Tractor and Trailer Vehicles." No doubt the steep approaches and short departure ramps to a parallel roadway to the rail tracks is dangerous.

Looking west to the N. Broad St. crossing from Maple and Market St. intersection. North Broad Street is the next crossing shown to the west.

 North Kyle Street south side crossing. There are no tractor and trailer warning signs.

North Kyle Street north side crossing.  There are no tractor-trailer warning signs.

North Market Street south side approach crossing. There are no tractor and trailer warning signs. The north side departure is steep and short due to the parallel road to the railroad. This is a hazardous railroad crossing with no warning signals or signs prohibiting tractor trailer vehicles.

THERE ARE TWO DISTINCT ISSUES: 1) Closing of hazardous and dangerous railroad crossings. 2) Emergency Preparedness relating to the North Side Community of Scottsboro. A rail accident in Scottsboro could isolate the North side Community. This could be an extremely dangerous scenario if Maple Street is blocked and the downtown crossings are obstructed.

"TVA board approves billions more to finish Watts Bar reactor." TVA Board Meeting Report

TVA Board Meeting at Greenville, Tn. The Board Meeting for November 2012 is tentatively scheduled for Scottsboro, Al. (photo by G. Morgan)

WATE-TV Knoxville interview with former TVA Board Chairman David Freeman: (link}  TVA board approves billions more to finish Watts Bar reactor  "Former TVA Board Chairman David Freeman said after the meeting he finds it disgraceful that the current board is going to continue to fund and construct the Watts Bar reactor. Freeman said, "TVA is building yesterday's technology tomorrow," and places the blame on the board.


TVA Meeting report by Gretel Johnston & Garry Morgan
"TVA voted to continue with Watts Bar, basically committing another $2 billion of our dollars to nuclear. The TVA Board rubber stamped the staffs recommendation again, but were extremely defensive and for the first time my sense was that there were cracks in their consciences. Chairman Sansom said, more that once, "we have been beat up in the press, and the TVA staff gets beat up - who do not deserve it."  

 TVA ranks 47th in industrial rate charges amongst the top 100 utilities in the nation.  TVA's expansions into nuclear power will result in higher industrial power rates. Historically, this has been a problem in the TVA region. Several large industrial concerns have moved or closed their doors due to TVA industrial rate increases. This includes Aluminum mills in Scottsboro and other southeastern locations.


The Listening Session began with former Chairman David Freeman making a very strong case for TVA to end their nuclear power expenditures. He stated,  "TVA tried it before, it didn't work and it is not working now," making reference to TVA's out of control debt as a result of nuclear power construction. The former chairman stated, "I thought I was Rip Van Winkle and just awoke from a bad dream," referring to TVA's continued construction on the Bellefonte nuclear plant.  Freeman also made the point that TVA led the nation in energy efficiency in 1978. Currently the states of the TVA region rank near the bottom in the nation for energy efficiency savings. Energy Efficiency = Energy Production and financial savings!  In closing the former chairman stated, "y'all remind me of the mother who reviewed a parade of marching soldiers and wondered why all are out of step except her son." 

 Fiscal year 2012 finances for the end of FY2012 - $27.018 billion debt, this does not include the debt interest. TVA has a Congressional mandated debt cap of $30 billion. TVA has sold and leased back its John Sevier Combined Cycle Gas plant for $1 billion dollars. It proposes to sell and lease back its Bull Run coal plant to pay for emmissions scrubbers and Watts Bar nuclear plant #2 once complete. All costing the TVA rate payers an additional $3.5 billion over a 30 year period. The sale lease scheme avoids the Congressional debt limit but will increase TVA electric bills for residents, business and industry. Because of costs involved in building Watts Bar the TVA does not have the money for completing Bellefonte Unit 1. (Photos of TVA slide presentations by G. Morgan, click on photo for an expanded view.)

The TVA displays a $296 million loss for the 2nd Quarter of Fiscal Year 2012.

Dr. Kathy Ferris, member BEST/MATRR, End Nuclear Waste in Tennessee and other groups, made a courageous stand for accountability concerning the $2 billion 'mistake' at Watts Bar, and finally spoke the unspoken - that Tom Kilgore should be replaced because of his adherence to nuclear power and the fact that he is on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the lobbying group known as the NEI, Nuclear Energy Institute. NEI lobbies Congress, the NRC and the TVA.

LACK OF CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT-An executive level federal official serving as an executive agent of a lobby organization which lobby's the Federal Government appears to be a conflict of interest and an ethics problem. In a normal federal situation where Congress offers oversight this would not be tolerated and possible criminal charges would be levied. The Tennessee River Valley Caucus of Congress is more interested in campaign contributions they receive from nuclear industry contractors than accountability. The insider stock trading of nuclear industry stocks on "capital hill" is also a sign of lacking accountability of Congress.

Louise Gorenflo, Sierra Club - TVA Committee, said they (TVA) didn't have a clue what is happening in the real world and cannot make long range plans until they get a grip. She also said that increasing energy efficiency by 1% per year would save the equivalent of 4 Watts Bars.

Dr. Steven Smith, Director of the Southern Alliance of Clean Energy said, "someone needs to be accountable for this $2 billion mistake, and the board should rethink the changing world and reconsider your (TVA's) high risk energy decisions.

Brian Paddock, an attorney from Jackson County Tn., and member of the Sierra Club asked the TVA to review the need for nuclear power and justify the nuclear construction expense with accurate power needs projections. Mr. Paddock indicated TVA's current power needs projections are not accurate. Mary Mastin, Sierra Club Attorney and law partner of Mr. Paddock asked for a definitive reply from the TVA concerning a request provided to the TVA at their last board meeting relating to expanding Energy Efficiency and Renewable-sustainable Energy resources. Ms. Mastin stated she had received a short form letter type of reply and did not adequately address the need for a higher commitment to renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Garry Morgan of the Bellefonte Efficiency and Sustainability Team, BEST a local chapter of BREDL-Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, quoted George Santayana, "...those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it...," and added, "everyone else knew the cost of a nuclear reactor, including  Watts Bar 2, why didn't you (TVA)?" Morgan also discussed the possibility of a political agenda to end the TVA due to its irresponsible and costly moves into nuclear power with its massive cost overruns. The TVA has over $27 billion in debt. Its long term commitments includes short and long term debt, debt interest, fuel contracts and leases exceeds 60 billion dollars.

Gretel Johnston spoke about energy efficiency and savings the TVA and its rate payers would receive from 'building' an Efficiency or Conservation Power Plant like Chairman Freeman did in the 1970's when TVA led the nation in energy efficiency. Ms. Johnston included educational materials from Dr. Marilyn Brown, a TVA Board Director. saying in one decade in the south alone, efficiency can save $41 billion in lower utility bills and create 380,000 new jobs. "In just the electric utility industry, cost-effective energy efficiency measures could reduce U.S. [electrical energy] consumption by an astounding 30 to 75%." Reference: "A Source of Energy Hiding in Plain Sight," by Dr. Marilyn Brown & Benjamin Sovocool in Yale Global, and "Energy Efficiency in the South," a Marilyn Brown study with Gerogia Tech and Duke University. THE POINT- WE DO NOT NEED NEW NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS!  

Previous TVA Board Chairman David  Freeman discusses issues with current TVA Chairman. Other current board members listen to the discussion. (photo by G. Morgan)

TVA Board listening session and Board meeting:  http://www.tva.com/abouttva/board/index.htm  scroll down to the listening session link on the board page, 2 people from the Scottsboro area spoke. David Freeman - past TVA board chairman led the Listening Session presentations. Many concerned citizens spoke about the TVA, voicing their concerns. The TVA Board Meeting video is also listed at the above TVA link.


Links on area press articles concerning the TVA Board Meeting: Chattanooga Times Free Press with voting link -http://timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/26/former-board-member-told-tva-board-stop-building-n/?breakingnews


Cost over runs and mismanagement - "Former TVA Chairman S. David Freeman calls for end to agency's nuclear building program" http://timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/27/former-chairman-s-david-freeman-blasts-tva/?print#>


"Rate Payers on Hook for TVA Errors"      http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120427/OPINION01/304270034/Ratepayers-hook-TVA-errors


Scottsboro's Daily Sentinel (cut & paste) - http://thedailysentinel.com/news/article_ace96eae-9001-11e1-970e-001a4bcf887a.html   

The Winners Are...Jackson County Alabama Runoff Election Results

Clerk of the Circuit Court Ken Ferrell works on machine. An election packet tape stuck in the machine which Mr. Ferrell fixed with difficulty.

Election results, Jackson County Alabama Democratic Runoff elections. Click on image for an expanded view.

Vote count totals, 1 precinct missing, approximately 50 votes.

Winners: Matthew Hodges- Jackson County Commission Chairperson. He will face Chris Woods, Mayor of Pisgah, Al. in the November election.

Matthew Hodges, wife Dana and their child. Gordon Hodges, Matthew's Dad, looks on.

 Sheila Cornelison won the Jackson County Commission Place 2.

All smiles,  Sheila Cornelison wins in a close race.

Victor Manning won the Probate Judge position.

Victor Manning is happy over this close race. This is an upset over Donna Haislip. Mr. Manning will face Ricky Dooley, Republican candidate in the November election.

The Daily Sentinel election reports: http://thedailysentinel.com

Scottsboro City Council Meeting

Last night was a regular Scottsboro City Council meeting, agenda outline: 1) A $5000 budget amendment was approved by the Fire Department. 2) Electric Power Board vacancy. The term of Allen Williams will expire in May. Interested parties should have applications turned into the City Clerk Cathy O'Shields by Thursday May 17, 2012 NLT 4:30PM. This is a 6 year appointment. 3) Resolution was approved to declare excess equipment at the Street Department excess. Items will be sold on Gov Deals.com, proceeds from the sale will be placed back into the Capital Expense Fund of the Street department. 4) Blake Burns was appointed to the Commercial Development Authority, CDA. This is an appointment to fill an unexpired term which runs until March 2013. 5) Steve Turner of "State Weed Control Agency, " a private company specializing in aquatic nuisance species, non-native water weeds, control. He answered questions of the city council concerning chemicals which are used in  water weeds. The citizens of the Driftwood Shores area have requested the Scottsboro City Council clear aquatic nuisance species from around their private boat docks. (The question which must be asked of this proposal, does it serve a public purpose? In the case of the Roseberry Rescue and the spraying of Roseberry and Dry Creek access areas, a case can be made for the public purpose requirement due to the City & County Parks. However, government should not pay to clear access around private boat docks;  that is the responsibility of the private boat dock owners.)

Political Tricks of Local Politicians-Vote Tuesday April 24, 2012

‎"Tricks are for kids," is the old cereal commercial jingle. In the world of local politics dirty tricks are for adults and the adult political incumbent on the county commission is pulling some dirty tricks out of her bag of deceit. Reference the current Jackson County Chairperson of the Commission, Ms. Sadie Bias. Recently several handouts and internet mailings have been circulating. None have the required statement, paid for by the political committee. 

One set of political flyers says an interested citizen asked questions of the candidates; as it turns out the questions were never asked and the questions along with the fake answers are right wing extremist oriented. Blaming the United Nations and agenda 21 for our problems. These flyers were passed around town to businesses. The flyers faux answers are a direct attack on the Democrat Party while supporting candidates who seemingly support right wing extremist agendas.

Another flyer was sent forth containing an inaccurate budget breakdown report in internet form with a statement by Commissioner Clemmons to support Ms. Bias for Commission Chair. The political ad was comparing the city and county budgets, supporting the alleged managerial abilities of Ms. Bias the current chair of the commission. This political ad has also been circulated by supporters of Ms. Bias; the internet advertisement nor the handout contained the required political committee paid for statement. However, the news paper ad of the same chart comparison did have the required statement. The comparison and the figures listed are not accurate.

Fellow citizens. I'm not asking you to support any one candidate, I am asking you to vote come Tuesday with your eyes wide open. Do not allow extremist organizations and dirty tricks to sway your voting. Vote for the candidate who has the highest character and excellent moral values; vote for the candidate who tells you their positions on issues, not a candidate who has no platform other than the negative bashing platform whose advertisements are highly questionable and false. Vote for those who offer forth sensible leadership.

Jackson county Commission Work Session-Crow Mountain Hill Climb - Approval Doubtful

At todays Jackson County Commission meeting supporters for the September 2012 Crow Mountain Hill Climb showed up to support the event. Chamber of Commerce Tourism Director stated the event brings in approximately $340,000 to the community for each event. The event has been held for the past 7 years. The supporters of the hill climb turned in a petition of support for the hill climb containing 189 signatures. Some commissioners questioned the validity of the petition by the hill climb group.

Dr. Charles Lovelady spoke in support for the Crow Mountain Hill Climb.

Later in the meeting 15 citizens from the Crow Mountain area showed up to voice their concern and disapproval of the event. They had a petition with over 55 names disapproving of the hill climb. Crow Mt. Volunteer Fireman stated they had been promised funds but have received only $100 during the first year. The VFD volunteers stated they utilized their fuel and equipment but have received no compensation for their efforts. Commissioner Smith stated he remembered they were promised $4500, but rec'd nothing.

It is my observation based on todays discussion the commission will not approve the Crow Mountain Hill Climb this year. I think there will be at least 3 votes no, maybe 4. The final decision will be made on Thursday April the 26th. Monday, April 23, 2012 is Confederate Memorial Day, the Courthouse is closed.


Mr. Lowell Bivens of the Roseberry Rescue Group submitted another proposal to the County Commission requesting the commission pay 1/3rd of the $50K total, a little less than $17K, to control the aquatic nuisance species in Roseberry Dry Creek area. Commissioner Clemmons stated the TVA will spray around the public access areas and spraying by a 3rd party may not be necessary. If it was necessary the county would clear access around the County Park and Marina areas, according to Mr. Clemmons. 


Ms. Ellen O'Connor brought forward concerns about the Animal Control Ordinance proposed for the county. "People should be responsible for their pets," stated Ms. O'Connor. Ms. O'Connor stated she thought it unnecessary and wrong to require a leash law in the county. She also questioned definitions: "What is a vicious animal." She stated she would oppose this ordinance. A public hearing is scheduled on June 11, 2012 for the Animal Control Ordinance.