[00:00:13] TODAY. IT'S GOOD TO SEE EVERYONE. OH. COUNTY MANAGER. DO WE HAVE ANY BUSINESS TO TRANSACT OUT OF THE JUNE 4TH MEETING? I'D LIKE TO RECONVENE THAT MEETING IF THERE IS ANY BUSINESS TO TRANSACT. THERE IS NONE. HEARING THAT, I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN THAT MEETING. CALL TO [II. CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL] ORDER THE MEETING OF JUNE THE 25TH. DID YOU CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE? ALICIA? MR. PRESIDENT. COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER. SCALES. COMMISSIONER. TYSON. GOOD MORNING. COMMISSIONERS. EVENING. I AM HERE. GOOD MORNING. OUR INVOCATION TODAY IS FROM COMMISSION DISTRICT ONE. DOCTOR HAROLD BASS OF OLIVER. I GOTTA GET MY GLASSES OUT HERE, GUYS. I'M SORRY. ALL OF THAT MONUMENTAL BAPTIST CHURCH. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER KNIGHT. I HAVE MY GLASSES. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. AND COMMISSIONER SCALES WILL BE HERE SHORTLY. SHE IS IN THE SAME TRAFFIC THAT WE WERE IN, SO. AND SHE APOLOGIZES FOR HER TARDINESS. PASTOR, PLEASE LEAD US IN A WORD OF PRAYER. AND COUNTY MANAGER, WOULD YOU LEAD US IN PLEDGE? LET US PRAY. OUR FATHER, OUR GOD, OUR CREATOR, OUR MAKER. THE ONE WHO WAS, WHO IS AND WHO IS COMING BACK AGAIN. THE ONE WHO SITS HIGH AND LOOKED DOWN LOW. WHO KNOWETH HOW MUCH WE CAN HANDLE, HOW MUCH WE CAN STAND, AND HOW MUCH WE CAN BEAR. WE'LL NEVER PUT MORE ON US THAN WHAT WE CAN HANDLE. STAND OR BEAR ON THIS DAY. OH GOD, WE RECOGNIZE YOU AS EL SHADDAI. YOU ARE THE ALMIGHTY GOD. WE LOOK TO YOU AS JEHOVAH JIREH. YOU ARE TRULY OUR PROVIDER. WE THANK YOU FOR BEING THE GOD WHO SITS HIGH AND LOOKS DOWN LOW. AND WE ASK NOW, OH GOD, IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS THE CHRIST, THAT YOU WOULD FORGIVE US OF ALL OF OUR SINS AND ALL OF OUR TRANSGRESSIONS, THAT YOU WOULD CREATE WITHIN US A CLEAN HEART AND RENEW THE RIGHT SPIRIT WITHIN US. POSITION US ON A PLACE AND A SPACE THAT WE MIGHT BE EFFECTIVE ON THE EARTH, TELLING A DYING WORLD THAT THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH. BUT THE GIFT OF OUR GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE. NOW LORD, WE PRAY, OH GOD, RIGHT NOW FOR THIS COUNCIL, WE PRAY FOR THESE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN ELECTED TO SERVE YOU AND TO SERVE THE PEOPLE. WE PRAY, FATHER, THAT TODAY, THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THEM THE SPIRIT OF LOVE, THAT AGAPE LOVE THAT WOULD LOOK BEYOND OUR FAULT AND SUPPLY A NEED. WE THANK YOU FOR THAT LOVE, OUR FATHER, FOR YOU SAY WE ARE RECOGNIZE BY YOUR LOVE AS INDIVIDUALS WHO LOVE YOU. YOU SAY WE HAVE NOT BECAUSE WE ASK NOT. WE ASK FOR A GREATER LOVE. YOU SAID BY THIS SIGN SHALL ALL MEN KNOW THAT WE ARE YOUR DISCIPLES, THAT WE HAVE LOVE ONE TOWARD ANOTHER? I PRAY RIGHT NOW IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THIS COUNCIL THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THEM UNITY, FOR YOUR WORD HAS DECREED AND DECLARED THAT TOGETHER WE'LL STAND, BUT DIVIDED WE SHALL FALL. I COME AGAINST EVERY SPIRIT. THAT WOULD BE A SPIRIT OF SEPARATION AND DIVISION. I BIND THAT SPIRIT AND CALLED IT OUT AND SEND IT BACK TO THE VERY PITS OF HELL. I THANK YOU, FATHER, THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THEM THE SPIRIT, OH GOD OF PROSPERITY, THAT THEY WOULD HAVE THE WISDOM, THE KNOWLEDGE AND THE UNDERSTANDING ON HOW TO BLESS YOU, TO BLESS YOUR PEOPLE, TO BLESS OUR COUNTIES. I ASK NOW IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, THAT YOU WILL MOVE IN THIS PLACE LIKE NEVER BEFORE. I DECREE THAT GREAT WORK SHALL BE DONE HERE TODAY, THAT BLESSINGS SHALL COME UNTO YOUR NAME AND UNTO YOUR PEOPLE, BUYING THEM CLOSER TOGETHER. I ASK IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST THAT YOU WOULD BLESS AMERICA, THAT YOU WOULD BLESS ALABAMA, THAT YOU WOULD BLESS BIRMINGHAM, AND CERTAINLY THAT YOU WOULD BLESS EVERY COUNTY. I ASK, OH GOD, IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, THAT YOU WOULD GET ALL GLORY, THAT YOU WOULD GET ALL THE HONOR, AND THAT YOU WOULD GET ALL THE PRAISE. IT'S IN THE MIGHTY, MATCHLESS NAME OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST. WE DO PRAY AND ALL THAT AGREE JUST SIMPLY SAID, AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU PASTOR. PLEDGE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. AND LET THE [00:05:13] RECORD STATE THAT COUNCILOR. EXPEDITED HIS ARRIVAL AND CAME IN. WE. WE HAD TALKED ON THE WAY IN, AND HE HAD THE SAME RATE. WE DID. AND HERE IS A COMMISSIONER SCALE. Y'ALL DIDN'T COME IN TOGETHER, DID YOU? YEAH. NEXT ON THE AGENDA, WE HAVE THE APPROVAL OF THE [V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES] MINUTES FROM JUNE THE 4TH. DO. ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS, CORRECTIONS OR REVISIONS TO THOSE MINUTES. THANK YOU. CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO HAVE THOSE PRESENTED MOVED. I ALL IN [VI. PRESENTATIONS (Part 1 of 2)] FAVOR SAY AYE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT COUNTY MANAGER GOT NO. WE'LL START WITH DISTRICT TWO. WE HAVE A RECOGNITION OF THE RETIREMENT OF MARION STERLING. MARION HERE. THERE YOU GO. I WON'T LET Y'ALL. CAN'T WAIT ONE MINUTE. OKAY. I GOING TO GO FOR. IT. BUT THEY HAVE TO GO TO A MEETING ON. THEY CAN GO FIRST. SO YOU DON'T DO GO AHEAD AND COUNT. YEAH GO AHEAD. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO HOLD OFF ON THAT ONE. AND YOU'RE NEXT. WHICH ONE. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. YEAH WE HAD A PRESENTATION FOR THE PUBLIC RELATIONS SOCIETY OF AMERICA TO THE JEFFERSON COUNTY OR ONE OF THE BEST PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTRY. AND YOU ALL KNOW HANNAH. SHE COULD NOT BE HERE. SHE'S PART OF THAT AWARD. HELEN IS HERE AS A BIG PART OF THAT AWARD. SO IF YOU WOULD ALLOW US, WE WOULD LIKE TO PUSH THIS ONE TO THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING SO THAT HANNAH COULD BE HERE. OKAY. AND THE SAME FOR THE GFOA. ANGELA COULDN'T BE HERE. I WAS TRYING TO SURPRISE THEM AND IT DID NOT WORK OUT. SURPRISE, SURPRISE. SO, CAL, WHEN YOU PUT IT ON THE AGENDA, IT'S NOT A SURPRISE. WELL, WELL, IT WAS FOR A SECOND. THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULDN'T BE HERE, BUT. SO I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD WITH OUR SERVICE PINS OF S. OKAY. AND WE'LL COME BACK TO THOSE TWO AT THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING. SO WHAT WE WILL DO WE NEED TO TABLE ITEMS IS YOUR RECOGNITION IS YOU WANT TO NEXT YOU WANT TO DO YOURS TODAY? YES. OKAY. SO TABLE TWO AND THREE. THAT WOULD BE GREAT. OKAY. AND MOTION DO THAT. SO MOVED. SECOND. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ALL RIGHT. GO AHEAD WITH NUMBER FOUR. THANK YOU AGAIN, COMMISSIONERS, FOR LETTING US HONOR BEFORE YOU THE 30 YEAR EMPLOYEES OF JEFFERSON COUNTY. AND THAT'S WHO MAKES THE COUNTY WHAT IT IS TODAY. THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH SOME DIFFICULT TIMES, SOME GREAT LEADERS HERE TODAY THAT HAVE LED THE COUNTY IN TREMENDOUS WAYS. AND THIS IS A SMALL WAY TO RECOGNIZE THEM AND THEIR SERVICE AND TIME PUT IN, AS WELL AS THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, ACCOMPLISHMENTS. SO WE'LL GIVE THEM THEIR PIN. AND THEN, IF Y'ALL DON'T MIND, I'D LIKE TO GET THEIR PICTURE WITH YOU ALL AT THE END OF IT. SO MELODY WILL READ THEIR NAME. IF Y'ALL COULD COME UP, WE'LL GET YOU A PEN TO YOU AND THEN WE'LL GO UP FRONT. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. WE ARE EXCITED THIS QUARTER THAT WE ARE RECOGNIZING SEVEN EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE REACHED THEIR 30 YEARS OF SERVICE THAT ARE VERY DESERVING OF THE RECOGNITION. SO I'LL CALL EACH PERSON'S NAME AND HAVE THEM COME UP WITH THEIR DEPARTMENT HEAD AS WE CALL. FIRST WE HAVE TERRY BALDWIN, WHO IS A SENIOR ENGINEERING INSPECTOR WITH ESD. CARL RAY, WHO IS A SENIOR WATER RECLAMATION FACILITY MAINTENANCE WORKER WITH ESD. ALL RIGHT. MICHAEL CRANE, TRAFFIC SIGN AND MARKING SUPERVISOR WITH ROADS AND TRANSPORTATION. YEAH. YES, SIR. WESLEY GREGORY, CHIEF CIVIL ENGINEER WITH ROADS AND TRANSPORTATION. JASON GUTHRIE, [00:10:04] TRAFFIC MAINTENANCE WORKER WITH ROADS AND TRANSPORTATION. CHRIS KIEL, PROJECT MANAGER WITH GENERAL SERVICES. AND CARL SAID HE WASN'T PRESENTING THE NEXT ONES. BUT I WILL GLADLY ANNOUNCE THE NAME DARREN LANIER, WHO IS OUR DEPUTY COUNTY MANAGER. WHERE WE'RE ACCEPTING NO RETIREMENTS. RIGHT? CORRECT. WELL, WE'LL DO OUR BEST. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ARE YOU GOING TO LET THEM ALL COME UP? YEAH. I THINK I SAW A LOOK THAT SAYS WATCH THIS. Y'ALL COME UP AND GET YOUR PICTURE. YOU GOT A Y'ALL STAND RIGHT HERE. WE'LL STAND UP. RIGHT. I DON'T BUY IT. YOU MAY CARL. IT WOULD LOOK BETTER IF YOU IN THE CENTER. YOU OUGHT TO. COUNTY MANAGER. DARREN JUST RUN IT TO THAT. WELL BUT I'M JUST SAYING. EVERYBODY LINED UP LIKE YOU. LIKE I COULD HAVE DONE A LITTLE BIT MORE. WE CAN FILL UP ONE, TWO, THREE. ONE TWO MORE. HERE WE GO. YOU CAN GO. COUNT IT OFF. ONE. TWO. THREE. 123. THANK YOU. GOOD. THANK Y'ALL THANK YOU, THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. YOU KNOW. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. YOU NEED IT, RIGHT? YOU WANT TO RETIRE? WE CAN TALK. I KNOW THAT. RIGHT? TURN DOWN. NO. HEY, MAN. [VIII. RESOLUTIONS 1 - 68] CONGRATULATIONS TO COMMISSIONERS. WE HAD 68 ITEMS THAT WE VOTED IN ON TUESDAY'S MEETING. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE NEED TO SET ASIDE FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION? MOVE 1 TO 68. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE AYE. ANY NEW BUSINESS? COUNTY MANAGER. NO, SIR. ANY NEW? ANYTHING FROM YOU? NO, SIR. WE'LL TRY TO EXPEDITE. WE HAVE A 10:00 MEETING WITH ALDOT TODAY. THAT THAT WE WE NEED TO WE NEED TO ATTEND. SO, COMMISSIONERS, ANYTHING THAT'S [XV. COMMENTS (Part 1 of 2)] THAT WE THAT WE NEED TO SAY. AND I KNOW THAT WE'RE COMING ON THE 4TH OF JULY. I HAVE MY YOU HAVE YOUR PRESENTATION. THAT'S RIGHT. ARE WE READY? YES. AND WHILE WE'RE WAITING FOR THAT, I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE. AND WE'LL GIVE HIM A. GIVE HIM A LITTLE PLAQUE FOR HIM AS THE HEWLETT TRUST FOR HIGH SCHOOL BOYS WERE THE SEVEN A BASEBALL CHAMPIONS OF THE STATE. HEWITT-TRUSSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS WERE THE SEVEN CHAMPIONS OF STATE IN SOFTBALL, AND THIS WAS THE FINAL SEVEN A COMPETITION, BECAUSE NOW ALL THOSE SCHOOLS WILL BE REGROUPED BACK TO SIX A. AND A COUPLE OTHER THINGS. EMA GOT THE MITIGATION PROGRAM OF THE YEAR AT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE, AND JIM COKER WAS RECEIVED. THE CAREER ACHIEVEMENT IN EMA. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF THEM. THANKS TO ALL OF OUR POLL WORKERS AND STAFF FOR THE ELECTION WORK THAT THEY DID. AND THE NEW IPADS WERE LOVED BY ALL. SO GOOD JOB. AND SO THAT'S [00:15:04] WHAT I'VE GOT. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER TYSON. PRESENTATION GLASS WILL PRESENT [VI. PRESENTATIONS (Part 2 of 2)] THE RESOLUTION. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS, ON BEHALF OF JEFFERSON COUNTY COMMISSION IS AN HONOR TO STAND HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE MR. MARION STERLING AS HE EMBARKS ON HIS NEXT WELL-DESERVED CHAPTER. WHEN WE THINK ABOUT WHAT MAKES JEFFERSON COUNTY WORK, IT'S NOT JUST THE BUILDING, THE INFRACTION OR THE POLICIES. IT'S THE PEOPLE. IT'S INDIVIDUALS LIKE MR. MARION STERLING WHO SHOW UP EVERY DAY, YEAR AFTER YEAR, DEDICATING YOUR TIME, TALENT AND ENERGY TO SERVING OUR COMMUNITY. RETIREMENT IS NOT THE END OF THE ROAD. IT'S THE BEGINNING OF OUR OPEN HIGHWAY. WHEREAS THE JEFFERSON COUNTY COMMISSION RECOGNIZES OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT IMPACT OUR CITIZENS OF THIS GREAT COUNTY FOR THE BETTER. AND WHEREAS, MARION STERLING, FOURTH GENERATION OF PRESIDENT DAVENPORT AND HARRIS, PRESENT PRESIDENT DAVENPORT AND HARRIS FUNERAL HOME HAS FAITHFULLY SERVED THE BIRMINGHAM COMMUNITY WITH DISTINCTION, PRESERVING AND ADVANCING THE LEGACY OF ALABAMA'S OLDEST BLACK FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS AND FUNERAL HOME ESTABLISHMENT. WHEREAS, AFTER A SUCCESSFUL INTERNATIONAL CAREER IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS, MR. STERLING RETURNED HOME IN 2020. IN 2006 TO LEAD DAVENPORT AND HARRIS FUNERAL HOME, WHERE FOR 20 YEARS HE PROVIDED COMPASSIONATE LEADERSHIP, SUPPORTED EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AND STRENGTHENED COMMUNITY PARTNERS, INCLUDING SERVICE ON THE JEFFERSON COUNTY ON THE JEFFERSON STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. AND WHEREAS HE ENTERS RETIREMENT, MR. STERLING LEAVES AN ENDURING LEGACY OF PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE, COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP, AND DEDICATED SERVICE THAT HAS POSITIVELY IMPACTED COUNTLESS FAMILIES THROUGHOUT BIRMINGHAM, JEFFERSON COUNTY, AND BEYOND. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT JEFFERSON COUNTY COMMISSION HEREBY HONORS AND CONGRATULATES MARION STERLING, WHO HAS RETIRED AFTER 20 YEARS AS PRESIDENT OF DAVENPORT AND HARRIS FUNERAL HOME AND EXPRESSES ITS SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR HIS LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY AND HIS DEDICATION TO PRESERVING A HISTORIC FAMILY LEGACY. SIGNED BY THE JEFFERSON COUNTY COMMISSION ON THIS DAY, JUNE 25TH, 2026. DID YOU GET ALL THE SIGNATURES? YES. OKAY. AND COME UP, MR. STERLING, I DON'T WANT TO GO TO THE MIC BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO SAY SOMETHING. I DON'T WANT TO CRY. I'M SCARED TO SAY ANYTHING. YEAH. GOOD MORNING, GOOD MORNING. I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR SUCH A TREMENDOUS HONOR. OVER THE 20 YEARS, I NEVER KNEW THAT PEOPLE WERE ACTUALLY WATCHING. I JUST WOKE UP EVERY MORNING AND ASKED GOD TO GIVE ME THE STRENGTH AND THE COURAGE TO SERVICE OUR COMMUNITY, OUR FAMILIES, AND TO DO IT WITH HONOR. AND IT'S BEEN A PRIVILEGE. I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET SO MANY WONDERFUL PEOPLE, SO MANY WONDERFUL PEOPLE, AND I'M THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE REVEREND LASHAWN NICOLE SLATER, PRESIDENT ELECT, DAVENPORT AND HARRIS. REVEREND SLATER AND I HAVE WORKED TOGETHER FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 YEARS. SHE'S GOT 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WITH DAVENPORT AND HARRIS, STARTING OUT AS AN APPRENTICE, GAINING HER DIRECTOR'S LICENSE FROM JEFFERSON STATE MORTUARY SCIENCE, AND TODAY IS ALSO PASTOR OF PAYNE CHAPEL IN TITUSVILLE. WE WORK TOGETHER, ARM IN ARM, SHOULDER TO SHOULDER, AND DOING THE VERY BEST THAT WE CAN FOR OUR PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND I THANK YOU. WE THANK YOU FOR SUCH AN HONOR. THANK YOU. MR. ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? YES. MR. STERLING AND PRESIDENT ELECT. FOR MORE REASONS THAN ONE. I SMILE, AS YOU KNOW, AND I'M THANKFUL THAT THIS COMMISSION, OUT OF ALL OF THE FUNERAL HOMES THAT COULD HAVE BEEN HONORED, YOU WERE HONORED TODAY. AND FOR THOSE OF YOU ALL WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT I WAS WHISPERING TO HIM, AND WE WHISPERED TO EACH OTHER, WE'RE FAMILY. AND AND SO I'M THANKFUL. THE WORST TIME THAT ANYONE CAN CAN DO ANYTHING THAT I BELIEVE [00:20:06] THAT IS HURTFUL IS DURING THE TIME OF THE DEATH OF A LOVED ONE. AND YOU ALL HAVE DONE SUCH A WONDERFUL JOB IN MAKING SURE THAT EVERY FAMILY KNEW THAT THEY MATTERED. EVERY PERSON THAT YOU FUNERALIZED THAT YOU CARED, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, YOUR STAPLE OF BLACK EXCELLENCE. AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT. AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU. AND I MAKE SURE I TELL DAD, I SAW YOU TODAY. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. AND GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. LOOK FORWARD TO THAT NEXT CHAPTER OF BEING EVEN BIGGER AND BETTER. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS? I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE SERVICE THAT YOU HAVE PROVIDED TO THE COMMUNITY OVER THE YEARS. VERY DIFFICULT TIMES FOR FOR PEOPLE WHEN THEY LOSE A LOVED ONE. AND IT TAKES A GOOD CALMING PERSON TO BE ABLE TO GET THEM THROUGH THIS INITIAL PHASE. IT TAKES A SPECIAL PERSON. SO I THINK YOU'VE DONE QUITE A JOB OVER YOUR YOUR TIME, AND THERE ARE SO MANY THAT ARE APPRECIATIVE OF YOU. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR. THANK YOU. YES, GOD BLESS YOU FOR YOU AND YOUR SERVICE. THAT'S ALL THAT NEEDS TO BE SAID. JUDGE. NO THANK YOU. WELL, MR. STERLING, YOU KNOW HOW LONG WE'VE BEEN FRIENDS AND MR. STERLING, THEY Y'ALL REMODELED THE MAUSOLEUM NEXT. COULD YOU TELL THEM ABOUT THAT RIGHT QUICK? ABOUT THE MAUSOLEUM. SHE'S REFERRING TO HISTORICAL BUILDINGS THAT ARE ON MARTIN LUTHER KING JR BOULEVARD. THEY WERE ORIGINALLY THE BIRMINGHAM MEMORIAL MONUMENT COMPANY. AND THE BUILDING THAT WE HAVE REMODELED COMPLETELY IS APPROXIMATELY 104 YEARS OLD. EVERYBODY THOUGHT WE WERE KIND OF CRAZY TO TAKE ON SUCH TASK BECAUSE IT WAS VERY, VERY POOR CONDITION. TODAY, IT ADDS TO THE AMBIANCE OF TITUSVILLE. WE HOST FAMILY FAMILY MEETINGS THERE. WE PASSES COMMUNITY MEETINGS SUPPORTING STUDENTS FROM UAB AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. WE HAVE TWO OTHER BUILDINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO COMPLETE, AND THEY WILL BE REGISTERED WITH THE ALABAMA HISTORICAL COMMISSION AS WELL AS THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE. SO IT'S AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY IN A FASHION THAT THE COMMUNITY REALLY APPRECIATES. IT'S IT'S REALLY IT'S REALLY AN HONOR. IT'S A LOT OF HARD WORK. YES. BUT WE THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE SUPPORT THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US OVER THE YEARS. IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO WORK WITH YOU IN THE COMMUNITY. WE SIMPLY SAY THANK YOU FOR OUR SIDEWALKS. ABSOLUTELY. AND AND FOR THE LEVEL OF EDUCATION THAT YOU'RE BRINGING TO THE COMMUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS. IF IF WE DON'T SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS, WE DON'T HAVE A FUTURE. AND SO OUR TAG IS WITHOUT A VISION. THERE'S NO PLAN. WITHOUT A PLAN, THERE IS NO FUTURE. AND I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH MR. STERLING FOR MAYBE ABOUT 20, ABOUT 15 YEARS AT LEAST. YES. AND HIS VISION WAS TO TURN THAT CORRIDOR ON MARTIN LUTHER KING DRIVE. HE WANTED THE SIDEWALKS. HE WANTED THE APARTMENTS REMODELED, AND HE WANTED THE BUILDING. IT WAS THE BUILDING WAS REALLY IN BAD SHAPE. AND HE TOOK FORWARD THE EFFORT. WE WORKED TOGETHER WITH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH ALDOT. IT TOOK A ALDOT FOR YEARS, BUT THEY FINALLY GOT IT COMPLETED. I AM SO EXCITED FOR YOU WITH YOUR RETIREMENT, WHICH I KNOW YOU'RE NOT GOING TO RETIRE. DAVENPORT AND HARRIS HAVE BURIED PEOPLE FOR FREE. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I KNOW AND YOU MIGHT NOT WANT ME TO SAY IT, BUT YOU HAVE. AND IT WAS IT'S IT'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, MURDERS IN THE COMMUNITY. AND THE FAMILIES DID NOT HAVE INSURANCE. HE CAME THROUGH SEVERAL TIMES. AND I APPRECIATE THAT. YOU JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEAN TO ME. AND I JUST, I, I JUST I HOPE YOU DON'T FULLY RETIRE. AND I HAVE ALL THE FAITH IN HER AND I WE ME AND HER, WE HAVE BEEN FRIENDS, REVEREND, HAVE BEEN WE'VE BEEN FRIENDS FOR A LONG TIME. BUT JUST TO NOT JUST TO GO DOWN THERE AND NOT SEE YOU. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER I CAN DO THAT OR NOT. AND I KNOW YOU STAY AROUND THE CORNER, BUT I LOVE YOU AND YOU KNOW I DO. I THANK YOU AND I APPRECIATE SO [00:25:01] MUCH THE WORK THAT YOU DO IN THE AREA. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I WISH YOU THE BEST. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE YOU. BEFORE WE ADJOURN, TAKE A RECEIPT. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL DO THAT RIGHT WHEN WE GET THROUGH. OKAY? OKAY. THAT'D BE THE EASIEST THING TO DO. SEVERAL OF US ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TO HURRY TO GO TO THE ALDOT MEETING. THERE'S ONE OTHER [XV. COMMENTS (Part 2 of 2)] THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO. IT'S GOOD NEWS. I LIKE TO CONGRATULATE, CONGRATULATE COMMISSIONER BOLEN AND JEFF TRAYLOR, WHO IS OUT ON THEIR ROLE IN SECURING THE $475 MILLION QUENCHING AND THREADING PLANT THERE AT AT U.S. STEEL. THAT'S RIGHT. THESE ARE THINGS THAT THAT THAT MEAN A GREAT DEAL TO JEFFERSON COUNTY. AND IT IMPROVES OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. AND THAT'S ON TOP OF A 75 MILLION THAT THEY DID THAT THEY DID ON THE THREADING PLANT. AND THIS WILL BE A A PLANT AND ADJACENT TO THAT. AND WE'LL WE'LL CONTINUE TO ADD NEW JOBS. AND THERE IS ANOTHER ONE IN, IN THE WORKS THAT WE'RE GOING TO WORK ON. SO I'M TELLING YOU THAT JEFFERSON COUNTY IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO AGGRESSIVELY SEEK ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR CITIZENS. AND IT'S FOR THE ENGAGEMENT OF PEOPLE LIKE COMMISSIONER BOLEN THAT THIS GETS DONE. GOD BLESS YOU. AND WE APPRECIATE THAT. AND WITH THAT, THIS MEETING IS RECESSED AND WE COME UP AND GET OUR * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.