IT IS GOOD TO BE HERE, ISN'T IT? AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO RECONVENE THE MEETING OF AUGUST
[00:00:08]
6TH AND ASK THE COUNTY MANAGER. IS THERE ANY UNFINISHED BUSINESS THAT WE NEED TO TRANSACT OUT OF THAT PARTICULAR MEETING? NO, SIR. SEEING NO ACTIONABLE ITEMS, THAT MEETING[II. CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL]
IS NOW ADJOURNED. I'D LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING OF AUGUST THE 27TH, 2026 AT NINE.NINE, TEN. WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL COMMISSIONER BOWDEN HERE, COMMISSIONER KNIGHT HERE. COMMISSIONER SCALES. COMMISSIONER. PYTHON. GOOD MORNING. COMMISSIONER.
GOOD MORNING. I'M HERE. INVOCATION IS GOING TO BE FROM DISTRICT FOUR. I'D LIKE TO TURN THE PROGRAM OVER TO COMMISSIONER KNIGHT TO INTRODUCE OUR. HONORARY, I GUESS. ALRIGHT. HE IS GOING TO GIVE HIM A GOOD. I'M NOT GOING TO CLOTHE HIM WITH A CLOTH, BUT ZACH BROOKS HAS BEEN WITH US FOR. HE'S BEEN WITH ME FOR 13 YEARS. HE DOES AN OUTSTANDING JOB WITH OUR OFFICE. HE'S GOT AN UNDERGRADUATE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, A GRADUATE DEGREE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION. HE'S A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH OF THE HIGHLANDS. IF YOU ALL STAND, WE'LL HAVE A PRAYER. LET'S PRAY. DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME TO YOU TO SAY, LORD, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING US ANOTHER DAY. LORD, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE. THANK YOU FOR THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY, LORD, AND THEIR SERVICE. LORD, WE KNOW THAT SERVICE IS A FORM OF LOVE. SO WHEN PEOPLE SEE OUR ACTIONS, LORD, LET THEM SEE YOU. LET THEM SEE JESUS. DON'T LET THEM SEE US. LORD, WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE GIVE US HELP WITH THE AREAS THAT DO NOT COME NATURALLY TO US. LORD, PUTTING OTHER PEOPLE AHEAD OF OURSELVES, TAKING THOSE EXTRA STEPS TO BE HELPFUL WHEN THOSE STEPS MAY NOT BE SEEN. LORD, GIVING PEOPLE GRACE WHEN IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. LORD, CONTINUE TO PROTECT US AND BLESS US, THAT WE MAY BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS IN ALL AREAS OF OUR LIVES. LORD, AND ALL THESE THINGS. IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. AMEN, AMEN.
PLEASE, PLEASE FACE THE FLAG. ATTENTION, SALUTE. 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. THANK YOU, ZACH, AND THANK YOU, DARREN.
[V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
COMMISSIONERS, YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU THE MINUTES FROM AUGUST 6TH, 2026. ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS, CORRECTIONS OR REVISIONS TO THOSE MINUTES, OR CAN WE ACCEPT THEM AS PRESENTED? MOVE. WE DISPENSE THE READING OF THE MINUTES. ADOPT THEM AS WRITTEN. WE HAVE A MOTION. AND SECOND, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. COUNTY MANAGER HAS A RESOLUTION[VI. PRESENTATIONS]
TO PRESENT. I BELIEVE YOU, CAL. DO YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND BEGIN THE PROGRAM? AND I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER KNIGHT'S GOING TO PRESENT THE RESOLUTION. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. HANNAH, IF YOU COULD COME UP. I GUESS WE COULD GET THE FAMILY TO COME UP. YES. IF THEY WOULD JOIN Y'ALL.COMMISSIONER KNIGHTS GOING TO READ A RESOLUTION HONORING MANDY, A GREAT EMPLOYEE OF JEFFERSON COUNTY AND A GREAT FRIEND TO A LOT OF US. SO THANKS FOR READING THAT, JOE, BECAUSE I PROBABLY COULDN'T MAKE IT THROUGH IT. AND THEN I WAS GOING TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
SO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS, FOR DOING THIS. AND. WE MISS MANDY. SO GO AHEAD. ALL RIGHT.
OUR RESOLUTION IS IN RECOGNITION OF THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF AMANDA JOY SMITH.
MANDY LH WHEREAS THE JEFFERSON COUNTY COMMISSION ACKNOWLEDGES WITH DEEP RESPECT AND SORROW THE UNEXPECTED PASSING OF AMANDA JOY SMITH ELLEDGE, OUR LOVING MANDY, LOVINGLY KNOWN AS MANDY AS ON JULY 28TH, 2026, IN HOMEWOOD, ALABAMA. FOLLOWING A SUDDEN ILLNESS. AND WHEREAS MANDY WAS BORN ON DECEMBER THE 29TH, 1975 IN GADSDEN, ALABAMA, AND GRADUATED FROM ONEONTA HIGH SCHOOL AS A MEMBER OF THE CLASS OF 1994. AND WHEREAS, MANDY WENT ON TO EARN A MASTER'S DEGREE IN ENGINEERING FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM, AND WHEREAS MANDY'S LIFE WAS FILLED WITH JOY AND PASSION FOR HER FAMILY, FRIENDS AND THE SIMPLE PLEASURES SHE TREASURED, INCLUDING SPENDING TIME OUTDOORS, DANCING, ENJOYING GOOD FOOD AND MUSIC,
[00:05:05]
CHEERING FOR THE AUBURN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS, AND EMBRACING HER FAVORITE COLOR, BLUE. AND WHEREAS, ABOVE ALL, MANDY FOUND IMMENSE HAPPINESS IN BEING A DEVOTED DOG MOM, A ROLE THAT BROUGHT SPECIAL JOY AND COMPANIONSHIP TO HER LIFE. AND WHEREAS MANDY SHARED 19 YEARS OF MARRIAGE WITH HER HUSBAND BEN ELLEDGE, AND IS SURVIVED BY BEING HER PARENTS, STEVE AND PATRICIA MCCOY, NICKS MCKAY NICKS, HER STEP MOTHER, KATHY ROGER SMITH, HER BROTHER CHAD SMITH, HER STEP BROTHERS, MICHAEL NICKS AND SCOTT ROGERS. HER STEPSISTERS PAIGE ELLIOTT, KRISTIN NICKS AND DEIDRA ROBERSON, HER SISTER IN LAW KRISTIE ELLEDGE, AND HER LIFELONG BEST FRIEND HOLLY GUTIERREZ. AND WHEREAS, MANDY WAS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY HER STEPFATHER, DOUGLAS NICKS, AND HER BROTHER IN LAW, ALAN ELLEDGE. AND WHEREAS THE JEFFERSON COUNTY COMMISSION RECOGNIZES AND HONORS A LIFE REMEMBERED FOR THE LOVE OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS, MEANINGFUL ACCOMPLISHMENTS, TREASURED RELATIONSHIPS, AND AND AND ENDURING APPRECIATION FOR THE JOYS THAT MADE MANDY'S LIFE UNIQUELY HER OWN. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE JEFFERSON COUNTY COMMISSION HEREBY HONORS AND COMMEMORATES THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF AMANDA JOY SMITH, MANDY ELLEDGE AND JOINS HER FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND ALL WHO KNEW AND LOVED HER IN CELEBRATING THE MEMORIES AND LASTING IMPACT OF HER LIFE, AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE COMMISSION EXTENDS ITS DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HER HUSBAND, FAMILY, LOVED ONES AND FRIENDS, AND DIRECTS THAT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION BE PRESENTED TO HER FAMILY AS A PERMANENT EXPRESSION OF THE COUNTY'S RESPECT, REMEMBRANCE AND HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES. SIGNED THIS BY THE JEFFERSON COUNTY COMMISSION IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA. ON THIS, THE 27TH DAY OF AUGUST 2026. HANNAH, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK? YES. SO I'M HANNAH. I WORKED WITH MANDY. I HIRED ON IN 98 UNDER WHEN WE WERE UNDER SWIMMER AND MANDY GOT HIRED. WELL, BEN THEN GOT HIRED AND THEN MANDY GOT HIRED IN 2001. I WAS ON VACATION WHEN SHE GOT HIRED, BECAUSE THAT'S HOW WE REMEMBER WHEN SHE STARTED. SHE STARTED OFF AS AN INTERN AND HELPED US DO ALL THE THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE STORM DRAIN SYSTEM AND TAKING PICTURES. AND SHE WAS SMALL ENOUGH. SO WE WERE LIKE, YOU GO DOWN AND GET THE PHOTO. BUT SHE HAD SUPER POWERS. AND ONE OF HER SUPERPOWERS IS TO ALWAYS LOOK BEAUTIFUL. IT DIDN'T MATTER IF IT WAS 100 DEGREES OR 30 DEGREES. SHE LOOKED BEAUTIFUL. A HOT HEAT SUMMER, AND HERE I AM. MY HAIR IS FRIZZY AND SHE STILL LOOKS LIKE A GODDESS. HER IN THAT BEAUTIFUL RED CURLY HAIR. SHE ALSO HAD ANOTHER SUPERPOWER AND WE CALLED HER WATER WOMAN. SHE BECAME THE STORM. THE STORMWATER BIOLOGIST, AND SHE WAS IN CHARGE OF LOOKING FOR ILLICIT DISCHARGES AND IDENTIFYING POLLUTION AND DOING WATER SAMPLING. SO WE ALL HAVE SUPER POWERS AND SUPER HERO COSTUMES BECAUSE WHY WOULDN'T YOU? AND SHE CHOSE THE BLUE FOR WATER WOMAN, AND SHE WILL ALWAYS FOREVER BE JUST A BLESSING TO US. HER MEMORY IS A BLESSING TO THE COUNTY. SHE SHE PUT HER HEART AND SOUL INTO IT AND SO WE MISS HER. WE'RE.WE'RE MORE THAN JUST EMPLOYEES. WE ARE A FAMILY. AND SO IT. WE JUST. YEAH. BEN. MOM. CHAD.
EVERYBODY ALL Y'ALL. WE ARE SO SORRY. WE LOVE HER. WE MISS HER. IT IS. WE ARE STILL TRYING TO ABSORB WHAT HAPPENED. BUT SHE WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. SHE WILL ALWAYS BE A BLESSING TO US.
AND THANK YOU MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER WITH US AND ALLOWING HER TO DO WHAT SHE WANTED TO DO, AND THAT WAS PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT. AND SHE DID IT WELL. THANK YOU.
YEAH. COME UP FOR A PHOTO. JUST LET THEM STAND BY YOU, BUD. COME ON UP. GOOD MORNING. YEAH YOU CAN. YEAH YOU CAN. THIS IS HER HUSBAND, BEN. NO. THAT'S FINE. HER MOM, HER DAD, MADONNA, WHO STARTED WITH US, HER MOM IN LAW AND HER DAD IN LAW AND HER BROTHER AND MOM IN LAW. THAT'S
[00:10:07]
WHY I SAID, YEAH, I'M SORRY. I'M GONNA HAVE TO GET A COUPLE PEOPLE TO MOVE TO THAT SIDE, OR IT'S EVERYBODY. SCOOT OVER A LITTLE BIT. YEAH. OH, WHY DON'T YOU LET. I'M GOING TO GET ON THE SIDE. OKAY, HERE WE GO. FIRST SHOT 123. 123. ONE MORE. 123. THANK YOU. ONE MORE. ONE.THANK YOU SO. YEAH. DON'T CONTACT. YEAH WELL WE APPRECIATE THANK YOU THANK YOU.
OH. ARE YOU ALL. I AIN'T SEEN YOU IN A WHILE. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU. JAZZ HALL OF FAME AND RICKWOOD FIELD. THAT'S WHY WE SPEND ALL THE TIME. SO IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU GUYS. GOOD TO SEE YOU, MIKE. GOOD TO SEE YOU GUYS. COMMISSIONERS. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU GUYS. ALL RIGHT.
OH, MAN. YOU TAUGHT ME HOW TO WALK ON WATER. I HEARD YOU. I HEAR YOU, BUDDY. WITH HER. YOU TOLD ME ON ONE THING. YOU ACCUSE ME OF BEING ALABAMA FAN WITH YOUR WORK, BUT ALSO BOUGHT A PICTURE OF ME IN A PICTURE OF A GUY WHO WAS A COACH. I HAVE A HANDSHAKE WITH RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR NOW, SO. THANK YOU FOR THE HONOR. YES, SIR. YOU TAKE CARE. THAT'S WHAT WOMEN DO.
[VII. PUBLIC HEARINGS]
CHANGE THINGS. NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS. WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN FIRST WITH A 772 HEARING. THE U.S. STEEL SEAMLESS TUBULAR OPERATION JOBS GRANT RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF JOBS GRANT FOR THE U.S. STEEL SEAMLESS TUBULAR OPERATIONS, LLC FOR THEIR COMPANY PLANNING TO EXPAND THE STEEL PIPE PROCESSING AND USING QUENCH AND TEMP TECHNOLOGY FOR THE STEEL PRODUCTS INDUSTRY IN THE JEFFERSON COUNTY STEEL MILL. THAT'S PROGRESS. THAT'S JOBS.THAT'S INVESTMENT IN JEFFERSON COUNTY. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'D LIKE TO OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISH TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF OR OPPOSITION TO THIS? SEEING NONE, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. MOVE THE ITEM, MR. PRESIDENT. ITEM HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS DEMOLITION ITEMS. I'VE DONE THESE IN A AS A GROUP IN THE PAST. DO YOU WANT ME TO GO AHEAD AND DO THAT COUNTY ATTORNEY OR DO YOU WANT TO.
THAT'LL BE FINE. ALRIGHT. THE NEXT FOUR ITEMS ARE SPECIAL ASSESSMENT DEMOLITION COSTS, AND THEY EACH REQUIRE A PUBLIC HEARING. THIS IS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT FOR A LIEN ON THE SAID PROPERTY, FOR THE AMOUNT OF. THE ASSESSMENT OF THE LIEN SHALL BE SUPERIOR TO ALL OTHER LIENS ON SAID PROPERTY, EXCEPT LIENS FOR TAXES, AND SHALL CONTINUE IN FORCE UNTIL PAID.
AND THESE LESIONS ARE ON. 318 M STREET, SOUTHWEST. 35022322 PINE STREET. SOUTHWEST.
35022432 ALABAMA AVENUE SOUTHWEST. 35022 AND 5379 CELINA AVENUE. 35022. IS THERE
[00:15:05]
ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISH TO SPEAK TO ANY OF THESE ITEMS? YES, SIR. PLEASE COME FORWARD.STATE YOUR NAME AND THE ADDRESS AND WHICH DEMOLITION ITEM? NO, NO. RIGHT HERE. I'M SORRY. GOOD MORNING. 318 ELM STREET, BESSEMER. ALL RIGHT. IN WHICH ITEM? DEMOLITION ITEM. WHICH ADDRESS ARE YOU ON? 318 ELM STREET. OKAY. NUMBER TWO, 318 ELM STREET. RIGHT. ALL RIGHT, SIR, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. MY SISTER HAD A LETTER. SHE'S NOT HERE. SHE LIVE IN NEW YORK, BUT SHE TOLD ME TO COME THIS MORNING. AND SO JUST TO SEE WHAT WAS WHAT. BUT WHAT I WANT TO COME IS THEY SAY IT WAS AN EYESORE, BUT LIKE, THE WORST HOUSES IS STILL STANDING. AND THAT'S WHY I UNDERSTAND. WHY WOULD YOU JUST PICK SOME AND LEAVE SOME? OH, JOSH. YES, SIR.
SO MOST OF THESE HOUSES WERE ARE IN THE SOUTHWESTERN PORTION OF THE COUNTY, JUST AROUND THE BESSEMER. WE'VE STILL GOT A NUMBER THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET THROUGH THE PIPELINE. SOME OF THE ISSUES WE RAN INTO, SOME OF THE ISSUES IN THE MARTINTOWN RAYMOND HEIGHTS AREA. WE'RE TRYING TO FIND TITLES TO CERTAIN PROPERTIES, BUT ALL THESE THAT WE'VE GOT ON THE LIST TODAY, THEY WERE EITHER INSECURE, STRUCTURALLY UNSOUND, ABANDONED, HAD TREES GROWING THROUGH THEM, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. YEAH. NO MA'AM. WE DO HAVE WE DO HAVE THE REMAINING PROPERTIES PROGRAM. I WILL SAY A LOT OF THE SURROUNDING PROPERTIES IN THIS COMMUNITY ARE IN THE CITY OF BESSEMER, WHICH, AS YOU KNOW, SIR, WE WOULDN'T HAVE ANY JURISDICTION, BUT I'M WITHIN THE CITY OF BESSEMER. NO, SIR. I DON'T THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S IN BESSEMER. IT WAS IN BESSEMER. IF YOU WANT TO AFTER THIS, WE CAN GO BACK. OKAY, SURE. YOU HAVE BESSEMER. YOU HAVE BESSEMER POST OFFICE, AND IT'S 318 ELM STREET, BESSEMER. YES, SIR. I CAN GET. ALL RIGHT. AND THAT'S SOMETHING I APPRECIATE YOU COMING UP FOR THAT. WELL, LET ME LET ME ASK HIM A QUESTION WHILE YOU'RE HERE, SIR. WE'RE STILL ALL RIGHT NOW, BUT BUT THE PROPERTY, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, IS PRETTY DILAPIDATED OR IT WOULDN'T BE ON THIS LIST, BUT I SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT PICTURES OF THE OTHER HOUSE, BECAUSE I'M NOT. I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE OTHER HOUSES. I'M TALKING ABOUT 318 ELM STREET BECAUSE IT'S A IT'S BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A PROBLEM HOUSE. AND SO, YOU KNOW, REGARDLESS, THE OTHERS ARE PROBABLY IN THE PIPELINE SOMEWHERE, BUT WE'RE NOT SINGLING YOU OUT FOR DEMOLITION. IT'S JUST THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COMPLETE WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO BE HERE TODAY ON THIS DEMOLITION REQUEST. OKAY. I WAS JUST CONCERNED BECAUSE LIKE ONE HOUSE THAT RUTH GOT FELL IN ON, THE ONE NEXT TO IT AND THE OTHER ONE JUST HAD BUSHES GROWING AROUND AND THEY TORE THAT DOWN. BUT THE OTHER HOUSE NEXT DOOR, THEY HAD FELL COMPLETELY RIPPED OFF THEIR LAND AND EVERYTHING. THEY GOT THAT STANDING. WHO TAKES CARE OF THE 318 ELM STREET? YOU? YES.
OKAY. SO. BUT IT'S IN DISREPAIR. HAVE YOU DONE ANYTHING LIKE WHAT IT'S DOING EVERY TIME YOU GO TO REPAIR AND REPLACE A WOUND FOR SOMETHING, SOMEONE BREAK THEM OUT, GO AND DO AN ELECTRICAL WIRE. AND THAT'S KIND OF THE SPIRIT OF TRYING TO DO ANYTHING THOUGH. BUT, BUT OUT OF THIS MAIN CONCERN, BECAUSE LIKE THEY SAID, IT WAS AN EYESORE. AND I KNOW WHAT THE COMMUNITY LOOKED LIKE HOUSES FALLING IN AND THEY JUST, YOU KNOW, THEM, YOU KNOW, GOT THE ONES ON RIGHT ON FOURTH AVENUE. YEAH. AND WE INTEND TO ADDRESS ALL OF THOSE. TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. THAT'S THE ONLY THING I WAS CONCERNED. AND WE'RE NOT SINGLING YOU OUT. NO, SIR. OKAY.
I WAS JUST CONCERNED. WHY YOU, YOU KNOW, SOME STILL STANDING AND WE'RE STILL SIT STILL STANDING. RIGHT. THAT'S WHY I CAME, I UNDERSTAND. LET ME ASK YOU SOMETHING. BE FAIR TO SAY THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST BATCH OF ITEMS. WHAT OUR WHAT OUR INTENTIONS ARE, IS TO. TO RENOVATE THAT PARTICULAR COMMUNITY AND TO BE ABLE TO, TO REESTABLISH SOME CLEAR LOTS FOR, FOR WHERE WE CAN BUILD HOMES AND, AND, AND REESTABLISH THAT BECAUSE, WELL, THAT AREA IS ONE OF THE CORNERSTONES OF, OF THAT PART OF JEFFERSON COUNTY. IT'S BEEN THERE FOR A LONG, LONG TIME. AND WHAT WE WANT TO DO, LET'S, LET'S REINVIGORATE THAT AND LET'S GET WITH OUR NEIGHBORS AND HAVE REINVESTMENT BACK IN THAT COMMUNITY AND, AND RECLAIM THAT AS, AS A VITAL PART OF JEFFERSON COUNTY. AND THIS WE, WE DID NOT SINGLE YOU OUT, SIR. OKAY. I PROMISE, BUT
[00:20:01]
LIKE THE YOUNG MAN JUST SAID, YOU KNOW, DON'T NOT DON'T DO BESSEMER AREA. IT'S WHAT? I'M SORRY I DIDN'T HEAR YOU. HE JUST SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, HE. Y'ALL DON'T DO BESSEMER AREA.THAT'S WHAT HE JUST SAID. YOU KNOW WE DON'T DO BESSEMER CITY LIMITS. THAT'S RIGHT. BUT IF YOU HAVE BESSEMER POSTAL, I APOLOGIZE. YEAH. IF WE. IT'S CONFUSING. OKAY, I UNDERSTAND.
LET ME ASK THIS, MR. PRESIDENT. SIR, CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE PODIUM? I KNOW YOU'RE TALKING AWAY FROM THE PODIUM, BUT I WANT YOU TO GO BACK TO THE PODIUM. SO BASED UPON. THE THEFT OF PROPERTY AND SOME OTHER THINGS, WHAT IS YOUR INTENT AS IT RELATES TO THIS PROPERTY? WELL, WHAT IT WAS I WAS GOING TO DO IS THE GUY NEXT DOOR, HE WAS GOING TO BUY THE HOUSE BECAUSE HE HAD LIKE A PLACE FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE, AND I WAS GOING TO SELL IT TO HIM AND HE WAS GOING TO TEAR IT DOWN. BUT NOW, SINCE YOU ALL TORE IT DOWN, IT'S GOING TO COST MORE.
SO IT REALLY WON'T BE ABLE TO. AND I KNOW HE'S NOT GOING TO WANT TO PAY WHAT IT COST FOR THE DEMOLITION. LET ME ASK THIS, JOSH, HAS IT BEEN TORN DOWN OR IS. YEAH. SO IT'S ALREADY BEEN TORN DOWN. SO THERE'S A LIEN ON FROM THE COUNTY ON THIS PROPERTY. OKAY. IT'D BE LIKE ABOUT 1918000. THESE ARE A LOT CHEAPER AND THE LAND WON'T. I KNOW THAT LAND DOWN THERE WON'T.
THE PROPERTY DON'T VALUE THAT MUCH. SO HERE'S WHAT I WOULD SAY. BECAUSE THE COUNTY HAS BEEN. VERY. AWARE OF PROPERTIES THAT YOU KNOW, THAT THAT APPEAR TO BE A PUBLIC NUISANCE. RIGHT, RIGHT. SO I WOULD SUGGEST HIGHLY, SIR, THAT YOU GET WITH THIS GENTLEMAN AND YOU ALL DISCUSS ABOUT THE COST OF WHAT IT WHAT IT WAS. SO YOU'RE NOT IN THE BLIND. IT'S ALREADY DONE.
RIGHT? RIGHT. BUT I THINK THAT YOU MAY HAVE SOME SOME DISCUSSION WITH HIM THAT MAY BE TO YOUR BENEFIT. AM I MAKING SENSE? RIGHT. AND HE JUST SHOWED ME THE PRICE BECAUSE WHEN I CALLED HERE, THEY SAID IT'D BE BETWEEN 18 AND 19,000, BUT HE SAID IT WAS 4000. SO I'M GOOD WITH THAT. GOOD. SO SEE, SEE, SEE THE BIG DIFFERENCE IN THAT. AND IT'S ALL ABOUT I'M GLAD, I'M GLAD THAT YOU CAME. THAT'S THE REASON WHY I'M ASKING THIS QUESTION, RIGHT.
ESPECIALLY IN THIS PUBLIC SETTING, BECAUSE IT COULD BE TAKEN AS THOUGH WE'RE JUST PICKING ON A HOMEOWNER. NO, NO, I GET IT, I GET IT, BUT BUT YOU GOT AN UNDERSTANDING NOW. AND SO YOU GOT A STAFF, YOU HAVE A COMMISSION AND YOU HAVE A STAFF THAT WANTS TO WORK WITH YOU.
YOU UNDERSTAND? BECAUSE LONG BEFORE IT GETS TO A POINT OF DEMOLITION, THERE HAS TO BE A JUSTIFICATION. THE COUNTY CANNOT JUST GO ON TO PRIVATE PROPERTY AND CONDEMN IT AND THEN TEAR IT DOWN, RIGHT? YOU UNDERSTAND? SO THERE HAD TO BE SOME LEVEL OF COMMUNICATION THAT THE COUNTY GAVE TO YOU AT SOME POINT TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE CONDITION OF THE PROPERTY AND WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE. AM I MAKING SENSE? SO I WOULD SUGGEST, SIR, THAT YOU GET WITH THIS GENTLEMAN, AND I THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO WORK TO YOUR FAVOR. IT WILL. FOR THAT PRICE IT WILL. GENTLEMAN NEXT DOOR CAN NOW EXPAND TO DO WHAT HE WAS GOING TO DO ANYWAY. ASK THE QUESTION TOO, HOW LONG THAT PROPERTY WAS VACANT AND IN THAT TYPE OF SHAPE. IT BEEN ABOUT 15 YEARS, BUT I WAS KEEPING, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING GRASS UP AND THEN LIKE WHICH WHEN MY MOTHER PASSED, I WAS DOING THE HOUSE. AND SO LIKE I SAY, PEOPLE START BREAKING IN. AND THAT JUST KILLED MY SPIRIT FOR TRYING TO DO ANYTHING. BUT YOU UNDERSTAND THE NEIGHBORS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE PROPERTY BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN THERE SO LONG, I NEVER DID IT. OKAY, OKAY, OKAY, BUT NO PROBLEM NOW. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU BROTHER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION. RIGHT. SURE THAT HE HAD THE REASON WHY HIS STRUCTURE WAS DEMOLISHED BEFORE THE OTHERS IS BECAUSE THE ORDER IT CAME IN HIS CASE WAS CREATED BEFORE THE OTHER STRUCTURES IN THAT AREA WAS. SURE. WE UNDERSTAND WHY HIS CAME FIRST. AND THE CONDITIONS I HATE. I DIDN'T HAVE THE PICTURES WITH JOSH BUT THE ROOF HAD TO COLLAPSE. YEAH, THE INTERIOR HAD TO FILL IN. NOW HE DID MAINTAIN THE GRASS, RIGHT? BUT FOR THE STRUCTURE IT WAS STRUCTURALLY UNSOUND. THAT'S FAIR ENOUGH. THIS CASE WAS CREATED BEFORE THE OTHER STRUCTURES THAT WERE CONSIDERED BLIGHTED IN THAT AREA, IN THOSE CHILDREN WERE STARTING TO GO IN THERE. THAT'S THAT'S 113. YEAH. STREET SOUTHWEST. YEAH. AND THEY AND IT WAS DANGEROUS.
RIGHT. AND WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE IT'S AT. THIS IS THIS IS A PRETTY LONG PROCESS.
WE DON'T JUST SAY, HEY, WE GO IN THERE AND TEAR THEM DOWN. THIS IS A PROCESS THAT YOU GET
[00:25:05]
ON NOTICE AND YOU GET ON NOTICE. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE NO CHOICE SOMETIMES. AND THE NEIGHBORS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE BLIGHTED PROPERTY AND THE DANGERS OF THE CHILDREN GOING IN. YES, MA'AM. WELL, I THINK THIS IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY, HELEN, FOR YOU, IF YOU WOULD, TO CAL. FOR US TO TALK ABOUT HOW THE THE COUNTY IS VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT REDEVELOPMENT IN COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN OVERGROWN AND FORGOTTEN. AND, AND, AND WE'LL WE'RE DEFINITELY MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH THE HOMEOWNERS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. BUT I THINK THAT THIS IS AN EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE COUNTY'S INTENT IS, WHY WE'RE DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING, AND THE FRAMEWORK THAT WE'RE MOVING WITH MOVING FORWARD. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC HEARING. WE NEED A MOTION. I THINK I KNOW WE STILL GOT A LADY. YES, MA'AM. YOU NEED TO SPEAK. SHE. MA'AM. ARE YOU. WHICH WHICH ITEM DO YOU NEED? IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA. BUT MR. KNIGHT SAID I COULD SPEAK. WAIT A MINUTE, WAIT A MINUTE. I THOUGHT YOU WAS GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT ONE OF THESE ITEMS. MY ITEM IS NOT ON THE AGENDA. I'M SORRY. WE WE DO NOT HAVE A A PROVISION FOR FOR THAT.SO COULD I ASK FOR TO BE PUT ON THE NEXT AGENDA? NORMALLY OUR. WHOSE DISTRICT ARE YOU IN, MR. BOHLEN? AND YOU IN TOUCH WITH HIS ASSISTANT. ALL RIGHT. YOU NORMALLY MR. BOHLEN WILL BE YOUR SPOKESPERSON FOR THE COMMISSION. AND WE DO NOT HAVE ANY PROVISIONS FOR PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT UNLESS YOU ARE ON THE AGENDA. I'M SORRY. CAN YOU PUT ME ON THE AGENDA FOR NEXT? YOU CAN. YOU CAN REQUEST. IT WOULD BE DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE THAT WOULD GO THROUGH THE COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE. WE WERE REQUIRED TO SET OUT A SUBDIVISION AND HAD VARIANCES GIVEN TO US. I'M SORRY MA'AM, I WISH I COULD COULD DO THAT. BUT IF YOU'VE ADDRESSED THIS WITH COMMISSIONER BOHLEN, HE WILL GET WITH US AND WE WILL TAKE THE APPROPRIATE ACTION. OKAY. I'M SORRY. CAL, WOULD YOU GIVE HER YOUR INFORMATION AND MAYBE SEE IF YOU CAN HELP HER? I, I NEED A HEARING SET, PLEASE. WE'VE HAD PROPERTY TAKEN FROM US. MR. THAT CHAPMAN CREATED A DEED THAT WE HAD TO SIGN TO THE COUNTY. AND NOW THE COUNTY OWNS OUR PROPERTY IN Y'ALL'S RECORDS. THAT WOULD WOULD BE A LEGAL ISSUE. THEO, WOULD YOU WOULD YOU MIND? SURE, BUT WE'RE CLEAR ON THE ON. YOU GOT IT. WELL, THAT MR. HUBERT CHAPMAN SAID THAT THE COUNTY HAD ALREADY PREPARED THIS DEED, AND WE HAVE NOT SEEN IT. I'M SORRY, MA'AM, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THAT WE DO NOT ADDRESS HERE AT A COMMISSION MEETING. THE ADDRESS IS 2531 OLD ROCKY RIDGE ROAD, VESTAVIA HILLS, ALABAMA. AND MY NAME IS ANN MCCARTY, AND THE COUNTY IS TAKING PROPERTY FROM US. CAL. OUT THERE, SHE SAYS. THAT. THAT'S HOW SHE GOT UP HERE. ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONERS, YOU HAVE 101 ACTIONABLE ITEMS THAT WERE PROPERLY VETTED IN TUESDAY'S MEETING. OH, NO. I'M SORRY. WE. YEAH. THAT'S RIGHT. WE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND SAY THAT. ARE THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT NEEDS TO SPEAK ABOUT THESE DEMOLITION ITEMS? SEEING NONE.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. MOVE ITEMS ONE THROUGH 522352 THROUGH 522, FIVE. HAVE
[VIII. RESOLUTIONS 1 - 101]
A MOTION. AND SECOND, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE AYE. NOW WE HAVE THOSE 101 ACTIONABLE ITEMS. IS THERE ANY ITEM ON THE AGENDA THAT A COMMISSIONER WOULD LIKE TO PULL FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION? I'LL MOVE THE AGENDA. SECOND AGENDA HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ALL IN[XIV. NEW BUSINESS FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT AND CONSIDERATION]
FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? WE DO HAVE ONE ITEM OF NEW BUSINESS THAT'S COME UP THAT'S VERY TIME SENSITIVE. IT'S A LICENSE AGREEMENT ON 1052 SIDNEY DRIVE. IT'S IT'S FOR THE WITH THE GREATER BIRMINGHAM HUMANE SOCIETY. I MOVE THAT WE CONSIDER AN ITEM OF NEW[00:30:05]
BUSINESS REGARDING THE LICENSE AGREEMENT. SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION. AND SECOND. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL COMMISSIONER BOWDEN. COMMISSIONER I COMMISSIONER. YES. COMMISSIONER. TYSON.COMMISSIONER. TYSON. YES. YES. THANK YOU. I SEE I MOVED ITEMS WE MOVED. SECONDED. CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. COMMISSIONER BOWDEN. YES. COMMISSIONER KNIGHT A COMMISSIONER. YES.
COMMISSIONER TYSON. COMMISSIONER TYSON, YOU WANT TO VOTE? YES. COMMISSIONER. YES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT CARRIES OUR AGENDA TODAY. COMMISSIONER BOLTON, WOULD YOU
[XV. COMMENTS]
LIKE TO ADDRESS THIS? DID A VERY GOOD JOB. I'M GLAD PEOPLE ARE STILL HERE FROM FAIRFIELD.STILL, AS A SON OF A MAN THAT WAS A WELDER IN THE OPEN HEARTH. OF U.S. STEEL WHEN IT WENT DOWN.
SO PROUD TO FAIRFIELD FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY. WE. WE ARE BRINGING THEM BACK IN, HOPEFULLY FOR MORE ENTITIES. CRANKING OUT. EVERYTHING'S GOING WELL FROM OUR DISTRICT AND MY JUDGMENT FROM OUR COUNTY. THANK YOU. MR. TYSON. NO. COMMISSIONER. SCALE. YES, SIR.
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I DID TOW WITH COMMISSIONER BOHLEN SAID I AM VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT IS HAPPENING IN AND AROUND CITY OF FAIRFIELD. AND I'M VERY THANKFUL THAT 152 JOBS HAVE BEEN CREATED AS A RESULT OF AN ACTION THAT WAS TAKEN TODAY BY THIS COMMISSION. AND I WANT TO SAY I THANK MY COLLEAGUES AND COMMISSIONER BOLTON'S OFFICE SPECIFICALLY FOR WORKING ALONG WITH U.S. STEEL IN ORDER TO CONTINUE ON TO PRODUCE THESE JOBS. I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A HANDOUT. YOU CAN GET A HAND UP.
AND THAT'S THROUGH US CREATING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES. AND I THINK WHEN WE DO THAT, WE CONTINUE TO HAVE SMART GROWTH IN JEFFERSON COUNTY. AND I WANT TO SAY TO THOSE WHO WORK ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU DO. LABOR DAY IS COMING UP AND AND I KNOW THAT WE SHOULD BE CLOSED FOR LABOR DAY, BUT JUST WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TELL YOU THAT I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, FOR THOSE CHILDREN THAT HAVE JUST RECENTLY GONE BACK TO SCHOOL, JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING ON EDUCATING OUR YOUNGEST CITIZENS SO THAT WE CAN BECOME A MORE PRODUCTIVE JEFFERSON COUNTY. THANK YOU.
MR. KNIGHT. JUST A QUICK CONGRATULATIONS. IT DOESN'T INVOLVE JEFFERSON COUNTY, BUT IT DOES INVOLVE A LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAM FROM PHENIX CITY, WHICH IS RUSSELL COUNTY AND LEE COUNTY, AND THEY'VE WON SEVERAL GAMES IN THE WORLD SERIES, PLAYED IN WILMINGTON. AND THERE WAS A LITTLE YOUNG LADY NAMED KINSLEY RASMUS. HE'S A 12 YEAR OLD FEMALE WHO PLAYED ON THE TEAM, AND SHE BROKE THE RECORD FOR THE MOST HITS BY A YOUNG LADY IN THE WORLD SERIES HISTORY. AND SHE ALSO TIED THE THE THE RECORD FOR THE MOST STRIKEOUTS IN IN A LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES GAME. SO I COMMEND OR CONGRATULATE THAT TEAM FOR REPRESENTING ALABAMA.
AND TO MY COLLEAGUES IN THE COMMISSIONERS IN RUSSELL AND LEE COUNTY, CONGRATULATIONS.
THAT'S WHAT WOMEN DO. ONCE WE GET OVER, WE GET ON SOMETHING. WE JUST TAKE IT OVER AND WE APPRECIATE THE ENGAGEMENT. WE CERTAINLY DO APPRECIATE THE ENGAGEMENT OF OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES AS THEY GO OUT AND, AND, AND PAVE THE STREETS, CLEAN THE RIGHT OF WAYS, AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR CITIZENS. SO THE COUNTY COMMISSION WILL SET THOSE POLICIES AND THE EMPLOYEES WILL CARRY THEM OUT. AND YOU DO A GREAT JOB. I KNOW THAT YOU WE HAVE A MAJOR PAVING PROJECT ON MORGAN ROAD THAT'S GOING TO CAUSE SOME TRAFFIC DELAYS, AND THAT'S SCHEDULED FOR NEXT WEEK. CHRIS. YES, SIR. MOST LIKELY OUT THERE TODAY TO BEGIN PREPPING. BUT NEXT WEEK, THE MAJORITY OF THE THINGS GOING. HEY CAL, HAVE WE INTRODUCED OUR
[00:35:05]
NEW DETENTION GUY? NO, I WAS GOING TO LET THEO SPEAK, AND THEN CAL FINISHED THE MEETING.OH, THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH. THEO. SENATOR ITEM HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF, SO NOTHING FROM ME. SO WE DON'T NEED YOU AS MUCH AS YOU THOUGHT. ALL RIGHT, CAL, CLOSE THE MEETING OUT, PLEASE. YEAH. WE'VE HIRED A GREAT NEW GUY FOR RUNNING THE YOUTH DETENTION. HE'S PASSIONATE, VERY SMART AND WELL EXPERIENCED. DARREN DID A GREAT JOB. AND ON THAT, DARREN, IN ADDITION, REAL QUICK AND SUPER EXCITED ABOUT WHAT HE BRINGS TO JEFFERSON COUNTY AND WHAT HE'S ALREADY DONE AND DONE IN DUE COURSE AND THE KIDS IN THE FUTURE. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. MORNING. GOOD MORNING. WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO DAVID RICH, ORIGINALLY FROM WEST VIRGINIA AND MOVED AND RELOCATED TO NORTH CAROLINA. HE HAS A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE IN THE. I GUESS, PROFESSION OF INCARCERATION. I WAS TRYING TO PUT IT LIGHTLY CORRECT. IF I CORRECTLY, I DON'T DO THE INCARCERATION. YOU JUST HAVEN'T BEEN INCARCERATED. RIGHT. WHEN I FIRST JOINED. HE MAY TAKE THE FIFTH. MY DAD SAID IT TOOK ME 29 YEARS TO GO TO PRISON. HE WAS REAL PROUD OF ME. BUT YOU GUYS CAUGHT ME WEARING A SPONGEBOB TIE TODAY. BUT I'M GONNA TELL YOU WHY I LIKE SPONGEBOB. WE JUST PASSED OUR ACCREDITATION FOR THE YEAR YESTERDAY WITH DYS, SO I FIGURED I'D WALK AROUND CELEBRATING WITH A SPONGEBOB TIE WITH ALL THE KIDS TODAY. SO I DID NOT WEAR SPONGEBOB TIE ON Y'ALL'S HONOR. I WORE IT WELL, THAT'S FINE. GOOD, CAUSE BECAUSE YOU'RE SURE ARE WELCOME TO. WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT. I JUST WANT TO KNOW, ARE YOU GOING TO TREAT US ALL TO THE KRUSTY KRAB TO HAVE LUNCH? SO I CAN TELL YOU THIS. I'VE EATEN A LOT OF FOOD INSIDE OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES. IF YOU COME DOWN, WE WILL FEED YOU WELL AT THIS ONE. THAT IS THE TRUTH. THEY GOT THE BEST COOK OVER THERE. THAT MAN CAN COOK. I'M. I'M REALLY EXCITED. I SPENT A LONG TIME IN ADULT CORRECTIONS. MY BACKGROUND ORIGINALLY WAS EDUCATION. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IN THIRD GRADE DECIDES THEY WANT TO BE IN PRISON WHEN THEY GROW UP, WHETHER IT'S WORKING IN THEM OR BEING IN THEM, AND YOU KIND OF END UP IN IT, YOU FIND A PASSION IN IT.
AND THAT'S WHY I ALWAYS SAY THAT THE PROFESSION IS IS VERY UN UN KNOWN TO MOST PEOPLE. AND SO I'M, IT'S PRETTY IMPORTANT FOR ME TO GET AS MUCH COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AS WE CAN TO SEE WHAT THOSE FOLKS DO EVERY DAY, BECAUSE BY AND LARGE, WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY GOES UNNOTICED.
AND SADLY, WHEN WHEN WE MAKE A MISTAKE, IT WILL BE ON THE NEWS. SO I TRY TO PROMOTE ALL THE POSITIVE STUFF WE DO EVERY DAY, BECAUSE I DO KNOW THE OTHER SIDE CAN BE PRETTY, PRETTY UNFORTUNATE AT TIMES. BUT I'M EXCITED AND IT'S GOOD TO GET TO WORK WITH YOUTH AGAIN. AFTER BEING IN ADULTS FOR 20 SOME ODD YEARS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOU BEING HERE AND ALSO GETTING A NEW FACILITY BUILT, SO YOU'LL BE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THAT AND GLAD YOU'RE ON BOARD. THANK YOU.
MY BOARD, I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE? NO, SIR. WAIT A MINUTE. TYSON KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THAT PRISON FOOD. SURE DO. I'M OVER THERE ALL THE TIME. I'M JUST WONDERING A WHOLE LOT OF IT, SO I CAN STAY IN THE CLOTHES I'M WEARING. YEAH. ALRIGHT. THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THIS MEE
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.