26 replies to this topic

[kayman]

Retirement System of Alabama is looking into purchasing the Jeffco Sewer System with 2 commissioners backing

Bobby Humphreyes and Jim Carns is supporting the ambitious plan by presented by David Bronner, CEO of the Retirement Systems of Alabama (RSA) to purchase the Jefferson County Sewer System.  However, the catch is that the county must file bankruptcy and allow RSA to purchase the system for $2 billion with the Wall Street bond insurers taking a $1.2 billion loss.  Shelia Smoot is praising the plan for "having the credibility and cash to make it work", but chose to remain neutral.  Also Bettye Fine Collins is basically neutral as well on the subject, and no response from George Bowman.  

This plan will offer all us Jefferson County taxpayers an "out" from the possibility of having to deal with wrangling with the rate increases associated with a system system being in debt.  However, we could also still wind up with the short end of the stick because the plan requires the county filing for bankruptcy with the major ramifications to the county and even Birmingham itself ability to issue municipal bonds to fund major projects.  Its almost a zero-sum situation, but this is probably the best one we have compared to passing on more property and business taxes to fix a castrophe caused by corrupt politicians.  David Bronner has shown that he is very invested in helping the state economically although he has yet to show any real effort to invest in the Birmingham City Center with a major project, but an asset never the less.  

Essentially, the majority has gotten what they paid for with consistency of electing individuals with no business being in office, but this also a result of this county still have an governmental structure with operations ran by politicians rather an professional county manager.

[kayman]

Now it looks as if a groundswell of political officials are now calling for Jefferson County to have both an at-large County Commission President AKA "County President" or "County Executive" created so that they will be held accountable to the entire constitutent along the plan for a County Manager to handle day-to-day operations.  US Congressmen Artur Davis was the first official to announce this at the Sunrise Rotary Club breakfast Tuesday morning.  Within hours, State Housemember John Rogers, Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce CEO, Russell Cunningham, and Alabama Power CEO and President, Charles McCrary started to make calls for the same thing.

Of course the Jefferson County Commissioners Smoot, Humphryes, and Collins beg to differ, which is not surprising considering that would mean they would all lose their executive authority they all possess at the moment to run the county anyway they feel.

[kayman]

Another former Jeffco Commissoner has been indicted by a federal grand jury.  This time it is Mary Buckelew and she has plead guilty for obstruction of justice involving the lying about accepting gifts from a Wall Street bondholder total $4000.  It looks like everybody expect Larry Langford, Shelia Smoot, and Bettye Fine Collins who has been a commissioner on the Jeffco Commission since the late 1990's has been indicted.  One has to wonder how much longer is it going to be before the others will fall?

[kayman]

Well, let's see there is now a hiring freeze, continued speculation of bankruptcy, and now Collins is finally saying she is all for a County Manager.  However, this "County Manager" she wants would be an employee of the bureaucratic nightmare known as the Jefferson County Personnel Board instead of an non-political public official as State Representative DeMarco has proposed in the current State House bill.  Interestingly, the entire Jeffco Legislative delegation is all for a county manager after years of many members talking out of both sides of their mouths against one for a variety of reasons.

This is turning out to be another interesting turn in the operation of Jefferson County government.

[where_am_I]

Gov. Bob Riley signs Jefferson County manager bill into law

http://www.al.com/ne...t....xml&coll=2

[kayman]

Well, this is a step in the right direction, but the law should have made a County Manager mandatory since the 5 commissioners seem to use their executive authority as way to wield tyranny over the basic functions of the County.  We all know under the current commission they wouldn't want to relinquish this authority because they like the power.  The Commission should only be their as legislative reps of the citizens of the County and nothing more or less because they are only at the Courthouse 3 days a week at the most.

[kayman]

Well, there have been a number of events that has occured in past 3 weeks, 1) 4-day work week for county employees. 2) Commissioner Humphreys opted for a 20% pay cut, and 3) Commissioner Carns has opted to take a pay cut as well.  

However, these are only temporary affects on the county's financial problems since the county occupational tax or another substantial funding source isn't there.  Collins, Bell, and Smoot has opted to maintain their annual $66K plus $10 travel allowance salaries, and the State Legislators haven't come to an agreement on what to do with finding a substantial source of funding for programs such as zoning, land-use, inspection services, community and economic development, and roads maintanance.  Finally, the bill to allow a county manager has been passed into law, but the majority of the current commission doesn't believe in relinquishing their executive duties to a hired, non-political professional.  

As much as want to stay optimistic, this situation will likely be limbo for the rest of this year and most of 2010 until the elections for commissioners.  However, I reaffirm that the Jefferson County Commission needs to be abolished in its current form and needs to be reformed as an policy-making only structure with at least 3 to 4 at-large seats while retaining some districts similar to Shelby County Commission.