Commission requests Community Corrections audit

The Jackson County Commission, at a meeting Monday, approved a motion to provide the Alabama Department of Corrections with a letter of support for Community Corrections, contingent upon the organization's willingness to undergo an independent audit.
"The purpose of the audit (is) to give the county a better understanding of processes and how we receive funding," said Commission Chairman Matthew Hodges.
 The organization's  purpose is to provide court programs like counseling and employment education to defendants referred from municipal, district, circuit and other courts. It was incorporated as a non-profit corporation by the county commission in 1998.
"In order for them to continue with the Department of Corrections we have to provide a letter of support saying we support their program. That's the ongoing relationship with Community Corrections," Hodges said.
The audit request comes some two years after the commission learned there was no application for approval on file with the county for the organization.
"We worked with them to gather all of that information for that approval," Hodges said. "During that process we had questions about how some of the fees come in and things like that. We asked for an audit ... to get clarification on how those dollars come in and out."
Community Corrections, after a meeting with Hodges this morning, has not yet announced whether or not it will comply with the audit. If the organization chooses not to undergo the audit the commission will hold another vote to decide whether or not to issue the letter of support.

Shop Local this weekend

Tomorrow is the first big shopping day of the holiday season. As Black Friday and Small Business Saturday approach, don't forget about your hometown stores. You may not even have to leave Jackson County to find something special for everyone on your list!

For the fashionista in your life, Goody 2 Shoes, located just off the square, will have several things on sale, including a great discount on some of their early fall items like the ones shown above.

When you are finished at Goody 2 Shoes, you can head over to Southern Grace, in the Tractor Supply shopping center, for a few door busters on Friday morning at 9 a.m. Some of their best prices include graphic tees for $15 and ornaments for $5 ( pictured above).

Scottsboro Tackle Company has everything you need for the fishermen, or women, on your list. Their Black Friday event will last from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m.tomorrow. Shop from some of their top of the line fishing rods and receive a Scottsboro Tackle Company gift certificate from $50 to $25 ( depending on purchase). Get a $75 Scottsboro Tackle Company giftcard when you buy any Yeti cooler priced $349 and up. Get a $50 giftcard with the purchase of anypair of Costa sunglasses $169 and up.

Here are a few other deals you will find at this local tackle store, located on the square in Scottsboro:
- Bobby Garland Baby Shad $1.99 each
-Select Soft Plastics 25% off.
-Booyah One Knocker and Hard Knockers $5.99 each
-Bill Lewis Rat-L-Traps 1/2 oz. $3.99 each
-STC Tungsten 25% off
-Basstrix 7 ad 8 inch swimbaits $8.99 per pack
-Costa Del Mar apparel 25% off

For the gamers in your life Nerdtopia, located on the square in Scottsboro, will have a 10% discount store wide on Friday and Saturday.

And for the gun enthusiasts on your list, Gonzo Tactical, located off the square, has this Smith and Wesson Shield 9 mm for $312 Friday only. They will also have CAA AR15 Mags 10 for $99.

*This is not a sponsored or affiliated post. 

Commission hires two probate clerks

By Danielle Wallingsford Kirkland

The Jackson County Commission approved the hire of two new employees for the probate office at a meeting held Monday.

In a three to one vote, the commission approved the hiring recommendation to hire Meghan Rhymer and Faye McBride as probate clerks.

Commissioner Mike Sisk voted no after asking several questions about the positions.

Sisk asked if the positions had been filled or if the office had been operating without the two employees.

Chairman Matthew Hodges told Sisk the vacancies were within the current organizational structure for the office, which includes five employees.

“These are two of those five positions that have been left vacated because people have left or transferred to another department,” Hodges said. “These two in particular, one person left service of the county and another person transferred to another department.”

Sisk asked Hodges if there was a need to fill the vacancies.

“I feel there is. The probate judge feels there is,” Hodges said. “Five is a minimal staff to have in that office. I don’t know if they could do it with anything else. We have reduced the number by two since we have been in office. This is to maintain the current level of staffing.”

Sisk said he was concerned about the cost of the positions to the county.

“The reason I question that is all I’ve heard is funding and I thought if we had been without these right here, you know, why is it still necessary that we’ve got to replace them,” Sisk said.

Hodges told Sisk that the money for the two positions were already in the current budget.

“There are no additional dollars,” Hodges said. “This is not additional, just maintaining the current staffing.”

Gorham named JCBOE president

Chad Gorham

By Danielle Wallingsford Kirkland

Jackson County Board of Education members nominated and approved fellow member Chad Gorham as board president at a meeting held Monday.
At the meeting the board also approved all of the following items under general business: a motion to pay bills and accounts for November, a motion to approve financials including bank reconciliations for October, a motion to approve indoor track coaching supplement of $850, a motion to approve curriculum and instruction job description and a motion to approve technology coordinator job description.
The board also approved the acceptance of Paint Rock Valley High School principal Clay Webber's resignation and county wide aide Jesse McCutchen's resignation. In addition, Jason Davidson was transferred from assistant principal at Skyline High School to principal at Skyline High School.
The board accepted a bid from Beeler Impressions for copier rental services. The company's bid was the lowest at $.0090, compared to Berry & Dunn who bid $.0098 and Nova Copy who bid $.0149.
The board's next meeting is set for January 3 at 4:30 p.m.

New commissioners sworn in

The Jackson County Commission

By Danielle Wallingsford Kirkland

Melinda Gilbert and Mike Sisk were sworn into their newly elected positions on the Jackson County Commission today at the county courthouse. 

Melinda Gilbert is sworn into office as a Jackson County Commissioner.

Commission Chairman Matthew Hodges welcomed the two new members on behalf of the current sitting members. Hodges told the new commissioners that four years ago the entire commission was newly elected and that in the beginning they had “a lot of figuring out to do.”

 

Mike Sisk is sworn into office as Jackson County Commissioner.

Hodges likened the journey to a train ride.

“I remember those first few days and months we found that we had jumped on a moving train,” Hodges said.  “And the past four years of service I believe that we learned a whole lot about what all is involved with that train. We learned that the train never stops and though it does not stop Jackson County is very fortunate we have good people, very good employees that keep our engine running and work to shape our future for the better and the seated commission and all the Jackson County employees will work to help you onto this train, to work with you to make Jackson County a better place for its people.”

Following the swearing in ceremony, the new commission held a brief introductory meeting where they approved commission policy and procedures, appointed Commissioner Jason Venable as the commissioner to preside in the chairman’s absence and set a new meeting time of Mondays at 4:30 p.m.

The next commission meeting will be held Monday, November 21 in the grand jury room at the courthouse. A budget meeting will be held the following morning at 9 a.m.

JCBOE superintendent participates in final board meeting

Bart Reeves

By Danielle Wallingsford Kirkland

Jackson County Board of Education Superintendent Bart Reeves served in his last board meeting before Kevin Dukes takes office last night.

Reeves said he felt it best that that be his last meeting so Dukes would have time to conduct interviews, make recommendations to the board and have time to prepare ideas for his first meeting after he is sworn into office in January.

Reeves made the following statement about hi s time in Jackson County:

“This has been a wonderful, wonderful experience.  I have met some great and wonderful people in this county. As I told the board at the beginning it was a win win. If I won the election it would be great … if I didn’t that’s fine too because picking up 16 months of experience as superintendent again that was a win win for me and I don’t leave bitter. I don’t leave upset or angry or anything like that. I came here to do a job and I think I’ve done that from day one  … and I will continue to do that up until  Christmas or the official day we transition to a new administration.

“Some of you might wonder about Mr. Dukes and my relationship. In my opinion when there is a transition of power …it needs to be smooth … in this situation this is in the best interest of the kids and it’s in the best interest of the employees and that’s the way I look at it and that’s the way I have looked at it since March.

“Mr. Dukes and I have gone together to some of the superintendent meetings over the past several months. He has asked me questions here and there about different things and I have consulted with him about different things that would affect his administration going into the future, because when you get right down to it that’s the right thing to do and that’s something I believe in. I’m fortunate to say I was raised by really good parents. They wanted me to do right they wanted me to be honest and I think I have done that.

“ I’ve had to make some very difficult decisions over the past year and they were hard to make, but when you’re given the evidence and given the information you are supposed to act on it folks, when it’s in the best interest of the employees and when it’s in the best interest of the kids. I believe I have done just that. It’s been a collaborative effort among the supervisors, among the board attorney and among the board and I don’t lose any sleep and I haven’t lost any sleep.

“’I’m going to leave this position and I feel like the school system is better today than what it was when I inherited it and hopefully in four years, as Mr. Dukes  is possibly running again, I hope he can say the same thing, it’s better four years later than when he first inherited it. We want it to become great. We don’t want to become complacent. If we become complacent we are not really looking out for the best interest of our kids, looking out for new ideas and how to make the school system better.”

The board’s next meeting will be held January 3.

Nuclear Development, LLC purchases Bellefonte for $111 Million

By Danielle Wallingsford Kirkland

After just a five minute bidding war between Jackson Holdings, LLC and Nuclear Development, LLC, TVA’s decades old unfinished nuclear plant site, Bellenfonte, was purchased for $111 million. Franklin Haney, who established Nuclear Development, LLC in 2012, won the auction after  the Jackson Holdings representative bowed out after his final $110 million bid. 

Franklin Haney makes a bid on TVA's Bellefonte at an auction held Monday, November 14 at the nuclear plant site.

Bud Cramer, former U.S. Congressman, spoke to the press on behalf of the Haney family after the auction and said the family has been working towards this purchase for many years.

“This has been a long time coming,” Cramer said. 

Bud Cramer speaks with press on behalf of the Haney family after the auction.

Cramer said the purchase will salvage tax payer money that has been invested in Bellefonte by TVA since the mid 1970s.

“Franklin Haney’s plan is to advance that investment, take advantage of that investment, create jobs, make this a nuclear facility that is state of the art,” Cramer said.

Cramer added that in this day and age there are environmental issues that create pressure to make sure nuclear energy is clean.

According to a press release, Nuclear Development plans to invest up to $13 billion additional dollars to compete the construction of the facility beginning next year. Once the plant is operational it could create as many as 2,000 permanent and high paying jobs. During the construction phase it is expected to create between 3,000 and 4,000 temporary jobs.

Haney shakes hands with TVA auctioneer after making his company's $111 million purchase.

“Today marks the first step of an exciting new journey for the people of Alabama and Tennessee,” said Haney in the press release. “The Bellefonte Nuclear Station will help transform communities across the region – many of which have been hit hard by the forced closure of coal power plants over the last decade. This project will bring new life to the region by creating thousands of jobs while providing assured access to reliable, affordable, zero-emission energy.”

Cramer said there was no definite time frame for the project.

“The transfer of the license, the financing … new technology, those are time consuming issues to say the least,” he said.

According to the auction rules, Nuclear Development must pay 20 percent of the auction price by Nov.16.

Rick Roden, president of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, said the sale of Bellefonte is huge news of the county.

“That (paired) with Google, get ready to strap in because Jackson County is fixing to explode,” Roden said.

Jackson County Commission Chairman Matthew Hodges said he is hopeful that the sale will bring financial benefits to the county.

“It’s definitely better than we are now, which is it’s sitting there with no benefit,” Hodges said.

Hodges said if TVA were to retain ownership of the facility, the county would receive no benefits from that within a few years as TVA –in-lieu-of-tax payments continue to decline.

“For the county as a whole, financially it is going to be huge I think,” Hodges said.

Hodges added that the sale should not impact TVA-in-lieu-of-tax payments immediately since payments were already scheduled to drop for the next four years.

According to Nuclear Development, when Bellefonte is completed it will “feature state of the art technology and security systems, including a digital Instrumentation and Control system for the reactor, double barrier safety barriers and a control room simulator for training operations.”