[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6120159,"mediaKeyId","2709198-e244e967a12007bdc41f7738b583f4a3","parentId",2709198,"title","Votes at a glance: commission approves budget reallocation, sale and routine agenda items","audioSeconds",141,"startMs",509000,"endMs",650000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2709198-e244e967a12007bdc41f7738b583f4a3&start=509&end=650","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2709198-e244e967a12007bdc41f7738b583f4a3/thumbnail_509000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6120159/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Votes-at-a-glance-commission-approves-budget-reallocation-sale-and-routine-agenda-items","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6120159-b54fb9f5673322d5c9bf43bf0203473e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770822216&Signature=APLE8ftVc2wji-NcrdhOjak11s0wR4ByDZwPRndCgwD5vzmBqjPTjSNak1qRwD2dNapHs79BxlRvsVskTJutd866KIbp94oz0J5VkXc-XUuSfk2Bw8Nj0pI2RZaboh8bSuYAw~kFYqCTm1ByDciijSua0aiN20XO6M2sRwZEchIoBTIfHp~BtU0LRaxrWZufrFJwi8F3S-JbEQmkFx5rl~V2zRRPjvQwyGSnIEPfwIernmO36PNaObgxcYMOEj8No3OB~dcunYNiP2ran4qgiwoQqdhoU6fjgqaAiSZmSYhDg8LNdSNEaR~JTQ3cNcm6Pzh1OOY3PhaxBe31nTpjHQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Jefferson County, Alabama","date","2025-03-19T02:56:20Z","article","Jefferson County commissioners recorded approvals of multiple routine agenda and consent items, including a transfer of budget authority, a property sale, and several committee and procurement items.

Budget reallocation: County staff said, \"$5,000,000 was budgeted in general services for a secured storage for the sheriff's office,\" and presented a request to transfer those dollars so the sheriff's office could lead the project. Staff said the transfer has no impact to the overall budget because the funds were already included in last year's approved budget. A motion to approve the transfer carried.

Sale of Hallmark Club: Commissioners moved and seconded an item described in the packet as approval for the sale of the Hallmark Club; the transcript records a voice vote with commissioners saying \"yay\" and the item approved on the floor.

Organizational support grants and routine consents: Several consent and committee items were moved in blocks. The transcript records a motion and second for organizational-support items and a county staff confirmation that two organizational support contracts had been voted on previously; during the presentation commissioners were told each named grantee received $100,000. Multiple procurement, engineering and service agreements and other departmental items were presented and approved as part of the consent and committee reports; the transcript records motions approving items \"1 through 10\" and other grouped blocks.

The meeting record shows these were approved by motion on voice vote; the transcript does not contain roll-call tallies for these items. Specific amounts and contract numbers for some procurement and right-of-way acquisition items were not disclosed in the public packet, according to staff comments in the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Livestream of Jefferson County, AL, Pre-Commission, Commission, and Planning & Zoning meetings | 03-","oneSentenceSummary","At the meeting commissioners approved several routine agenda items, including an internal reallocation of $5,000,000 to the sheriff's office for a secured storage project, approval for sale of the Hallmark Club, and approval or acknowledgment of multiple consent and administrative items.","taxTitle","taxId",2534,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6120164,"Commissioner raises citizen complaint about transfer-station fees for extra bags",115,2103000,2218000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2709198-e244e967a12007bdc41f7738b583f4a3&start=2103&end=2218","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2709198-e244e967a12007bdc41f7738b583f4a3/thumbnail_2103000.jpg","/articles/6120164/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Commissioner-raises-citizen-complaint-about-transfer-station-fees-for-extra-bags","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6120164-0d0310eedce0368d45dd2a2574030a64/orig.mp4?Expires=1770822216&Signature=AJADD8J~5~6YVvZy1WKZWS89D5lSAKGBNIMPICr1Ljai~6g~8x3JLH6s~bWT8ffOqRFAvhubmEjeTdYIfFSL21ppVYyldAp43bPivTbyMmIjUXScrjQxawte2J1-9CF42L~J6wZj54tHl3V7y9vEHZFeHjxVhHLvcM5sI5A8kBzwA~pccaey5Q0g0THgkQOKWuUyTkBxrFCCbYgJlsCp2PGrcIO46ByMnYxM9kqzEi-4gBZkUCtd2uAD3bXq2HhypnZ7ob18cctm~brsMK21BGtachXutayqHYFbPVPsDjOOrnUTQQW7Z-6ggXhHTPx2mvO6rTvHHVcrWLG3DS9eNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Jefferson County commissioner used the floor to describe a constituent complaint about the county transfer station in Newtown, saying the resident was charged $32 to dispose of four extra garbage bags and that the fee was unacceptable.

\"They were going to charge him $32 for 4 bags of garbage. That's ridiculous,\" the commissioner said, describing the resident's experience after city pickup did not occur. The commissioner said the constituent carried the waste to the transfer station and was told of the charge.

The commissioner said the problem is not isolated and cited frequent roadside dumping as a related concern. \"This is not right. It’s not fair, and we need to straighten it out,\" the commissioner said, and offered the resident's contact information to county staff for follow-up.

County staff and another speaker acknowledged the complaint and said they were working on a response. A county manager or staff member said the issue had been handled in the interim. Later in the meeting the commissioner thanked the county’s right-of-way and transportation crews and noted other routine items in the district report, but reiterated the transfer-station concern as something staff should address.

The comments were presented during the district reports section of the agenda as a constituent-service issue; commissioners asked staff to follow up and review transfer-station policies and fee structures in response to the complaint.","A commissioner described a citizen complaint that a transfer station charged $32 for four extra bags of garbage and urged county staff to investigate; the commission called the fee 'not right' and asked staff to follow up.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6120169,"Port warehouse opening pitched as step toward port revitalization; commissioners urged to attend",301,1447000,1748000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2709198-e244e967a12007bdc41f7738b583f4a3&start=1447&end=1748","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2709198-e244e967a12007bdc41f7738b583f4a3/thumbnail_1447000.jpg","/articles/6120169/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Port-warehouse-opening-pitched-as-step-toward-port-revitalization-commissioners-urged-to-attend","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6120169-9eb74b17edf30e3f3cf1b2163ee6b0e4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770822216&Signature=UiL0R~2lO~EciWjgU2H9z-7mjiBzaf7CfF~YwaG0ccDj7s1ceeDKO~gb2Bz2Zj52WHGvX1IB1Y4tpnNzP~xNHMIGlfWBNaHrW4T7-916ELrwv~mjbU-~ZkgTjxKGF9QR23tdAQ7VLtTY9jhyjWETR-1omzkYK2835tSeAHxQ5m0i3DVf4HdR061YkPEB41VBPKxw-L8b~1U42R8kL3lbxOw-ev4qM9I~Ru5fWFnule0aXM9G83urY3OZevy82T3-HvDUFgcQjFlkm31ZgB1H~ccgVpiEEiSKJaWIH3dkXhiRFA36enEBmg~8YKkf-nonX371trErln8m-Zloo7C4bQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","David Russell, identified in the meeting as the project representative making the invitation, asked commissioners to attend a warehouse opening and described the facility as a catalyst for further port activity and regional economic development.

\"We would like you to come out to the 04:40. March 31 is on Monday at noon. Just celebrate the warehouse,\" Russell said while asking for the commission's social support and public attendance. He told commissioners the warehouse will help the port attract customers and enable plans tied to brownfield remediation and a future foreign-trade designation.

Russell and others discussed rail infrastructure, supply-chain advantages and the potential economic impact of the port. One presenter or commissioner summarized a report suggesting that operating the port at 5% capacity could support about 1,500 additional jobs and a payroll of roughly $88,000,000; the presenter said that equates to about $55,000 per job and a four-to-one fiscal return for each dollar invested. The transcript records comments explaining the value of improving cranes and other equipment to increase throughput and reduce costs for customers.

Commissioners praised the project and asked for further documentation and public materials. Russell said the port has repaid $840,000 to the county and that invitations and a statement had already circulated. Commissioners asked the project team to provide a written briefing or materials staff could share.

Presenters framed the warehouse and port work as an early stage in a broader revival that would rely on rail, water and highway links to attract finished-product logistics and manufacturing. County officials said staff and commissioners would review the invitations and materials and encouraged the project team to continue outreach to business and community stakeholders.

The meeting record shows this was presented as an informational invitation and update rather than a formal action item. Commissioners expressed support and requested additional written materials to share with constituents and staff.","A representative leading a warehouse project invited commissioners to a March 31 noon opening and outlined how the warehouse and port improvements could spur jobs and commerce; presenters urged county support and public outreach.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6120174,"County-funded small-business programs report meeting or exceeding most targets, commission hears",567,679000,1246000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2709198-e244e967a12007bdc41f7738b583f4a3&start=679&end=1246","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2709198-e244e967a12007bdc41f7738b583f4a3/thumbnail_679000.jpg","/articles/6120174/Jefferson-County/Alabama/County-funded-small-business-programs-report-meeting-or-exceeding-most-targets-commission-hears","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6120174-a7b8be41ca13fed47a210d8457d9ea13/orig.mp4?Expires=1770822216&Signature=YdAT9ZbqzFyiP~m4r53Dw6XPOkeRlxcH3yVgHX1CCKfb9-xTlaw3U8yAXnsnHW5OoHOUvPHQiBu4og43jUoAccs9-8VtLuAPInoO9oYYT8qK8YyMKJl9~feFim-P40l6JzHf9uzWilV97x5FCOHFE41~SzZjzBH1FmbFfW~RfgW48q8ATro-70mkpNgA2Gyngv3QFxSirQUpETgYjzCSIbOp8xp6Ub2cz1hVW0UTkCPRnyumNkC30wjmMvXeV7eyLXIUt9gubGxoVMuSNABUyfUzHJBLgcSsuJu1ULfJ2E003jG5JDMmMer6z1ox-KSS4Q5F9auHxyxDykLM~168Og__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jefferson County commissioners heard progress reports on two county-funded organizational-support grants aimed at small-business development and minority entrepreneurs, and staff and presenters said both contractors met or exceeded the performance expectations in their contracts.

County economic development staff introduced the reports and invited the grantees to summarize outcomes. Carlos, a representative of the Hispanic-serving organization that held a county contract, told commissioners, \"We are able to provide technical assistance to 41 individuals. We were able to open 10 new businesses in Jefferson County...total of the jobs created were 20.\" He also said six participants received up to $66,000 in capital support.

The county's second presenter, Trevor Woodson, speaking for Central Alabama Redevelopment Alliance (CARA) and the Jefferson County Microbusiness Accelerator, gave a quarter-by-quarter breakdown of activities since April 2024. Woodson said CARA engaged 332 small businesses, conducted 12 workshops, facilitated 121 one-on-one mentorship sessions and hosted an SBA lender matchmaker event that produced about 60 lender appointments. \"This event bridged the financing gap and provided direct capital access opportunities,\" Woodson said; he also said one participant later received $200,000 in financing.

The presentations recounted the contractors' contractual targets and the reported results. County staff had listed the Hispanic-serving group's statement of work as including: engage 50 Jefferson County residents in a community development cohort, provide business development services for an estimated 25 small businesses with 60% underrepresented ownership, achieve a 75% program completion rate and analyze revenue growth for 45% of assisted businesses. The staff presenter said the Hispanic-serving organization completed its contract for the year and that reporting was on time.

Commissioners asked for a written copy of the reports and for county communications to summarize outcomes publicly. One commissioner urged staff to produce a county-level summary showing how the commission’s investments have translated into jobs. County staff and a commissioner said each organization had received $100,000 from the county; staff also referenced a $2,000,000 funding pool connected to the broader development effort.

The presentations were informational; commissioners did not amend contract terms during the meeting. County staff said the two contracts had been voted on previously (noted by staff as having been approved in February of the prior year) and that reporting confirmed deliverables.

Clarifying details taken from the presentations include the contractors' target metrics and the organizations' reported outcomes, the $100,000 award amount for each named grantee and the county's request for a public summary of results. The presenters and staff repeatedly emphasized access to capital as a key barrier for entrepreneurs and credited the lender-matchmaker events with creating direct financing opportunities.

The commission did not take further action at the hearing beyond acknowledging the reports and asking staff to circulate written summaries of the work and outcomes.","Two county-funded organizational-support grants — one to a Hispanic-serving organization and one to Central Alabama Redevelopment Alliance (CARA) — reported results that county staff and presenters said met or exceeded contract targets; both organizations have received $100,000 awards from the county.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: commission approves budget reallocation, sale and routine agenda items

Commissioner raises citizen complaint about transfer-station fees for extra bags

Port warehouse opening pitched as step toward port revitalization; commissioners urged to attend

County-funded small-business programs report meeting or exceeding most targets, commission hears