[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6271877,"mediaKeyId","3028459-6de87e17ac8aa779eceb40d9cba5ac82","parentId",3028459,"title","Public commenters press council on Steve Perkins case, firefighter Kevin Jackson’s demotion and alleged workplace discrimination","audioSeconds",461,"startMs",1560000,"endMs",2021000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3028459-6de87e17ac8aa779eceb40d9cba5ac82&start=1560&end=2021","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3028459-6de87e17ac8aa779eceb40d9cba5ac82/thumbnail_1560000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6271877/Decatur-City/Morgan-County/Alabama/Public-commenters-press-council-on-Steve-Perkins-case-firefighter-Kevin-Jacksons-demotion-and-alleged-workplace-discrimination","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6271877-2b6e784c9ab26b1dedb203f289704592/orig.mp4?Expires=1770971556&Signature=PD25ykfES1lePro290iVF4sWEF5tHzOU0HNwJ9upyJjlGJbZgGwGFTFKp2butT8RRwHucKt-rn7HNlzU2rXjChz9rzu7x~x07cYsyAVq9wOCJF3QHzO5jeuMhXI2fF636WTl867-hZi59NLp5U5qyu~TqJgr3pUuOGBYIEM8crKOCDf-bvIxVrsEPz8YmXaQ4qjAFTgjLYv-OjAK2X2jnm6a0A0jdYT90LfyrHplieypGZOEPrxE4EpsLQ-8YtqayKj8sfdj6jnYkZQGeb5aOSplpQv2PBXGqbsp8f1qq7-x4nqZgp07EFmYPD0lK35GLeJ3sIkIJ~DEYQJd20GaLA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Decatur City, AL","date","2025-04-17T00:34:57.84Z","article","Multiple residents used the public comment period to raise concerns about the Steve Perkins matter, alleged misconduct by city employees, and what they described as discrimination in city departments.

Byron Echols (resident) opened with a wide-ranging statement linking national security concerns and local leadership, and provided his social media handles. \"My my YouTube channel is Juniper Tree and Beyond. It's all 1 word, no spaces,\" Echols said. Several commenters then focused on the Steve Perkins case and on personnel issues within city departments.

A commenter identified as Sarah said the community has sought justice for Steve Perkins and urged the council to examine other city departments, including human resources and the fire department, for problems the commenter said have persisted. \"In our fight for justice for Steve, no matter what's been said or done, it has all been worth it,\" she said. Sarah also cited city demographic figures and raised concerns about employee demographics, saying the city's population is roughly 57% white, 30% Black and 13% Hispanic, while city employees are roughly 78% white, 17% Black and 5% Hispanic.

Ashley, who identified herself as the spouse of firefighter Kevin Jackson, described her husband's demotion and extended administrative assignment following an anonymous complaint. She said Jackson was placed on administrative duty in April of the previous year after an anonymous tip; she cited a positive performance review given two months before the complaint and said several other employees had been disciplined for policy violations without being demoted. \"He has been on administrative duty since April of last year,\" Ashley said, and described financial and emotional impacts on her family. During her remarks, a city official, identified in the transcript as Mister Landner, interrupted to note the matter is pending in the Circuit Court of Morgan County and advised speakers to avoid testimony that could affect the pending litigation.

Commenters called on the council to appoint a police chief promptly, to investigate departmental problems beyond the police department, and to improve diversity and representation in appointments and boards. The transcript records personal testimony and allegations; none of the public comments led to immediate council action recorded in the work session transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Council Agenda Work Session 04:14:25","oneSentenceSummary","Several residents used public comment to press the council about the Steve Perkins matter, call for broader reviews of city departments, and urge reversal of firefighter Kevin Jackson’s demotion; commenters provided demographic statistics and described long-term impacts on employees and families.","taxTitle","Decatur City, Morgan County, Alabama","taxId",5148,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6271881,"Council schedules police chief interviews; one candidate remains and selection timeline could extend into May",1392,1325000,2717000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3028459-6de87e17ac8aa779eceb40d9cba5ac82&start=1325&end=2717","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3028459-6de87e17ac8aa779eceb40d9cba5ac82/thumbnail_1325000.jpg","/articles/6271881/Decatur-City/Morgan-County/Alabama/Council-schedules-police-chief-interviews-one-candidate-remains-and-selection-timeline-could-extend-into-May","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6271881-48be584481f35ea30c1269b67f240640/orig.mp4?Expires=1770971556&Signature=Lvlnp5bR2J5conDymNIKpj0c0PmvVSIyPhgE17Fgr0gZh9JR1iA6kQuSsYir981eJ2aS-4HkntvTVg3Mn7qLpu8OmiDSZ9HHfMG51xWZi36Lj8273-j6axU7RuLXfUcpKsD0svDxA3vMWJ7IP-kXstl2JFkrB47u9DHpfL3YSiC6smyTJb4ZasgjGvOini9kHTlqRqNtodrdSAQTtIn5LBK0lcognn3S8m~0mJwxRQA1qASuBw9jeFNjS8Kq0AnS3WRfNZPruXaYvpMtH0dLW3PVzqqFWpox8Uq0X7NHGbgHHK3Vr88QbWYeeW6cxEn03hZLD8yKKMCCOfJNhaQieg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Councilors discussed the remaining candidate pool for the police chief vacancy, agreed to proceed with scheduled interviews and debated whether to reopen the recruitment to produce more finalists.

A council member urged moving forward with scheduled interviews this week because the vacancy has prolonged uncertainty: \"I don't feel like we should linger with the job of police chief. I think it's something that we need to go ahead and get done with.\" Another council member recommended reopening the posting to attract more candidates, saying the council should \"interview more than 1 candidate for this very important position.\"

Staff said one candidate, identified in the transcript as \"Mr. Mack,\" remained scheduled for an interview at 3 p.m. on Wednesday; staff also noted there are two additional applicants in a secondary group who met some but not all qualifications. Council scheduled a special called meeting April 16 at 3 p.m. at Turner Searls Community Center and said interviews would proceed in that forum if space or scheduling required it. Members discussed the process after interviews: negotiations over salary and relocation could take a few weeks, and a council member estimated a possible earliest vote around May 5 if negotiations go quickly.

No formal selection vote was recorded in the work session transcript. Council members said any hiring decision would require negotiation with the chosen finalist and a subsequent formal council agenda item for final approval.","Councilors agreed to proceed with an interview of an available candidate while discussing whether to reopen the recruitment; negotiations with a selected finalist could push a final appointment into early May.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6271886,"Council to consider continuing SRO agreement with Decatur City Schools",22,878000,900000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3028459-6de87e17ac8aa779eceb40d9cba5ac82&start=878&end=900","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3028459-6de87e17ac8aa779eceb40d9cba5ac82/thumbnail_878000.jpg","/articles/6271886/Decatur-City/Morgan-County/Alabama/Council-to-consider-continuing-SRO-agreement-with-Decatur-City-Schools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6271886-c0994f05a302f1f725fb59ae33532eb7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770971556&Signature=QTDnTK2xV9Ty3JRN5F6G5ABdA-3fTbv1tvhuwtu7sgROOKt3obxdZRztidQRZBIodZIZ9777SYT6r-nr2VNx5nGJkn7MHcCxssM9djt7O33Kvo7qsuNxatGOlTmOQSM0LoPNlW5wvbGNzTfpJymCb3d4rP9VH4QkUxst0sEDs9CqGlmogAymHp40gOdruwPVJCxXW0cs6EEi9FJjOyhzwgGp2uyYA3Xrf8tZZDx19hywVuW8v4zBb7SgqM1m3emg2luUprmSg-jjzC6OkPu7su5Hj5jpa~9O7TcGtxZJ1SsfLwlmQ5LjvZ4qUeOme7yxnZh3HwDycCafjkWPQd4zig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff presented a memorandum of understanding to continue the School Resource Officer program with Decatur City Schools, saying the agreement follows the same cost-sharing structure the city has used for years.

\"It's the same program we've had for years with the Decatur City School systems, to provide SROs,\" a city staff member said during the work session. Staff explained the city pays part of officers' costs, the school system pays part, and the school district covers overtime when officers are needed for school events; the city would cover overtime when officers are used on city-directed assignments.

The MOU appeared on the agenda as Resolution 25-067. Staff characterized the item as a routine continuation of an existing program; the transcript does not record a formal council vote during the work session. If the city adopts the MOU in a formal meeting, the memorandum will continue the existing arrangement with shared operating costs and standard overtime provisions.","City staff presented a memorandum of understanding to continue the School Resource Officer (SRO) program with Decatur City Schools; staff said the cost-sharing arrangement remains unchanged and no vote was recorded in the work session transcript.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6271891,"Council staff recommends temporary annexation moratorium ahead of municipal election",393,840000,1233000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3028459-6de87e17ac8aa779eceb40d9cba5ac82&start=840&end=1233","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3028459-6de87e17ac8aa779eceb40d9cba5ac82/thumbnail_840000.jpg","/articles/6271891/Decatur-City/Morgan-County/Alabama/Council-staff-recommends-temporary-annexation-moratorium-ahead-of-municipal-election","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6271891-9c5d904bf1d858c632eec542fe0ff71a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770971556&Signature=ChjOh3jG2P0GXKs3GYeJELzIA~oP7xqYyCLer0cJenkJZUuBYsw30YMxVUiDuM7VCAegnCoCr1T5KwtmJTcM8yiMl842SzFrbau-5aJik4Wb~d7gWN~RIvh1Jf2k3rXO2CuIbpq4O7xfovnHi-fFqRYag3Tj4xcHFsppL67Rqacr1xgtR1Uo0JEamD9wF76HpyLWs-c85rb0JcqLja9rVhetFjnirVV96vhdE3U9TONvLK8i8M0kwUN2BUpjFlMUqVbsSZVZycgJrwBs0k8qqZxlOTzHcdwjdq~4rM97BWi1TZJUtscP8FEOJGVdOrMZgX9v5q7LdlqOrWCAOxPKDw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Decatur City planning staff recommended a temporary moratorium on annexations to allow time for establishment of zoning districts and polling locations ahead of the 2025 municipal election.

Tommy Williams, Planning Department, told the council the moratorium is intended to give the city time to establish zoning districts and polling locations for parcels that might be annexed before the election. \"I'm recommending a moratorium on annexations to allow for the establishment of zoning districts and polling locations for all parcels,\" Williams said.

The planning staff recommendation specifies April 21 through Sept. 30 as the moratorium period; staff said the end date may be adjusted if there are runoff elections. A council member asked whether the dates would be shortened if there are no runoffs; Williams replied he would confirm. The Planning Commission previously approved the moratorium dates.

Council members discussed the proposal in the work session but did not record a formal vote or motion in the transcript. The item appeared on the council agenda as Resolution 25-066. Staff said the moratorium is a temporary procedural step tied to preparing election logistics rather than a change in policy for annexation standards.

If council brings the resolution to a public meeting for action, the council will need to decide whether to adopt the moratorium and whether to amend the proposed dates. For now, the transcript reflects a staff recommendation and council discussion only.","City planning staff recommended a moratorium on annexations from April 21 through Sept. 30 to allow establishment of zoning districts and polling locations ahead of the 2025 municipal election; council discussion did not record a formal vote.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public commenters press council on Steve Perkins case, firefighter Kevin Jackson’s demotion and alleged workplace discrimination

Council schedules police chief interviews; one candidate remains and selection timeline could extend into May

Council to consider continuing SRO agreement with Decatur City Schools

Council staff recommends temporary annexation moratorium ahead of municipal election