Human Relations Commission hears county employee urge action on comprehensive plan, agrees to forward applicant and expand outreach

The Jefferson County Human Relations Commission heard public comment Jan. 30 urging the commission to take a more active role in implementing recommendations from the county's comprehensive plan and approved administrative steps including forwarding an application for a new commission member to the county commissioners.

Brian Amick, who identified himself as a county employee who works for the Jefferson County commissioners, told the commission that a consultant-led comprehensive plan adopted around 2020 produced “about 73 or 74 items” the community identified as ways to improve the county. He said many of those recommendations have not been acted on and asked the commission to help identify which items fall within its purview and to track progress when those items are addressed.

The request led commissioners to discuss practical next steps: reaching out to partners such as Bethany Legacy and the Jefferson County Health Department to map existing efforts, coordinating with local groups already working on topics in the plan, and using commission meetings to monitor progress rather than leaving the list dormant. “We can definitely help create our own connections to solidify motion and momentum,” said a commission member during the discussion.

Commission members also described current and planned outreach: several commissioners plan to attend a Feb. 8 health fair at Hunter Hall from 8 a.m.…