Jackson County Commission appoints safety coordinator, renews jail healthcare contract and approves family cemetery

The Jackson County Commission on Dec. 23, 2024, appointed Josh Whitcomb as the county’s safety coordinator, approved a cooperative jail-housing agreement with the town of New Hope, renewed its inmate medical services contract with Southern Health Partners and approved the location of the Bryant Family Cemetery in Stevenson, the commission said during its meeting.

The action to designate Whitcomb as safety coordinator was taken to meet requirements of the county’s third-party insurer, County Risk Services, which ties a substantial premium discount to having a designated safety coordinator and documented compliance with the SIDP guidelines. The commission’s resolution names Josh Whitcomb as county director of emergency management and appoints him county safety coordinator effective Dec. 30, 2024.

Why it matters: the safety coordinator role centralizes responsibility for loss-prevention work and compliance that affect county insurance incentives and employee/public safety oversight.

The commission approved a cooperative agreement allowing the town of New Hope to house its inmates in the Jackson County Jail. The agreement, presented as a municipal contract between Jackson County and New Hope, states it becomes effective after approval by each governing body and sets conditions and policies governing municipal inmates housed in the county facility. Chief Deputy Hal Nash said he had no additional comment when asked by the commission.

The commission also authorized renewal of the county’s healthcare services agreement with Southern Health Partners for the October 1, 2024–September 30, 2025 contract period. The contract includes a 3% increase in the base fee; the new annualized base fee for the period is $338,180.40 (listed in the renewal materials as $28,181.70 per month). The per-diem rate increases by $1.40 for inmate populations greater than 210. The renewal also moves certain items (medical hazardous waste disposal, medical supplies, labs and over-the-counter medications) into the contract cost pool and sets outside-cost-pool limits of $50,000 for first-tier and $70,000 for second-tier expenses.

The commission approved the location for a private Bryant Family Cemetery at 36126 U.S. Highway 72 in Stevenson after the Jackson County Health Department’s environmental supervisor recommended approval based on an engineering site evaluation and a site visit conducted Oct. 31, 2024. The applicants are listed in the record as Billy Wayne Bryant and Andrea K. Bryant. During the vote one commissioner announced an abstention; the commission recorded the result as three yes votes and one abstention.

Other business: the commission voted to adopt minutes from its Dec. 9 work session and approved the meeting agenda for Dec. 23. County Solid Waste Director John Schipper asked to surplus about 50 sheets of leftover metal from a shop repair and said the department would sell the materials by posting them on the Solid Waste Facebook page and selling on a first-come, first-served basis; the commission asked that the surplus request be placed on new business for the Jan. 13 meeting so the commissioners can review cost and process details.

The commission also reviewed a state-drafted agreement tied to the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) confirmation-mailing process and directed staff to place the 2025 county agreement on the Jan. 13 agenda. The draft agreement from the Alabama Secretary of State authorizes the Secretary of State to act as agent to print and mail confirmation notices and to draw postage reimbursements from the state elections fund, while the county would retain responsibility for any business-reply mail account charges that are later eligible for state reimbursement.

County Attorney Ford and other staff offered no additional reports. The commission closed the session by wishing residents a Merry Christmas and noting the next meeting is scheduled for Jan. 13, 2025.

Votes at a glance - Resolution appointing Josh Whitcomb as county safety coordinator — approved (voice vote; names not specified). - Cooperative jail-housing agreement with New Hope — approved (voice vote; names not specified). - Renewal of Southern Health Partners inmate medical services contract (Oct. 1, 2024–Sept. 30, 2025; 3% base increase; annualized base fee $338,180.40; per-diem +$1.40 when population >210; outside cost-pool limits $50,000/$70,000) — approved (voice vote; names not specified). - Bryant Family Cemetery (36126 U.S. Highway 72, Stevenson) — approved, 3 yes, 1 abstain. - Surplus of leftover metal from solid waste shop — deferred to Jan. 13, 2025 new business. - NVRA 2025 confirmation-mailing agreement — placed on Jan. 13, 2025 agenda for commission action.

The commission’s next regular meeting is set for Jan. 13, 2025, at the same location.