Deputy county attorney Shawna Smith speaks to the Jefferson County Commission 4.25.24 (Photo by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.) The Jefferson County Commission on Thursday voted to reduce the time it may take for a municipality to be approved to receive assistance in debris removal in a disaster. The action, entered as new business at the commission’s meeting in Bessemer, authorized the acceptance of the memorandum of understanding between the Jefferson County Commission and municipalities in the county. Earlier, the commission passed resolutions that authorized MOUs with Pleasant Grove and the towns of ..read more

Jeff Traywick, economic development professional in the county manager’s office. (Photo by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.) The Jefferson County Commission on Thursday is set to provide $200,000 to a pair of organizations to bolster small businesses in the county. Central Alabama Redevelopment Alliance and Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama each is in line for $100,000 to aid with innovation, economic development and building a strong workforce to support the growth and development of Jefferson County. Jeff Traywick, economic development professional in the county manager’s office, said Tuesday that ..read more

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin speaks to the City Council. April 23, 2014 (Source: City of Birmingham meeting stream) Birmingham’s mayor told the City Council on Tuesday that he and other leaders hope to persuade state lawmakers to give police more options to combat the rise in exhibition driving. Mayor Randall Woodfin said the trend — in which groups shut down traffic to perform donuts, burnouts and other reckless acts in their vehicles — is rising in Birmingham and throughout the country. “I think we need to send a very clear message that this behavior is illegal; it is dangerous ..read more

Promotional photo from Birmingham-Southern College’s Driven to Succeed license plate campaign. Photo courtesy of the college. Alumni and supporters of Birmingham-Southern College have until April 30 to display their school pride through a BSC car tag. From The Hilltop, the April edition of the alumni newsletter, included an article titled Driving BSC Forward. “We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who has shown their support for Birmingham-Southern College by purchasing our specialty car tags,” the article read. “Your contributions to the Driven to Succeed scholarship for Alabama residen ..read more

Uche Bean, the deputy director for Birmingham’s Division of Social Justice and Racial Equality, speaks to the city council Tuesday. (Source: City of Birmingham live stream) The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday voted to pay $67,000 for a consultant from Newark, New Jersey to develop a strategy to reduce violent crime in the Magic City. The council unanimously approved the agreement with Synergy Community Development Center, headed by Lakeesha Eure, the Deputy Mayor of Public Safety in Newark. Eure oversaw Newark’s Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery from August 2016 until she wa ..read more

Ron Marshall. Photo by Solomon Crenshaw, Jr. Bessemer City Councilman Ron Marshall defeated Ves Marable in the runoff for the Democratic nomination for assistant tax collector of the Bessemer Division of Jefferson County. Marshall will compete against the incumbent, former state legislator Johnny Curry, in the upcoming November general election. Curry was appointed to the position by Gov. Ivey after Eric Burks passed away suddenly last July. With 177 of 178 boxes reporting, Marshall garnered 2,459 votes to Marable’s 1,534. “I’ve been around Bessemer for a number of years, been on city council ..read more

Jefferson County Democrats will go to the polls Tuesday in the primary runoff to determine nominees in three races that were not decided in the March primary. Two races on the ballot will be voted on countywide. Jefferson County District Court Judge Place 3: Pamela Wilson Cousins faces Jacquelyn Grant Jones. Jefferson County Probate Judge Place 1: Yashiba (Red) Blanchard faces Yawanna Nabors McDonald. One race will be voted on in the Bessemer District. Assistant Tax Collector in the Bessemer District of Jefferson County: Ves Marable faces Ron Marshall. A constable race also is on the ballo ..read more

Jefferson Co. Democratic Runoff ballot 4-16-24 The post Sample Ballot, Democratic Runoff 2024 appeared first on BirminghamWatch ..read more

Jefferson County Commission President Jimmie Stephens. (Photo by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.) Jefferson County can’t let the issues that followed The World Games keep the county from being involved with other economy-impacting events, Jefferson County Commission President Jimmie Stephens said Thursday. During the County Commission’s meeting, commissioners supported a piece of legislation that exempted the World Police and Fire Games, which are slated for Birmingham in 2025, from taxes. The commission president said that action gives event organizers more operating funds. “It’s very similar to the way ..read more

Jefferson County County Manager Cal Markert. (Source: Jefferson County) County Manager Cal Markert could have a new link in his chain of command if the Jefferson County Commission passes a resolution on Thursday’s meeting agenda creating a separate Department of Fleet Management. Well, it’s not exactly new. “It’s kind of misleading to say we’re creating a Fleet Department,” Markert said. “We already had a Fleet Department. They just reside in the Roads and Transportation Department. Since they serve the Sewer Department, General Services, all the departments, we think it’s more appropriate for ..read more