Jeffco Commission Approves Rebranding, Bicentennial Promotion Contract After Scales Raises Questions
By Solomon Crenshaw Jr.
The Jefferson County Commission unanimously agreed to a contract with Big Marketing and Communications today, but not without Commissioner Lashunda Scales again expressing her opposition to contracts that don’t reflect the county’s need to increase its dealings with historically under-represented businesses.
Jesse Lewis spoke to the commission as it considered the contract to rebrand the county and promote its bicentennial. He said there is an oral agreement between Big Marketing and Communications and his company, Agency 54.
“I trust Big Communications, and we have agreed to do half of the work and we get half of the money,” Lewis says.
As the contract is for $204,560, Lewis’ company would get $101,780.
“We have agreed to that and if that changes, I’m no longer interested.” Lewis says. “I strongly recommend that you approve the contract as is. If you don’t do that, it’ll be March or April before you reach a conclusion.”
Before the commission voted, Scales said she didn’t like what she was hearing.
“I’m only going to approve it at the request of Dr. Lewis,” she says. “But there is no reason why any business goes through getting their own license, getting their own federal ID number to only be a staffer, per se, to another business. I think it’s disrespectful. I think it’s very discourteous.”
Scales promised to view future contracts similarly.
“I am going to make a stink about it,” she says. “I have told this commission I am not my previous predecessor. I’m going to get along with everybody. I’m going to do what I believe is right.”
Jefferson County operated from 1982 until earlier this year under a federal receiver in connection with a consent decree on hiring and employee practices. The county still is in a monitoring period to assure it continues to abide by the decree.
“But at the end of the day, if we’re going to have a consent decree that includes women and African American-owned businesses, I want to see it reflected in our contracts,” Scales says. “Even if you get the majority vote, I’m going to make it clear what my opposition is and as to why.”
The county has had previous dealings with Lewis. As recently as July 27, 2016, commissioners awarded The Lewis Group a contract of up to $300,000 for consultant services for professional marketing and advertising services from July 28, 2016, to July 27, 2017.
In another matter, commissioners voted to delay action on a request to rezone property at 7710 Bagley Road in Dora so a Dollar General store could be put there.
Larry Lawson, who lives near the site, voiced opposition.
“It’s going to be almost in our front door,” Lawson says. “I really disagree with it. I think it’s totally wrong. I’ve worked the last 43 years in Jefferson County, I retired in October and I think it’s wrong for a citizen to be run over by someone with a little bit of money.”
Scales initially moved to decline the rezoning. She rescinded her motion and seconded a motion by Commissioner Steve Ammons to carry the matter over to the Jan. 10 commission meeting.
Why haven’t Kansas and Alabama — among other holdouts — expanded access to Medicaid?
Only 10 states have not joined the federal program that expands Medicaid to people who are still in the "coverage gap" for health care
Once praised, settlement to help sickened BP oil spill workers leaves most with nearly nothing
Thousands of ordinary people who helped clean up after the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico say they got sick. A court settlement was supposed to help compensate them, but it hasn’t turned out as expected.
Q&A: How harm reduction can help mitigate the opioid crisis
Maia Szalavitz discusses harm reduction's effectiveness against drug addiction, how punitive policies can hurt people who need pain medication and more.
The Gulf States Newsroom is hiring a Community Engagement Producer
The Gulf States Newsroom is seeking a curious, creative and collaborative professional to work with our regional team to build up engaged journalism efforts.
Gambling bills face uncertain future in the Alabama legislature
This year looked to be different for lottery and gambling legislation, which has fallen short for years in the Alabama legislature. But this week, with only a handful of meeting days left, competing House and Senate proposals were sent to a conference committee to work out differences.
Alabama’s racial, ethnic health disparities are ‘more severe’ than other states, report says
Data from the Commonwealth Fund show that the quality of care people receive and their health outcomes worsened because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
