Jimmie Stephens
Alabama coal company sued for a home explosion is delinquent on dozens of penalties
Crimson Oak Grove Resources has been cited for 204 safety violations since the March 8 blast, many involving “significant and substantial” safety violations.
Commission approves billing agreement with Birmingham Water Works Board
The agreement between the Jefferson County Commission Tuesday follows months of negotiation between the two entities.
Suit accuses Jefferson County of racial gerrymandering in commission districts
The lawsuit accuses the commission of intentionally packing Black voters into two supermajority Black commission districts based in and around Birmingham.
Commission rejects opening courthouse for Saturday absentee voting
Commissioner Sheila Tyson presented the resolution to open the Jefferson County Courthouse for Saturday absentee voting. Others felt the special circumstances of the pandemic had passed.
Jefferson County Commission to look for other absentee voting space after alleged voter suppression
Bessemer Absentee Voting Clerk Karen Dunn Burks last week accused Jefferson County government of voter suppression because of plans to move her office from the courtroom basement to another office also in the basement. She contended the plan created unfair conditions and accommodations for voters and was inhumane.
JeffCo’s County Manager Plans Retirement After 10 Years Helping To Navigate Rough Waters
Jefferson County’s one and only county manager says he plans to retire this year.
Jeffco Commission Gets Clean Bill Of Health After State Review Of Its Accounts
The Jefferson County Commission is conducting its duties in accordance with state law, says a report from the Alabama Examiners of Public Accounts.
Jefferson County Commission May Hire More Road Clean-Up Help
Jefferson County Commissioners are considering whether to hire temporary workers to clean up litter along county roads.
County Commission Votes To Open The Courthouses For Saturday Absentee Voting
The Jefferson County Commission voted unanimously Friday to open the courthouses in Birmingham and Bessemer for in-person absentee voting.
JeffCo Commissioners Discuss $199 Million Budget With One-Time Longevity Bonuses For County Employees
Jefferson County commissioners are set Thursday to consider a budget that would include $1.485 million for a one-time longevity payment to each county employee.
Jefferson County Commission Considers Higher Rent For Polling Places
Polling places in Jefferson County could be in line to receive more money to host elections, according to a new report.
Jefferson County Commission Sets Up $1 Million Virus Fund, Extends County Closings Through April
The Jefferson County Commission used its second emergency meeting of the COVID-19 pandemic to extend the closure of county facilities until April 30 and set up a $1 million COVID-19 fund to handle needs as they arise.
Officials Tighten Restrictions On Gatherings As Coronavirus Cases Increase
The Alabama Department of Public Health issued new recommendations Monday as the city of Birmingham and the Jefferson County Commission declared states of emergency.
JeffCo Commission Approves Fees for Credit, Debit Card Payments to Revenue Department
The Jefferson County Revenue's Office will now apply a 1% convenience fee on debit and card payments after passing with unanimous consent on Thursday.
Jefferson County Commission Delays Vote on Fee for Card Payments
The Jefferson County chief financial officer says discussion about a 1% debit and credit card convenience fee should be tabled for another two weeks.
Jefferson County Commission Moves to Preserve Downtown Jail Where Martin Luther King Jr. Was Held
The Jefferson County Commission Thursday took the first steps toward acknowledging and preserving remnants of the jail where Martin Luther King Jr. was held.
Don’t Look at Us, Jefferson County Commission Tells People Upset Over Rising Property Taxes
Jefferson County Commission President Jimmie Stephens used the commission’s committee meeting Tuesday as a platform to dispel the misconception that county government is raising property taxes through reappraisals.
Jefferson County Clears Hurdle to Working out an Agreement With UAB for a Health Care Authority
The Jefferson County Commission voted 3-2 for a resolution that executes an amended master agreement to establish the framework for UAB to form an authority to operate Cooper Green Mercy Health System.
Jefferson County Owes Medicare and Medicaid More Than $1 Million for Overpayments to Cooper Green Hospital
Jefferson County Commissioners learned during their committee meeting Monday that the county is on the hook for more than $1 million in back payments for Medicare and Medicaid that was overpaid when Cooper Green was a hospital.
Jefferson County Commission Approves $700 Million Budget
The Jefferson County Commission recently passed a budget of more than $700 million for fiscal 2020.
Scales Says Jefferson County Commissioners Should Be Kept More in the Loop on Indigent Health Care Plans
After two months of waiting, Jefferson County Commissioner Lashunda Scales wanted some answers Tuesday concerning the health care authority being designed by UAB Health System and Jefferson County and expressed concern that commissioners are not more involved in the process.
Jefferson County Commission Plans Town Hall Meeting to Explain Sewer Rate Increases
Jefferson County Commissioners had a lengthy discussion during their committee meeting Tuesday about setting a town hall meeting to focus on rising sewer rates as a result of the county’s bankruptcy.
Who Has Final Say Over Jefferson County Money Matters?
Jefferson County commissioners and Jefferson County Tax Collector J.T. Smallwood have different ideas of who must OK contracts set up by Smallwood. Commissioner David Carrington said Thursday any contract involving Jefferson County government income and expenses must be approved by the commission. Smallwood, an elected official, said he doesn’t work for the commission.
Opportunity Zones Pull Investors Into Low-Income Areas
Alex Flachsbart’s business cards were hot properties at the Jefferson County Courthouse Tuesday after his presentation to the County Commission about opportunity zones in the area.
Amazon Breaks Ground Oct. 2, Laying Path for Western-Area Development
The official groundbreaking on the new Amazon development in Bessemer will be Oct. 2, Jefferson County commissioners said Thursday.
