Jefferson County Commission supports the Alabama Amendment 3 finance roads, transportation projects

Published: Wednesday, October 27, 2010, 7 H 25

The Jefferson County Commission Tuesday voted unanimously to sup-port Amendment 3 which would take as much as 100 million per year for 10 years the Fund trust in Alabama to build roads and other transportation projects throughout the State.

But after the meeting, Commissioner Bobby Hum-phryes said that he meant to vote against the amendment support because he didn't think it was a good idea.

Residents across the State will vote Tuesday on the amend-ment.

The Chairman of Committee Bettye Fine Collins and Sheila Smoot and Jim Carns Commissioners say they have supported amend-ment .the Commissioner George Bowman was not present.

"If you travel the roads in this county and state that you know that the infras-tructure of collapse and must be addressed," said Col-lins. "I hope our people will be support this amendment.?

Smoot, who was discharging for the 2002-2006 County roads Department said it is "ridiculous" no steps to support the amendment.

"We must repair desper-ately," said Smoot. "We need this change, we need this work and we need people to obtain the service.

Wayne Sullivan, Director of roads and transportation for the County, said County that amendment would give unused funds in the county who would not come out of the General Fund $ 2 million.

"There is no other fund-ing that we get to make these projects," says Sullivan."Statewide, this money will be not only replace bridges but build and upgrade roads."

The assets of the Fund total Alabama 2.5 bil-lion $.It collects a large part of the pumping of gas from foreign corporations State paid royalties.

Humphryes, which currently has the responsibility of the Department of roads, said he spent eight years in the Legislative Assembly and was always against taking money from the Trust Fund.

"If we take money from oil and gas money then it reduces interest and it creates problems for the General Fund," said Humphryes.

Humphryes said that it was not paying attention when it adopted the amendment to the Tuesday meeting.

"I was for it before that I was against it, but I never for it," said Humphryes, who developed the resolution at its agenda of the Committee on roads last week. "I think it was a good idea .c ' is something came from the Association of boards of comté.Ils requested County commissions to sup-port which and I was ready to put on the agenda of the day to tell a vote.Je don't like it.?

"I only thought", said Humphryes. "It was an error in my part.Be-ing simply inattentif.Je should have voted against it.?

Serv.Bob Riley and David Bronner, Executive Director of the retirement Systems of Alabama, said last week that they oppose Amendment 3.

In another case Tues-day, the Committee voted that would have allowed to eliminate a ceiling of $50,000 to mental issues for employees and more than likely increased. caused premiums health insurance coverage to deny a federal mandate,

"The current plan won't change," says Demetrius Taylor, Director of the Department of human resources permanent coun-t. "The plan will remain the same as it it has been for 16 years and is the same as those presented at open registration.?

Collins, Carns Hum-phryes voted for the resolu-tion arose under the new company at the beginning of the réunion.Smoot, who said the commission has not received enough automati-ques on this subject, had not voted.

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Birmingham City Council to discuss debt for projects

Published: Tuesday, October 26, 2010, 5: 30 P.m.

The city of Birmingham is set to perform more than 106 million in bond transactions, including $ 39.1 million in new debt for capital projects and intend to use a new competitive bidding process.

City Council members were briefed on the details of transactions and that the bond money will pay Monday meeting budget and the finances.La Commission first read transaction is supposed to take place today the meeting of the municipal Council.

39.1 Million dollars in new debt, supported by the Federal Government under the stimulus Act will be used to fund various projects, including parks, recreational facilities and improvements to streets.

The city will also refinance existing debt $ 67.5 million.Finance Director Tom Barnett says that the city could save approximately 3.5 million dollars doing.

The city should pay a maximum of $632,000 in charge for two transactions.2 millions of dollars could be saved if the city use competitive bidding to select agents, handling operations, Barnett said.

The total amount of binding is higher than total 89 million already provided by Mayor William Bell.Au August Town Hall told the city to refinance existing debt $ 50 million, but that figure increased to 67.5 million to the point where the information was submitted to a Committee on Monday.

Barnett said that the tender two advantages.

"We think given that arrived in the County of links, it will contribute to our image and that gave us a better rate," said.

Is the first time employees can recall process involving does not a team named outside bankers who are paid a commission for the transaction.Régime Barnett, the city would only hire firms Balch & Bingham and Yvonne Green-Davis to assist in the process.In this process, the binding transactions are extinguished bid on the open market, rather than on the city by selecting a team selling.

Councillor Steven Hoyt Monday is opposed to the new process proposed by Barnett, because he said limited minority small business.Normally the city selects the liaison team insists to be the representation of minorities, but without this process, there's no guarantee of diversity, Hoyt said.

"I want to full participation in all aspects, we can have," he said. "There is little to no minority in this process participation because the minority businesses have not the ability to issue dollars.La billion is inclusion as much as possible about the purchase and sale.?

Hoyt said that the issue is not a document or patronage, but enabling minority businesses to increase their capacity large transactions.Qui can only be done by partnerships with major companies, says Hoyt.

"I'm someone write a check," said Hoyt. ""I look for people to be able to participate from the start to finish."

Finance Committee has returned the matter to a Committee full meeting to be held on Wednesday.

Councilwoman Carole Smitherman, who wasn't at the meeting on Monday, was the first to oppose .Smitherman tender said his objection arose because the traditional process of bankers to choose those who sell links means understand local needs and capabilities of bargaining and investigation to ensure that those who eventually purchased bonds provided the best deal for the city.

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