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There are times when the work session for the City of Florence really is a must see before the actual meeting. The 04/16 meeting was certainly in this category.
When I reviewed the agenda items for this meeting, they seemed rather tame with one exception. After all her fighting and humiliation to get the entire Handy recreation center remodeled it had finally paid off for Kaytrina Simmons. Consent agenda item 11(n) was a contract with Ezell, Lambert, and Durham Architects LLC to provide architectural and design services for the renovation of the locker room at the center. Kaytrina and District 1 finally had a victory. But history was rewritten with the remarks from the council concerning this proposal. Never mind that they had dismissed many District 1 citizens and Kaytrina’s pleas to do the entire project when it was bid out originally. Reshuffling of events and statements were about to take place. Now, down the line, beginning with Jimmy Oliver to Bill Griffin, they all applauded this addition to the plans. It was kind of telling though that when it was Dick Jordan’s turn, he made a point of saying he had visited the center for the first time and was appalled at the condition of the leaky roof and general appearance of the locker room area. Kind of tells you how the lead is set in agenda items. Although it would have saved taxpayer money to “do it right” in the first place, at least it was getting done. That was sort of how Kaytrina Simmons framed it when she spoke. No gloating, just quiet acknowledgement and even a thank you to the council that the citizens in her district were being taken care of. This lady wears her wings well.
Since I mentioned the Handy agenda item, I will address the other point of interest at the meeting itself. In remarks from the public, two representatives from Project Say Something addressed the council. They were both upset that an agenda item had not been added that would place a marker condemning the Civil War (?) at the statute of "General Joe Wheeler" in front of the Lauderdale County Courthouse. I thought this was all settled by the legislature in Montgomery, but apparently it was not. It seems that the Southern Poverty Law Center had gone so far as to send out a newsletter saying that an item was on the agenda for 04/16 approving the placement of a marker. The council people sat rather sheepishly while they were speaking. In the remarks from the council, except for Kaytrina Simmons, most did not acknowledge the controversy. Dick Jordan did assure them the item would be on the 04/30 agenda. As I stated, I thought this controversy was settled. It may make for an interesting meeting in two weeks.
Now to the “meat and potatoes” of the council meeting today. Or should I say the “tomato and squash”. That is one of the examples of boards referring to the agriculture board for the Farmers Market when business manager Roderick Metcalf IBEW Local 558, addressed the council at the work session. If the council members and Mayor Andy Betterton thought he would back up their “firm opposition” to HB 436 introduced by state representatives Phillip Pettus and Ben Harrison, they were to some degree WRONG! While Mr. Metcalf did not go so far as to say he approved a constitutional amendment to create a Lauderdale Electrical co-op board, he did say that since 1979 the members of the union had tried to get the city to form an electrical board within the city. He said politics needed to be removed from decisions affecting electricity department employees. He cited the dissatisfaction that many residents in the county feel about being served by the current makeup of the Florence Electricity Dept. He gave examples of how the city had failed to serve even its own linemen. He talked of sending requests forwarded to him from meter readers to be sent for training on the new AMI meters that are to be installed at all customers' panels. How city attorney Bill Musgrove had ignored his request and finally when he did reply after 6 weeks it was only with a two-line email saying that the city had sent 2 customer service representatives, and they would consider sending meter readers at a later date. It was almost poetic that item 11(o) on the consent agenda was a resolution to approve a contract with Allegiant Utilities to install AMI electric meters at all locations in two phases for an amount of $943,487.88 sponsored by Mary McDuffa! It looks like the “later date” is here! He gave another example of an electrical worker who had a pay dispute that had the union notify the mayor’s office as stipulated in the contract with IBEW local back in June of 2023 and it still has not been addressed. He said he understood the frustration those in the county had with the City of Florence and said he had the same frustration level, and many utility workers did as well. He all but said what many customers have said when dealing with the City of Florence. The incompetence is maddening!
One funny moment for me was when he said that the council seems to not be opposed to having boards for oversight of everything but a public utility. He said there were currently 23 boards in the City of Florence, 16 of which are active. There are boards for housing, tourism, historical preservation, library, beautification, and even trees! And not only did the trees have a board but there was an agri-business board that governed the Farmers' Market. The funniest and truest line of the night was: “Even the okra and squash have a board, WE NEED A BOARD”! He then went over the projections of expanded utility use being 80% greater by the year 2040 and the transmission lines in the coverage area of the Florence electric department will be 10 times greater. He wrapped up by saying that once again after talking to the county representatives he feels that even if a Florence utility board is created instead of a county co-op, the county needs to have representation on a board.
Then, Andy Betterton made a speech. It was kind of obvious he did not want to give up any power. He sort of used scare tactics about electric department employee's benefits, salaries, and retirement benefits were in jeopardy. HB 436 stipulates that these will remain the same for all employees transferring to the newly created board. It states insurance benefits will remain the same. As will retirement. He then stated that a board and anything that does not leave the current regime firmly in place to make all decisions affecting FED employees and customers may result in higher rates and fees. Keep in mind, this is ONE MEETING after a hefty fee raise for utility customers. This appears to be the straw that broke the camel's back out in the county! And it bent a lot of backs in the city too!
Have the Florence electricity department customers in the county had enough of taxation without representation? It seems they have. Has the City had enough of being blindsided by additional fees and charges from the current government of the city of Florence? Time will tell. It was almost comical that the council and mayor stated they were “blind sighted” by the actions of Congressmen Pettus and Harrison. Maybe there will be a “Transparency” board created in the City of Florence...probably an “Onion” board will be created sooner.
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