News

Commission receives draft bill, prepares to advertise proposal


By Tom Smith
Senior Staff Writer

Published: Tuesday, March 27, 2007 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Monday, March 26, 2007 at 11:50 p.m.

FLORENCE -- A draft bill for a proposed half-cent sales tax increase has been returned, and county officials will begin advertising it this week, officials said.

A QUICK LOOK
  • The Issue: The Lauderdale and Colbert county commissions have passed resolutions seeking a half-cent sales tax increase to create an economic development fund.
  • What's new: The Lauderdale County Commission has received the draft of the bill and will begin advertising it.
  • What's next: Once the bill is advertised for four consecutive weeks, the bill can be introduced by the Alabama Legislature for approval.

    • Related Links:

    During the Lauderdale County Commission meeting Monday, county attorney Chris Smith notified commissioners that the draft of the resolution, passed earlier this month, has been returned and is ready for advertising.

    The bill calls for a half-cent sales tax to fund an economic development fund.

    County officials said the bill must be advertised for four consecutive weeks before it can be introduced by the Alabama-Legislature.

    Smith said the draft is in essence two bills -- one calling for the half-cent sales tax and the second creating the Shoals Industrial Development Committee that will oversee proceeds from the sales tax if it passes.

    The committee will be composed of elected officials from the two counties.

    The money can only be used to provide inducements for recruitment of new industry, acquisition and development of land for industrial parks, construction of buildings for lease to industries, support for expansion of existing industry in the Shoals and funding operations of the Shoals Economic Development Authority.

    The resolution notes that no more than 10 percent of the annual revenue generated by the sales tax may be directed to SEDA's operating budget.

    In other action, the commission unanimously:

  • authorized payment of $5,000 appropriation to the W.C. Handy Festival.

  • approved subdivision plats for Fisher's Hollow Phase 5 on Cow Pen Road and Antler Ridge Subdivision in Greenhill near Lauderdale 34 and Lauderdale 73.

  • accepted a bid of $1,437.99 from CWD Government Inc., of Vernon Hill, Ill., for a laptop-computer for the sheriff's-department.

  • accepted a 1998 Ford Expedition into the sheriff's patrol fleet. The vehicle was donated by the Sheriff's Reserves.

  • approved an EMA Cooperative agreement for a 2007 Performance Grant of $40,530. The money is through Homeland Security.

  • discussed and approved the formation of a Emergency Medical Service Committee that will help develop bid specifications and be an oversight committee once the contracts are approved.

    The commission also heard from Florence Councilman Scott Carrier who was passing on concerns from members of the American Legion about the possibility of making the Veterans Affairs office more accessible.

    Commission Chairman Dewey Mitchell said the commission will keep that in mind as they start the restructuring and moving some offices to the First Southern Building that is jointly owned by the county and city of Florence.

    Tom Smith can be reached at 740-5757 or tom.smith@timesdaily.com.


    • Comments

      Post a comment | View all comments on this topic.
    1. viennasausage says...
      March 27, 2007 11:00:33 am

      RE: http://www.timesdaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20.../NEWS/703270335/1011

      Read article (towards end), link above. The Veteran's Office is in the basement of the Courthouse and hard to get to for Vet's, especially older, disabled ones. Parking, metal detectors, narrow hallways, elevators, etc. make it difficult. Making it more accesible would be a good thing. The article says that Florence City Councilman Scott Carrier came to the meeting and spoke, voicing concerns of the American Legion about this. Mr. Carrier and Dewey Mitchell(commission chairman), talked about addressing it as the city/county move offices around in moving into the First Southern Bank building. This is a good thing. Our Vet's, and their loved ones, appreciate it.

      Report this comment

    2. AceInTheHole says...
      March 27, 2007 1:23:26 pm

      This is a good thing. It is easy to take for granted and I am happy Dewey and Scott are looking into it.

      Report this comment

    3. OneEyedJack says...
      March 28, 2007 9:03:37 am

      This will help a lot of people. Good move.

      Report this comment

    4. Fat Boy says...
      March 28, 2007 1:33:04 pm

      good idea

      Report this comment

    5. DixieChik says...
      March 28, 2007 4:41:35 pm

      I've always thought our Veterans should get better treatment -- they need an easy to get to and easy access location -- Where is the SEDA office -- we should put them there. I'm just kidding. But I have always thought they deserved more than to be housed in the basement...Great move!

      Report this comment

    6. QUASIMOTO says...
      March 29, 2007 8:31:49 am

      Way to go Scott. Good move.

      Report this comment

    7. falcon1234 says...
      March 29, 2007 12:28:24 pm

      I'm all for the move. My dad's a WWII veteran. My only question is this: why didn't the complaining veterans call Judge Mitchell directly? I'm confident that he would've been responsive to them. Whenever a middle man is added, it delays the timing of the action.

      Report this comment

    8. StrawBoss says...
      March 29, 2007 1:32:57 pm

      That's not true. If Scott had'nt gone to the meeting we would not be having this conversation. The VETS need all the help they can get. It is so sad the way Americas been treating our vets. Walter Reid Hospital is one example. I'm glad we have someone like Scott Carrier in our town to fight for the Veterans.

      Report this comment

    9. SlingShot says...
      March 29, 2007 3:02:25 pm

      It is not hard to believe that it took this Carrier to get some action. He seems like the type that will follow through. He is pretty determined from what I can tell watching things around here. That's the way he operates.

      Report this comment

    Next Article in Jonathan Willis

    • Some new hope for the Shoals

      A new day is here for the Shoals.- With Wednesday's announcement that 1,800 new jobs are coming to Barton Riverfront Industrial Park, the excitement and enthusiasm are like we haven't seen here in a while.

      This is big news for everyone, not ...