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Jackson Council asked to contribute $25,000 to CCDF Judy Graham addressed the Jackson City Council, Tuesday, concerning the accomplishments of the Clarke County Development Foundation (CCDF) and asked city leaders to consider contributing $25,000 to the organization's efforts. During her presentation, she explained that the CCDF is a 17- member volunteer board comprised of business and community leaders from across the county. She said the CCDF's vision is to be a model organization for community development that supports economic development activities and establishes Clarke County as a regional leader in providing residents a superior quality of life. Graham talked about the organization's efforts to unify the county by identifying issues and communicating and coordinating resources to create a "quality of place," for all citizens to live. She pointed out a number of accomplishments of the CCDF since it's creation: • Recognition for the county - "Clarke County is recognized by other counties as a progressive leader," said Graham. • Tag tax - She said the $25 tag tax for economic development generates approximately $540,000 of revenue annually for the county. • Superior technology - Graham said the county is now one of the few counties in the state that is fully mapped using Geographical Information Systems (GIS). "In 2007 our EMA director (Roy Waite) contracted with the United States Rocket and Space Center to take our GIS/GPS data to merge and layer it with existing mapping and appraisal data, including aerial photos taken of the county," she said. "This data has now been placed in a program called 'Virtual Alabama.'" • Clarke County Wireless - "The effort to make the entire county wireless is moving ahead," said Graham. She added that within three years of completion the project should generate a net income of $500,000, money that will go back into the county for community development. "This is a unique model that is community-owned." • Identifying issues - Graham explained that the CCDF organized and hosted round table forums to develop dialogue between business, industry and educators to ascertain problems in the workplace and facilitate solutions. "As a result of these round tables, the Clarke County Board of Education received a $25,000 grant for teacher workforce initiatives and has now applied for an additional $150,000 grant for implementation of their workforce program," she added. • Education - "Thanks to contributions by individuals and municipalities the HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) program has raised $140,000," said Graham. "We have hired a director and have our first participants. With an annual budget of $105,000 we are looking forward to next year." • Leadership training - Now falling under the CCDF umbrella is the Leadership Clarke County program, which looks to identify, educate and train a diverse group of potential leaders in the county. On May 11, the CCDF presented a county-wide leadership training conference attended by approximately 150 business leaders and elected officials. • Infrastructure - Graham said the CCDF continues to work on seeking funding for the four-laning of U.S. Highway 84 across the county to the Mississippi line. Sewer improvements are being explored throughout the rural areas of the county. The CCDF is working with several agencies to facilitate a county housing authority. Emergency management plans for the county's 16 water systems are being explored. The CCDF also now serves as the lead agency for the Clarke County Citizens Against Litter organization. Also now falling under the CCDF's administration are the Clarke County Parks and Recreation Board, Southwest Alabama Birding Trail, the development of a county shooting range and the Alabama Forestry Museum. Mayor Richard Long complimented the CCDF on all of its accomplishments and efforts to improve life for the county's citizens. Graham explained that other municipalities throughout the county would also be asked to make contributions. The mayor said the council would discuss her request during its Sept. 20 work session and make a decision by the next council meeting, which is scheduled for Sept. 25. Plans to open new police station next month During his report to the council, Jackson Police Chief Charles Burge said if all goes as planned the police department will be in its new building no later than the first week in October. The chief updated the council on the progress of completion of the new station. He said employees from the Alabama Criminal Justice Information System (ACJIS) were at the station Monday to install a router with a T1 line for the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) computer. He explained that the T1 line is something new for the department and will cost approximately $675 per month as opposed to the $390 per month the department now pays for its 56K connection. "The TI line will allow ACJIS to provide us with better service and many more features," he added. Burge said on Sept. 13 AT&T will be at the new station to install a D Mark board, which is similar to a punch board, for the telephone system. Work on the installation should be finished by the next day. On Sept. 17, ESI, a company working for the E911 board will install the new E911 equipment. That work will take about a week to complete. Record & Sound will be working with ESI to complete the installation of the new phone system. Burge said the dispatchers will wear headsets while on duty in opposed to having to physically answer a telephone. The chief said assembly of the furniture for the booking area and the room where officers take complaints will be completed by Wright Line on Sept. 19. That company has already installed the new radio console in the dispatch room. Hurricane Electronics will be at the station within the next couple of weeks to install the new radio system. Burge said the old radio system will be used as a backup during situations when a large number of officers are working at the same time. "This will enable officers to contact a dispatcher quickly instead of having to wait. It will also assist the dispatchers in keeping track of the officers. We don't anticipate doing this very often, but it is a good thing to have in the event it is needed." Burge concluded his comments by thanking the council for appropriating the funding for the new station. "It is really nice and we certainly appreciate it." "The Jackson Police Department does a great job for the citizens of this city," said Mayor Long, "and it is about time you had a larger facility. You have been operating out of that small building for a long time." Alcohol license protested The Rev. R.K. Rivers of the First Pentecostal Church on Forest Avenue attended Tuesday's meeting to protest the application of the new Pit Stop store for an alcohol license. The church is located across from the store and is within 175 feet, which is a shorter distance than stated in the city ordinance pertaining to the distance businesses selling alcohol must be from churches or schools. Another church is also located directly behind the store. Mayor Long explained that according to the ordinance, the license would be legal because of an exemption for businesses located in B-3 commercial zones. "So there's nothing that can be done to stop this?" Asked Rivers. "No, because of the city's zoning ordinance, it is expempt from the restriction," replied the mayor. "There is another store nearby that sells alcohol. Have you had any problem from it?" "It gets noisy and so does the new store since it has opened," stated Rivers. "There's loud talking and profanity when we are leaving church services." Long asked Chief Burge to have an officer patrol the area during those times to help quell some of the noise. The chief agreed to do so. Other business *Councilman Paul South reported that the nutrition center director, Sherry Moseley, had been out sick for the past week and he had been helping deliver meals to the homebound participants in the program. "We serve 43 meals per day and the 19 of those who receive them at home are certainly in need," he said. "I never dreamed of the impact this program has here. I will ask for more money for this program in the near future." *Mayor Long reported on continuing economic development projects in the city: -Saturday's grand opening of Walgreens; -The operation of Evergreen Transportation's new terminal on Highway 43; -Work on the new ERGON trucking terminal in the industrial park; -Progress of the Sonic restaurant construction; -The addition of 40 new employees at New Era Cap Company since its recent expansion.
*A public hearing concerning the Go-Zone bonds for the New Era expansion was conducted prior to the meeting. There were no comments for or against and the meeting closed shortly. The bonds were approved in action by the council during the regular meeting.
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