County Commission Agendas - Regular Meeting

At this time, I'd like to call to order the December 8th, 2025 Jackson County Commission. Thanks for everyone being here. Uh we we do have a number of items in new business and a couple items in the work session to discuss tonight. This time, I'd like to ask Miss Johnson, our assistant county administrator, to please call the role to establish a quorum. District one, Commissioner Gully, present. District two, Commissioner Kimer, present. District three, Commissioner Budner. District four, Commissioner McBride, president. And if everyone will please our invitations to lead our

God, Father in heaven during the season, we pray for peace and goodwill toward all men. Christ's name. Amen.

Attention. Salute. Pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The agenda is uh in the packet uh and uh we will add one addition and that is in a works commission item 78 under the commission uh have a discussion of need to purchase uh as we move into the Liberty Lane Jackson County Courthouse annex equipment uh that is identified to make sure that we're properly equipped equipped and prepared and ready to open on the 5th of January of this coming year. Uh so with that, do I have a motion to approve the December 8, 2025 agenda with stated addition in work session item 78?

Motion. We have a motion. Have a second. Second. We have a second. All in favor say I. Motion carries. Thank you. And we don't have any awards or pressions or public comments. So we will move to the new business portion of the agenda. U first item is uh the minutes for November 24, 2025 meeting. Do I have a motion to adopt the minutes for the November 24, 2025 meeting? There's a motion. Have a second. Have a second. Any question discussion? If not, all in favor say I.

Motion carried. Um, next item is at our last uh meeting and work session we discussed u a grant uh that uh we are receiving for the Alabama from Alabama Department of Transportation for the uh 126 local road safety initiative program for public works. This is for three bridge cards uh that they have approved our request for grant. So with that, do I ask to approve and sign the resolution and funding agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation for the 2026 local road safety administrative program for public? We have a motion to have a second.

I second. We have a second. Any questions or discussion? If not, all in favor say I. Motion carries. Thank you. Next item is uh six months ago we approved a temporary employee that's helping mapping app and appraisal with digitizing their records. Um that uh 6 months expires uh this I think this week

and so we need to extend that as we can complete that effort to digitize those listings. Uh you have a letter in your packet from revenue commissioner Jeff Hana that is requesting an extension for six months. Um and u so with that we'll have a motion to approve a six-month extension for a temporary employee and mapping appraisal for the revenue commission. Motion. We have a motion have a second.

Have a second. All in favor say I. Motion carries. Thank you. Next item. We do have a vacancy that has been up on Marshall Jackson 310 board. That is a board with uh buildings issues. It's a joint board between Marshall and Jackson County. Uh this is not an a term that's run to term limit. This is an unexpired term. the to replace an individual who's requested to uh step down from the position. It's a term that will expire on March the 30th, 2025. We have one applicant, Miss Mary C. Nixon. Uh you see a letter in her attached from her. I'll give you just a minute to read that.

I'll make a motion for Miss Nixon. So, we have a motion to nominate the fourth seed victim as a member of the unexpired position of the Marshall Jackson County 310 board. Do I have a second? I second that. We have a second. All in favor say I.

Any objections? None. So, unan. Thank you very much. We'll get a letter off from Miss Nixon notifying us for the point. That's the last item in new business. At this point, we will move into the work session. And uh I'd like to say thank you for the members of Bill Whitaker Incorporated and CH Incorporated uh that are here tonight with us. We are have had discussions with both companies about u opportunity that we have in doing some renovation of our Jackson County courthouse, particularly the first floor. uh as we move organizations out, we will have to do what I'll call some repurposing of the first floor. Uh so we've asked uh um Bill Whitaker and CH to be here tonight with each uh will be allowed 10 minutes to give a brief to the commission on your capabilities and experiences and something like this. So, first uh I'd like to ask Bill Whitaker if they would uh join us please and would like to ask a cm step out and we'll call you later. Thanks everyone for letting us come talk tonight. Ryan's going to hand out we got some booklets for y'all to kind of follow along real quick and I'll be brief. I know we've got a uh Brian, let me grab one.

Yes.

And so once again, uh I'm Bill Whitaker. We're small protection firm in Anderson, Alabama. And we have uh we've done some, you know, we kind of got pre-approved with IA and we currently are again we're a small office. You can see that uh that we have uh several people in the in the packet. You can see and part of our process about a little bit about us. We have a great engineering team that works all over the state. We kind of included a map kind of some of the work we do. We work all over the state. We're licensed in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. Uh but we we've had a we've done a number of projects for that cab county close by. We're doing some projects here in Scottsboro right now. Um you know part of our process and our approach uh is uh we try to use the latest technology come in use LAR technology we would come in scan uh document the uh existing conditions here and uh try to get accurate information for what we do and then uh part of that process is we even have uh some of the stakeholders that uh sometimes it's hard to see and understand some of these concepts in space planning. So again, we offer digital renderings. We actually have a live full scale walkthrough of plans that we offer as a service. Again, we try to come across as very personable. You know, being small, I'm going to be the person you deal with. You still like to do business with us and me and Ryan will be here. Uh, you know, some of the drawbacks larger is that, you know, sometimes get you around. We like to think that we are vetted and personal. We try to give you 100% attention. If you need something, you're going to talk to me. no one else. So, uh, but we tried to include a quick, uh, run of some of our work. Uh, so in 2018, probably some of the most relevant

was, um, the Jacksonville tornadoes. There are 55 structures there that were damaged. And why I think that's relevant to the things you're talking about here, because I know there's been some discussion about grant money, local funding, you know, where that funding source might come from for some of the things you want to do. At Jackson State, we had FEMA grants, we had state insurance, local funding. We were able to take a many opportunities and mesh all those together to maximize the benefit of the buddies that provided. And uh so we include Jacksonville City Hall, Jackson uh Jacksonville baseball stadium, Alexander Middle School is in here, and then there's Mason Hall. That's again that was a great project where that was a $8 million renovation to a storm damage that required all three fund sources and we were actually maximized all that money that was being provided either through local funds grant FEMA and we've had a 5-year look back for FEMA processes being clean. So, uh, we think we've had a lot of experience working with maximizing benefits again to the owners and what they can do with the funds that are available to them. I mean, some of these projects are systems like the Cap County Consul High School. We did some very complex uh systems which would apply to a building like this. Y'all have a lot of a lot of different additions and complex systems that are in in this courthouse here. And uh we've also we're working with the Edwal County Commission enhancing their jail facilities and things like that. Uh we did include some of the interiors again relevant. We're currently working at County Courthouse. Uh they have a similar strategy of the quest that y'all have which is they want to renovate the whole courthouse but funding is so we structured them a phase plans.

Phase one is Judge Mueller's courtroom. We're double the capacity for his courtroom and currently going through access controls the next step. We're just kind of the pieces and parts they have from all their different funding sources. we come up with a pretty efficient strategy to get their courthouse uh redone and we're also working at their uh their county commission building which is a separate building uh on Noble Street in Aniston. So, uh, we went ahead and took the time, uh, to just listening to some last pages. You know, we grabbed one of the four plans. We color coded it. We started to really start to analyze what you've got here, and we just listed what we've heard so far. This may not be what you want, but we just wanted to demonstrate we're poised. We're very active times with y'all. And so, this is just our first attempt. This is step one for us to start to analyze because you know what I think one of the questions takeaways I would want to have with y'all today is you know what you know what's it going to be like working with with Bill and his his team you know we're going to create these documents we're kind of trying to demonstrate that we're listening what we've heard we've got a four-step approach on the next page going to involve site visits interviews anonymous surveys so that everyone in the building feels like they've had chance to talk and have um ownership of this project and then the department need matrix circulation entry study. So we've already kind of created a strategy and then to help you develop a budget and you tell us what pieces of parts we're moving. So don't we can do we can do a whole building approach but uh we are poised to react and physical. So 10 minutes is not a long time we tell y'all and I rush through that. So So I would

rather you ask anybody questions. Okay. to let me know if question 16th 16th entrance on the left there of a former women who yes there was an opportunity but we could take some money was there when I was there

that's right and we were able to take and we would look for opportunities that money would let us do inside that partial dis and so yeah that was a swimming that we highly technical. We had to fill it in. We had to get into the nuts and bolts of wall assemblies to turn it. It worked that floor. It worked and it has performed very well. And yeah, Molls on the left of that picture that that thing was torn apart and the opportunities we were have to enhance the facilities there was pretty pretty successful. Any other questions? Um for me I think I think the uh um the charge would be opportunities ways to ways to maximize the space. Uh and so um I I think uh I think for the for going forward we would need to see multiple opportunities of in this configuration with this work in this scope. Um these are things that that can be done separately at different times but with the similar plan and I know that may be that may be making the scope too bigger. I think what I'm understanding you say that's something that you're very intuitive.

Oh, absolutely. I mean, uh I think a lot of these projects in here, uh we had to do that, you know, especially Mason Hall where we had to we had to do an addition, but we had to get a roof on. They only had so much money to do part one. It took three steps, you know, we were able to do that. Plus, uh our strengthens in our visuals, too. We can then show you three dimensionally because sometimes a plan doesn't make sense to everybody. And uh I take that for granted, you know. So we tried to give you lots of information so you can really understand and that's why we actually went to these full scale walkthroughs where we project the plan on the floor and you can walk around and actually feel how big a room is, you know. So So we have a lot of tools in our toolkit that I think we can address what you're asking.

Yeah. Okay. Any other question? Mr. W, what we'll ask you to do is is to provide us with a contract package and then use that as part of our if I could quickly sum off what you're asking to do is is the design layout for the renovation purchasing of the courthouse. Okay. And we'll ask you also to be our eyes and ears and managers of the ED factory that we will bring in to do the principal contract and subs.

Any other comments regarding that and so probably the first of the year we could get a contract package. So we can put a date on that. Could I say five January? Yeah, absolutely. Okay. So thank you very much. All right. Thank you. Sorry, but I know we got a lot tonight. So, want us to hang back? If not, we'll just do you want us to stay on a parade coming from the school? Okay.

Down Broad Street. So, come around square. So, I would suggest going 45 minutes. Okay.

Okay. Yeah. I'm going to get Thank you so much. The mayor said just come down drop off. Well, you get you get everybody gets two. All right.

Okay. So, first let me say thank you. I like the other try to beat that.

Okay. Yes, you may get some questions if that's what I hope. If you will look at the Tuscaloosa County case study uh the second page is what I want to talk about. So this is basically the steps that we go through when we're doing a project like this. Tuscaloosa um courthouse is we're doing two different floors on it and keeping it in operation and um and so we we're having for security to go outside the building with the buck hoist to to access the floors because we're doing the third floor and the sixth floor at Tuscaloosa. It's about 22,000 ft. We just finished um Lawrence County courthouse uh and we're doing final inspections on that uh as we speak. Um we're doing work uh for for Marshall County at their jails. So, we're working in this area. But I I did want to talk about the the process that what I see us doing is is meeting meeting with your staff that are going to that that need to move into a renovated work. And we can do that and and do a program document that basically tells you how many square feet you need. Okay? And we can give that report to you and at the end of the day we can say based on the numbers that we're seeing in

construction cost generally this is what your budget is. Now it's I don't have any drawings yet. So this is basically saying I know that based on our experience that you got this many square feet that you're trying to fit in an existing facility. Okay. All right. The the next thing we need to do is to look at the building and see what issues that you've got in the building itself. So, is the electrical system adequate? Is the HVAC system adequate? Uh, do you have any issues from a code standpoint? So, we go through all of that and then we do what I call test fits. And basically, a test fit is we start then making drawings, a floor plan. Will what you need fit in what you got? Okay. And at that point in time we can get closer and look revisit our budget to see has anything changed? Are we spending more money than we expected or have we got you know maybe some excess? Uh our bids have been actually coming in below budget. on job bl which was not the case while co was going on. Um Billy who uh Bill you met when we came down here fell on his boat and is going into surgery tomorrow for he broke his arm and wrist. But what Billy was head

of facilities for Jefferson County and retired from that he's still a young man and Billy knows more about building systems and u and he is also the best budget guy I've ever been around and he has sat on the side in other words he was my client at one and he completely renovated his Jefferson County courthouse when he was there. Um, so after we gone through the budgeting process and test fits and all that, uh, we prepare the construction documents which we would then put out to bids on Tuscaloosa. We are pre-qualifying general contractors to make sure that that it the contractors are experienced and can do this kind of work in Tuscaloosa. It's going to because it's in operation, most of the construction is going to occur at night. I don't think you got that problem here. Um then uh we would assist you in bidding the process of the project and then after a general contractor is selected then we would we would basically uh oversee the construction process to make sure that the general contractor is is building what she paid for. Um, you've got two things. You've got the case study which gets further into uh the Tuscaloosa project which is very very similar to what y'all are talking about in a lot of ways. And then you've got the institutional book which shows

examples of a lot of uh projects that we've done for various entities in the state. Uh, and I would encourage you to check us out relative to the kind of service that we provide.

Have you guys got any questions? Questions? Uh if we were to do this uh in in phases uh would you be able to to create a plan that said step one, two, three, four without without it being detrimental to the overall John Wood uh is the senior VP works for me. They're doing exactly the same thing on Gorgeous Library University. Okay. They've got four different phases and it's in operation the whole time. So yes, we know how to do that. The

trick on doing phases is making sure you don't tear something up that you just finished. Right. And Right. Right. Well, just just from an affordability standpoint of here here's here's the desire and then one, two, three. Oh, wait. The only pro the only problem with that is if you do four different phases and bid it four different times, you're not going to like the numbers that you get. And on on Tuscaloosa, we're doing it in a couple of different phases, but we're bidding it all at the same time. Okay.

Okay. So, you know, we've got to get two new judges in January the 27th. So that's got to happen. Some of the other stuff can be phased over time, but what we wanted to do is to bid it all at one time to get the best price, if that makes any No, no, I understand the the best price, but is that feasible if there's a there's a four, five, 10 year gap between?

Yeah, you you basically talking about separate projects then. And in that case, what you're what you're looking at is questions like if you went in and replace the windows as part of phase one and you got another package of windows you're going to replace in phase two, can you get the same windows? Most you can, but you you know, you you start looking at things like, do I want to buy the window or buy some stuff that I'm going to be using in phase two or does it set me up for certain things that I can't change?

Sure. If you did a B a building automation system or or a lighting control package, can you get parts for that 10 years from now that you set up or were you going to go back and have to rip all that out and do it again? Hopefully I can or Yeah, hopefully you can. So that that's the kind of questions that we're pushing our engineers to say, okay, don't lock us in if I've got a multi-year project. Don't lock me in so that I can't I'm either one proprietary or if I am proprietary I'm using a company I can make sure that it's still there. Okay. Very good.

Any other question what we will ask is if you can get up a contract uh I would give you guidance on what that is. that is a design approach for how we renovate or renovate and repurpose this courthouse and also what you said is the building process and a general contracting that we would have right again thank you I know it's gave you a short period of time but we really appreciate you coming down

I enjoy coming up here and looking at that beautiful you you know as you crest the hill. We love it here. Thank you for coming. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. What's the best way to go out? Well, he said it's not starting until 6:30. Is that right? 6 o' So, you should be fine. Okay. Which way head you'll be fine. Okay. I wouldn't broad straight. Okay. Thank

next next item that's in your packet just for information and we will take it for on new business next meeting is our 26 holiday schedule. The state has yet to deliver. This is first time I think we've been this late without a state group schedule. So we have proposing the same holidays that we had last year in our schedule. And so uh we'll review that. If in the meantime we get a state schedule in, you'll be prepared to discuss that at the next meeting.

Can can we can we put in uh I mean do a corrective action, but can we put the verbiage in uh any state holidays that are added or removed would automatically be added to our schedule or is that is that would be better to deal with those as they come? And I I would offer you I think we want to deal with them as they come. There is a schedule. There is a holiday here that is not on I think that's Good Friday that's not on the state stay. Um and that allows us to make our decisions on on point is we will get that information to everybody. I would offer you that. Sure. Okay. Uh next item is um the discussion has to continue to move in to the Jackson County Courthouse and facility when they discover some things that we need uh to support operation there. And so I've asked Mr. Porter to put together a function uh that would allow us to deal with that without having given and we're trying to open on the 5th of January. I don't think we want to have a emergency meetings through this process, but uh would allow me to make some decisions on items in a per item up to a certain value that we could uh be allowed to go ahead and proceed to do that. Uh the way this is is to consider a motion to authorize the chairman of the commission to execute contracts and approve the expenditure of public funds on behalf of the Jackson County Commission in the amount not to exceed and I would propose 15,000 per item. We

do have one item that we need to get two versions of it. One's over 15, one is above and one is below. Certainly with lower lower cost, but um per item limited to those expend expenditures necessary for being directed related to the completion of the current fliage project. This authorization shall expire upon completion of the project or expiration of 120 days from the date of this motion. which shall this allows us to move rapidly through this. There'll be decisions that are made from the uh directors and elected officials that are going into the building things that we will need to have for that. So, um we do need to make an approval of this tonight uh if we're going to be able to do that. So, let me ask you if there are any questions or concern.

The one concern that I have is is while while while I don't have any reason to distrust anybody, I would like to have a report of the purchases that are made so that if we could have that at the nearest meeting. I mean, if you're talking about 120 days with this going in that way. I know it I know it won't, but I'm just saying that because this is this is designed as a provision to carry us to the next meeting. But in that word to the 5th of January, right? But that's not what that says. It says 120 days passed. So whichever shall first occur, right?

Okay. Well, I agree with that. I think at the next meeting we'll give you a rundown of what it hurts us that we make and then next first meeting in January we need when we're at the end of this we need to summarize it for the commission what did we but we run into cases whereas cabinets and those kind of things that we need that we don't have. So with that do I have a motion to set aside the rules? Motion motion to have a second.

Second. All in favor say I. Motion carries. And I don't know if I need to restate this, but do I have a motion to approve as uh Mr. Porter has has written the the motion to allow the chairman to execute contracts and approve expenditures. Motion. Have a motion. Have a second. I'll second. All in favor say I. I. Motion carries. That's the last item report from the staff. What we need? Nothing. Everybody come to the parade. No. Okay. All right. Reports from the staff. Anything? Yes, sir. I'm just going to ask you. Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas. Okay. Great. Comments from the commission. Commissioner Jones. Um, had a good time at the sheriff's Christmas parade. Thank you for inviting us and merry Christmas. Good morning, Mr. Timberman. Uh, still pray for a little girl. Still trying to survive.

Oh, yeah. Echo what commissioners said. Um, would like to say, thank you for all that you do, county employees, and have a wonderful weekend. I want to echo everything that's been said and uh just merry Christmas. Okay, so with that, I want to say thanks to everybody. Thanks for the great work going on at what's going on there and we got a lot of Christmas breaks coming up and uh merry Christmas to everybody. Thank you very much. I have a motion to adjourn the motion with a motion and a second. All in favor say I. I. Thank you very much.