Remarks by Albert “A.J.” Turner
62 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 1 of 3
- Play at 42:02
“CHRIS, SINCE YOU JUST MENTIONED IT, THAT WAS ONE OF MY QUESTIONS I WAS SAVING FOR THE END, BUT I HAVE A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE ABOUT WE'RE RAISING THEIR TAXES AND I TELL THEM WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT. CAN YOU OR SOMEBODY FROM THE STAFF PLEASE EXPLAIN WHO HAS AUTHORITY OVER THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT AND HOW IS IT FORMULATED AND HOW DO THEY MAKE THESE DECISIONS?”
City Council · Aug 18, 2026
- Play at 1:27:06
“COUNCILMAN TURNER. NEW SPEAKER MR. BOONE, WHEN YOU SAY WE DO LEASE, AND I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT FINANCING VEHICLES EARLIER, IS THERE A REASON WE DO MIXED USE WITH OUR CURRENT SITUATION? WOULD YOU SAY LEASING IS MORE COST EFFICIENT THAN FINANCING?”
City Council · Aug 18, 2026
- Play at 1:30:02
“You're not done? Just enough for me to make an educated decision. I like cost comparison on both. I know we kind of throwing it back and forth, but just for me to be able to make a concrete decision, I like to actually see it. My next thing is, are we to the point where you're looking for direction or you just kind of So are we at the point where you're asking for our opinion and what we had on everything or what?”
City Council · Aug 18, 2026
- Play at 1:31:15
“yes sir and uh it's just some things in limbo that i kind of struggle with because even with you know councilwoman sherwood x early about more revenue coming in and we we're kind of saying we're working on it but i know we talked about these industrial agreements for quite some time like i understand working on it but the part we in right now we kind of need to see where we at before we make these decisions because one thing that i've learned since i've been on council i'm just no longer comfortable making decisions about knowing all the facts and seeing financial analysis of before i give…”
City Council · Aug 18, 2026
- Play at 1:33:23
“And also, we kind of discussed some of these high claims and insurance, and we kind of kicked around maybe an in-house doctor. We did an analysis to see if it would be beneficial for us to go in that direction versus continue to see these costs rising because of, you know, if an employee says they're sick, they don't go see our doctor first. They go straight to the emergency room or where they may choose.”
City Council · Aug 18, 2026
- Play at 1:34:28
“Yeah, and just lastly for me, our regular employees don't have the pleasure of a union to negotiate on their behalf. So I have to speak to that. I have to explain to employers all the time when we give increases one way, and I gotta look them in the face and speak to why it's not the same for them. So for me, I just can't in good faith not do nothing for the employees knowing we're doing a hiring freeze and an increase in the premium cost for the insurance. Also, I'm not going to sugarcoat it. I'm not big on just raising it just to get to 20%. I can't talk around it. So me personally, I need…”
City Council · Aug 18, 2026
- Play at 1:36:45
“And this is why I asked early, and I've asked multiple times, why bring increases to us that clearly we may not be able to financially afford if we're a part of a financial negotiating team and it's presented to council we're not in day-to-day operations now the decisions are on the backs of us but we're not in day-to-day operations so that's what my issue is by saying yes again because ultimately it falls back on us similarly when a decision is made it's blown out to the community the council said yes but the recommendation didn't come from the council so i i can't operate in good faith that…”
City Council · Aug 18, 2026
- Play at 1:43:35
“Yes, sir. And accountability is one big thing. But, you know, we also have made decisions with accountability as far as on this council with settlements and lawsuits. We made decisions with, you know, services that we no longer oversee or take care of. And we made them decisions together as a council. All of us voted on not only those decisions, but also we voted on increases to public safety. Again, I reiterate. I ask all the time for financial forecasts as well. We can know how this will impact us if we make this decision. I voted for it, but what I'm saying is, in the future, it would make…”
City Council · Aug 18, 2026
- Play at 2:05:08
“COUNCILMAN TURNER. NEW SPEAKER I KNOW WE KIND OF TALKED ABOUT THIS. IS IT STILL ONE LINE? DID WE LOOK INTO A COMMERCIAL LINE AND A REGULAR LINE?”
City Council · Aug 18, 2026
- Play at 2:24:35
“Councilman Turner. This kind of came up briefly earlier, but in the past, I know the city wanted a certain amount of revenue in case of a storm, the city would have to get everything back going. But correct me if I'm wrong or to my understanding, if it's a storm, don't we now pay a deductible versus having to pay everything out of pocket up front?”
City Council · Aug 18, 2026
- Play at 2:26:10
“but but the quick i just want to know in case of a storm do we pay a deductible now or is it the way it was structured when we're experiencing the storms where the city had to put the funding up and we had to wait to bring be reimbursed MEANING THE WAY WE'RE INSURED NOW.”
City Council · Aug 18, 2026
- Play at 2:28:24
“to perform this uh the repairs ourselves in order to get the city back operation and functional so those are some some things um to consider and see and the thing about that is and i know that's at a level a federal level we can't control but similar to the city's mind frame at the time when covert took place was maybe we do this and it will come back and As of right now, that hasn't happened. And that's what scares me in these situations when you spend these funds up front with the expectation of getting them back in return.”
City Council · Aug 18, 2026
- Play at 2:33:15
“AND I THINK THAT'S KIND OF A TOUGH SITUATION TO BE IN, DUE TO WE DO ARE NOW SET UP THROUGH THE RISK POOL, BUT WE HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED IT. AND I DON'T KNOW IF SOMEBODY ON STAFF HAS EXPERIENCED IT. THAT'S WHY I ASKED THE QUESTION, WHAT IS THE...”
City Council · Aug 18, 2026
- Play at 2:35:24
“you know insurance isn't going to cover and fema may not now either so that's another thing to consider and that that's something that i'm glad you said that not knowing if it'll even be recovered back that puts us in a very tough situation that's correct okay nothing else that's all we have okay”
City Council · Aug 18, 2026
- Play at 2:57:13
“WE'LL TRY. I JUST DON'T LIKE THE WAY IT WAS PRESENTED, HONESTLY. IT'S CONFUSING. IT KIND OF SIMILAR TO WHAT COUNCILMEMBER CRENSHAW SAID EARLIER, JUST THE WAY IT WAS PRESENTED, I JUST DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE.”
City Council · Aug 18, 2026
- Play at 4:37:37
“Mayor, if you don't mind, can we call for the vote?”
City Council · Aug 18, 2026
- Play at 4:45:52
“MR. ALEXANDER AND MR. ALBERT-HARRISON ABOUT THE GAS PIPES THAT ARE EXPOSED. IF WE CAN REALLY LOOK INTO IT IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA. LAST THING I WANT TO DO IS LOOK INTO THE SAFETY CONCERN THAT'S BROUGHT TO US ON THE MIC AND AS WELL AS SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT OTHER CITIZENS BROUGHT US EARLIER. THANK YOU.”
City Council · Aug 18, 2026
- Play at 35:52
“And I had a question about item F. Yeah, me too.”
City Council · Aug 4, 2026
- Play at 36:00
“We can remove... Can we move item F as well for discussion?”
City Council · Aug 4, 2026
- Play at 54:22
“Councilman Hill, you shared the warranty. I know there's a question about the warranty. And it says, the only warranties on this vehicle sold hereby are made by those manufacturers. Seller expressly disclaims all warranties either express or implied, including implied warranty on mechanical or fitness for purpose. Seller neither assumes nor authorizes any other person to assume presently or exist that may occur in the vehicle unless they are specifically covered by a written manufacturer's warranty or by a service contract with the seller. the described vehicle or component parts which…”
City Council · Aug 4, 2026
- Play at 55:22
“Yes, ma'am. I feel better if I've seen that.”
City Council · Aug 4, 2026
- Play at 57:59
“And lastly, with the table, can we just know the total number of costs and repairs that's been on this particular vehicle? You don't have to tell us today, but since we're tabling, I think there'd be some good information to know when you bring it back. We got a table. We haven't done that.”
City Council · Aug 4, 2026
- Play at 58:14
“Okay. Well, I'm just assuming. You're making a motion. Well, I'm making a motion to table it then.”
City Council · Aug 4, 2026
- Play at 58:37
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
City Council · Aug 4, 2026
- Play at 59:19
“Okay, I would like a motion to make a motion to table it into the next meeting with the understanding that if necessary, it'll go to the following.”
City Council · Aug 4, 2026