Area resident Vicki Crowe addressed the Talladega County Commissioners on the issue at their regular meeting Monday. However, as it stands the county is limited in its authority in the matter as the state is currently involved with investigating REEF and Sylacauga is involved in a lawsuit.
In response to Crowe’s concerns, the commissioners adapted their agenda to authorize county attorney Barry Vaughn to request the attorney general’s advice on what legal authority the county has at this point or what other options are available to them.
Crowe inquired if the commissioners had the authority to shut the plant down immediately. Vaughn explained that the county has no such power.
The Alabama Limited Self-Governance Act, which passed in 2005, allows the county certain areas to act on, such as weed abatement and litter control. However, the cities and state remain in much greater power and any authority the county has cannot supersede actions extended by these municipalities.
Therefore, the county can take no action against REEF since the state and the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs are already taking action by investigating hazard claims and there is a lawsuit in effect by the city as well as a separate class action lawsuit.
Vaughn said this is the first act in more than 100 years that gives Alabama counties any legal authority, yet it is extremely limited, as the name implies.
He said the only relevant clause in the act is that which allows counties to abate unsanitary sewage or pollution. However, the county cannot act on it in this case, as the state is already investigating the pollution issue through ADEM.
Vaughan said ADEM has conducted an investigation that found no evidence of irreparable harm.
Crowe said she is not satisfied with this assessment and believes ADEM is covering for REEF.
Crowe has been a leader in an ongoing campaign against REEF. She said she and fellow campaigner Clara Curtis have collected large amounts of evidence against the wastewater treatment plant in terms of the chemicals its uses, hazardous effects, transportation methods, failures of the plant’s tarp, pollution and other harmful components.
Vaughn recommended that if Crowe or Curtis have evidence they should also make it available to ADEM, attorneys for the city and citizens or other large legal representatives involved with the issue to increase its value in legal matters.
Commissioner John Carter said the fastest way toward legal action they can personally take is to join the class action suit currently pending against REEF.
Also at the meeting, the commissioners approved a state condemnation of a strip of an unnamed road in Munford. This deeds the right-of-way of said property to the state to use for development of Alabama 21.
The area that was condemned was held in public trust and not owned by Munford. Commissioner Jackie Swinford said he was familiar with the area, and it had never been used as a road.
Resident Jim Presley also addressed the commissioners to renew a request to install a fire hydrant in the Logan Martin Lake area. He said there are 21 residences that would benefit from a hydrant.
Presley said he addressed the commissioners on this issue about a year ago.
In other business the commissioners:
• Adopted a legislation to request county delegation in Montgomery to introduce legislation to change the number of possible working days assigned to the Talladega County Board of Registrars.
• Authorized the commission to provide supplemental compensation for members of the county board of equalization. The total compensation for board members cannot exceed $70 per day.
• Authorized the sale of draft or keg beer or malt beverages by properly licensed retailers of the Alabama Alcoholic Control Board.
• Amended the Talladega County Emergency Management Agency’s budget to include a grant for $1,803 from the Emergency Management Performance Grants Cooperative Agreement.
• Approved the application for a $25,000 grant from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs for new technology and equipment for the county sheriff’s office. The funds awarded will not require matching county funds.
• Approved an addendum to the “Equipment Associated with 800 MHz Communications System” resolution that passed last March to accept the infrastructure associated with the transfer of a 800 MHz system from Calhoun County to Talladega County.
• Approved ABC licenses for Handy Corner Grill in Talladega for restaurant retail liquor plus a special event license for the Alabama Wildlife Federation for its Wild Game Cook-off on Feb. 6 at Talladega Superspeedway.
In personnel matters, David Wasserman was approved as a new hire and Rachel Morris was approved for retirement. Salaries were adjusted for Dana Uptain, Leslie Robinson, Eric Gray and Clifford Hayes.
Employees approved for conferences or training included LeighAnn Butler, Dana Uptain, John Allen Anthony Frazier, Ronald Wallace, Bryan Allen, Shirley Sims and Cindy Pennington.
There will be a work session on Jan. 25 at 5 p.m. to review the county’s budget and spending. The commission meeting will follow at 6 p.m.
The courthouse will be closed Monday, Jan. 18, in observance of the Martin Luther King holiday.
Stop by and check out my facebook, on the latest update on REEF.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000495361563&ref=mf
I don't like the notion that most of you were willing to talk to REEF just a month ago and now are calling for their heads.
A few questions for you:
1. What is the hospital's official stance on the health problems? (this could convince me to change my view)
2. Why did everyone turn in such a short period (a month) from willing to talk to REEF and even assist the plant on making proper adjustments to its operations?
It is my understanding that as of an hour ago, there is no smell coming from the plant. Are they operating at a lower capacity due to a slow season?
My biggest concern is simple. As a conservative, jobs (small business) is a top priority at the moment, in my humble opinion. If there are serious health hazards, my opinion will change at the drop of a hat. If not supported by local doctors and the EPA, I believe the smell should be tolerated until the industry board helps bring in more jobs for the local unemployed. Other businesses will not say that they won't come to Sylacauga because of REEF. They will come because of nice tax breaks and proper facilities.
I'm not the enemy here, unless you are trying to get more people on the government's payroll. Local officials don't need to do that since the federal government is doing a pretty good job already.
Did ya'll know that they don't make phone booths anymore. I get this distress call from Steve, try to find a place to change clothes and damned near get arrested for indecent exposure. I tried telling BellSouth that cell phones would do more damage than kryptonite. They listened about as well as this Ryanau bozo. Anybody know what a Ryanau is and where it came from? What size trap do we need to use to catch it so we can send it back?
Now lookie here Ry-noo-noo, I've been on this forum as BGSchneider for about a year now and I haven't seen your name before. If you've been following this forum for any time at all, you will know that I challenged both sides of this issue and the last time I posted on this subject it was in full support of Clara et al. She provided me with convincing evidence and I no longer question her information, sources, or direction.
So here's the deal jackass. You leave these good people alone. Everything they say is fact. If you want to pick a fight with somebody, you pick it with me. I'm a professional at pissing people off. I get great pleasure out of making idiots like you come unglued. So show me what you've got there noo-noo.
ORDER UP!
Thank You
Clara Curtis had addressed the Commission prior to last nights meeting they were all aware of the problem in Sylacauga. Clara was told by Commissioners that they would have to contact the Attorney General's Office. Vicki has contacted the Attorney General about the REEF problem. This reminded me of school, when I did not do my homework and said the dog ate it. Teachers had Class and Honor and would not accept this. Our Commissioner John Carter thinks he is the only one with brains. Mr. Carter I did not vote for you and it offends me that you would think we had no facts to back up our illness and just saying something. We can back it up!
We might not be in high Authority like you, but we have Minds-Can Vote and voice our problems. Vicki and Clara have done everything in Gods way to solve this problem. My Brother lives in California, has loved ones here and his roots are here, he took the time to write to Congressman Rogers out of concern for his family. Congressman Rogers told him to bow out for this was a local and State issue, and since he lives in California he needs to let the State handle the problem.
Clara,Vicki,Ron Johnson and others have tried to solve the problem with petitions,signatures, letters to the Governor,White House and any one who might help Sylacauga.
Now its back to the Attorney General and nothing will be done, it was quoted ADEM found no infractions at REEF, then fined REEF $72,000, if nothing was wrong did ADEM just pick on REEF.
Hope it doesn't take the death of someone before the light goes off in someones head to see that there is a problem.
Wake up something has to be done.
Ms. Crowe has stated that she wanted the place shut down and then posted earlier that was not her intention. Which is it, make them comply with laws and operate to not affect the environment and health or to just shut them down?
Crowe added that people were leaving the city because of the smell, and she wanted to see it stopped. “I don’t want them operating in this town. I want that land put back to where it is environmentally safe for our children, and I want them out of this state,” she said.-Early October Daily Home article
Please do not attack my friends.
The last thing we are trying to do is cause a buisness to close. If this buisness is costing us money due to emergency room visits, not your tax dollars. None of us are for sale sir!
I will provide you my e-mail address and you can accuse me all day ,help your self. Or if we need to meet you can set the Buddy vickicrowe@att.net
I don't agree that the smell should be in the air but if its only a foul smell...so be it for now. If there are particles released that are causing people to get sick then the EPA and/or ADEM should come in and clean house, so to speak.
We are in a time where a smell shouldn't cost someone their job. Again, if the plant is releasing hazardous material in to the atmosphere, there should be considerable consequences. Right now, most of the people are causing a ruckus over the smell.
No, I'm not moving to Twin Street.
In regards to insults, I'm a firm believer in fighting fire with fire. Someone compares my idea that people should get over a bad smell for people trying to earn a living to Hitler...that's worthy of a few shots!