The Greene County Democrat

Tag: Mayor Latasha Johnson

  • Eutaw City Council hears citizen complaints about water quality in Boligee

    The Eutaw City Council met for its regular fourth Tuesday monthly meeting. All council members were present. The Council handled mostly routine business. In the public comment period, at the end of the meeting, several residents of Boligee complained about the quality of water they are receiving in Boligee.

    The residents who were complaining about the water felt they did not get adequate answers to their questions and wanted the Eutaw City Council to schedule a “town hall meeting” where residents could express their concerns and get better responses. Several members of the Council said they would consider the request for a town hall meeting in the future. They also said that residents could attend their work session meetings and raise questions in more detail.

    The Council for the second time, tabled a motion to increase the salaries of the mayor and councilmembers. These increases would not go into effect until after the next municipal election for those persons elected at the next municipal election in August 2025. Mayor Latasha Johnson stated that she is opposed to these raises until the council approves raises for employees. These decisions will be made as part of the next fiscal year budget, which begins on October 1, 2024.

    Several projects were listed in the ‘old business’ section of the agenda, which are projects to clean vacant lots and remove unstable buildings, old cars and other problems. The areas listed were: Ditch between Edwards Drive and Roebuck Avenue, Burned house on Banks Avenue, Holes in the road by Mrs. Bessie Harris’ house, House on O’Neal Street next to Mollie Rowe’s house, and House on 3rd Avenue.

    Mayor Johnson said that the city was implementing a new ordinance, wherein, if the homeowners do not clean up these vacant lots, the city can do the clean-up and charge the property owners for the cost. The city has acquired the proper and necessary stickers and a police person, with a car, trained to act in accordance with the new ordinance. The Mayor said she would report on progress at these sites in future meetings.

    In other business, the Council acted on the following:

    • Approved registration, travel and per diem for Councilwoman Suzette Powell to attend the AARC Training Conference in Huntsville on October 6-9, 2024.
    •Approved registration, travel and per diem costs for Assistant Police Chief William Smith to attend a Command Leadership Institute in Huntsville on October 21-25,2024.

    • Received financial reports on City bank accounts in Merchants and Farmers Bank through August 31, 2024, from Financial Advisor Ralph Liverman. These reports will be used to prepare a budget for the coming fiscal year. Liverman plans to visit in early October to help prepare the budget in consultation with the Mayor and Councilmembers.

    • Received a letter on the new Alabama Municipal Official Training Act which requires the mayor and councilmembers to receive a minimum of 40 hours training in their first year of service and at least 5 hours of training every year thereafter.

    • Approved payment of outstanding bills.

    Mayor Johnson in her report said that she could not do her job, “without God, the Council, the staff and the residents of the City of Eutaw”.

    After adjournment, the Council opened for public comments and questions. Several Boligee residents asked about the safety of drinking water from the municipal system since it was often brown in color and seemed dirty to them. Iris Sermon asked about the Boligee sewage system,
    which was still spilling sewage on the ground at pumping stations.

    Delores Smith, a Lock 7 resident complained about land taken for eminent domain for the airport. She reported that the City was selling her land and wanted to get her land back since it had not been used for the airport. The Mayor said that she did not know about the sale of this land but would check with the Eutaw Airport Authority about the situation.

    Mayor Johnson indicated that she would try to schedule a meeting, with the city engineer present, to discuss the status and progress of the City of Eutaw – Boligee water and sewer improvement project. At this meeting, they would try to answer resident’s questions and concerns about the project.

  • Greene County celebrates 55th ‘Freedom Day’ to commemorate Special Election of July 29, 1969, when Black people took control of the County Commission and School Board

    Mrs. Ida Bonner awarded the Coretta Scott King Freedom Award by Elder Spiver Gordon; Spiver Gordon presents plaque to Bill Edwards; Spiver Gordon presents plaque to Mr. Tony Clayton District Attorney of Port Allen, LA; Mr. Morris Hardy awarded the Dr. MLK Jr. Freedom Award by Elder Spiver Gordon.

    On Sunday evening, in the William M. Branch Courthouse, about 100 people from Greene County celebrated the 55th anniversary of the Special Election in 1969, when Black people were elected to control the County Commission and School Board in the county. Greene County was the first county in Alabama where Black people were able to control the county government.

    The U. S. Supreme Court ordered the 1969 Special Election, because local white officials had deliberately left the mostly Black candidates of the National Democratic Party of Alabama (NDPA) off the November 1968 ballot. The decision was made in US Supreme Court case no. 647, Hadnott vs. Amos, 394 US 358 (1969).

    In the election of November 1970, Judge William M. Branch was elected the first Black Probate Judge in Alabama and America. Thomas Gilmore was elected Sheriff and over the next few years, Blacks were elected to all political positions in the county.

    The program was sponsored by the Alabama Civil Rights Freedom Movement under the direction of Spiver W. Gordon, President. Gordon has been celebrating Freedom Day in Greene County for many years to remind people of the importance of using their voting rights to push for more justice, equity and progress in the county.

    The theme of the program was ‘Rejoicing about the Past – Causality in looking to the Future”. There were two main speakers: Bill Edwards, who now lives in Oregon, but was active with NDPA, Miles College, FOGCE Federal Credit Union and Community Service Programs of West Alabama in the 1965-1985; and Tony Clayton, District Attorney of West Baton Rouge, Iberville. and Pointe Coupee Parishes in Louisiana.

    After a spirited devotional, Mayor Latasha Johnson of Eutaw, Alabama, gave greetings and keys to the city to the two guest speakers. Lorenzo French, Chair of the Democratic Executive Committee, in his occasion for the meeting, lamented that most of the Black elected officials in Greene County were not present for Freedom Day. “Where are the Probate Judge, Circuit Clerk, Revenue Commissioner, Sheriff, Mayors and Council members of Union, Forkland and Boligee?” asked French.

    Several persons gave special commendations for Bill Edwards in his work as Director of Community Service Programs of West Alabama. District 1 Commissioner, Garria Spencer, who was chair of the CSP-WA Board lauded Bill’s work with the anti-poverty agency. Ms. Sandra Fair who worked with Bill thanked him. Judge John H. England thanked Bill for his work in building new houses and replacing the shotgun shacks in Belchers and Barr’s Quarters in Tuscaloosa.

    Rev. Wendell Paris spoke on the importance of voting in all elections, especially the election coming up on November 5, 2024. John Cashin, son of his namesake from Huntsville, Alabama, who headed the NDPA and was instrumental in the lawsuit that created the special election on July 29, 1969, spoke on the importance of the NDPA, as a grassroots response to the racist regular Democratic Party of Alabama, which was controlled by George Wallace.

    Three speakers commented on looking to the future, including Rev. Kenneth Popleon of Plaquemine, Louisiana; Arthur Crawford, Probate Judge of Hale County and Carol P. Zippert, former school board chair. Zippert asked, “Where are the youth leaders, people between 18 – 40 years old, today? We must reach out to them. Fifty-five years ago, Judge Branch, Gilmore and most of the other leaders were young people under 30. It is frightening that this whole generation is missing.”

    Spiver Gordon introduced Tony Clayton, the District Attorney of three parishes in Louisiana. Clayton said he owed his election to places like Greene County which rose up for Black people and electing Black people to office in the1960’s, when it wasn’t easy. He said Jesse Jackson, Obama and now Kamala Harris owe their political future to what Greene County people did fifty-five years ago.

    After the speaking, Spiver Gordon presented awards to many of the speakers, participants and ‘foot-soldiers’ of Greene County-who contributed their time, skills and money to the civil rights movement in the Alabama Black Belt.

  • Ribbon cutting held for mural in Eutaw

    R TO L: Councilman Jonathan Woodruff, Mayor Latasha Johnson, artist Banks Compton and Carrie Logan, President of the Chamber of Commerce pose in front of mural.


    On June 12, 2024, the City of Eutaw held a ribbon cutting to inaugurate a new mural on the side of the building adjacent to city hall. The mural portrays a typical rural scene in Greene County, with a deer and a wild turkey in a forest.

    Mural painter, Banks Compton, originally from Demopolis, who has painted 40 murals in Alabama, many in nearby towns like Linden, Livingston, and Boligee. Compton received formal training in art at the Rhode Island School of Design. Compton says he is ready to paint more murals in Eutaw, if we can identify suitable wall spaces and a funding source to cover expenses.

    The Greene County Chamber of Commerce sponsored the “Welcome to Eutaw, Alabama” mural with a $5,000 grant from RC&D.

    Compton in his remarks said he specializes in painting murals, using special materials to cover cracks in the wall and special paints that do not fade easily. He predicted the mural would last 30 years without repainting and warned of using protective coatings that might lead to premature yellowing of the mural.

    Eutaw Mayor Latasha Johnson in her remarks welcomed the mural as a sign that, “Our administration, with God’s help, has kept the faith and is moving forward.”

    She cited a series of accomplishments in her three years as mayor, including:
    • $2.6 million grant from ADEM to repair and improve the Eutaw-Boligee Water System, with no matching funds required.
    • $3 million from ADEM to repair the Wastewater system, also with no matching fund requirement.
    • $ 1 million from ALDOT for the Streetscape project, to redo the sidewalks on the outside perimeter of the Thomas E. Gilmore Courthouse Square. Matching provided by the City of Eutaw, Greene County Commission and Greene County IDA.
    • $ 350,000 from Governor Ivey’s Rebuild Alabama Program to repave 1.34 miles of the Lower Gainesville Road from Highway 11 to the city limit, passing in from of three apartment complexes. This grant must be matched 10% plus engineering fees. The city has requested assistance from Sheriff
    Benison to provide the matching funds from fees he controls from electronic bingo.
    • $115,000 for 12 new sets of breathing equipment for the Eutaw Fire Department.
    • a RISE grant, in conjunction with Auburn University to provide sidewalks for pedestrians to walk downtown and to shopping areas on Highway 43.

    • An annual budget to measure all income and expenditures to the city has been developed and followed by the Mayor and Council.

    • Two ‘clean audits’ for fiscal years 2022 and 2023 have been provided by the CPA firm and will be used in the grant fundraising process.

    • The City of Eutaw in conjunction with the Greene County Commission is developing a ‘waterpark for children’ in the city.

    The program ended with a symbolic cutting of a red ribbon in front of the mural. Refreshments in the form of muffins, coffee and juice were served in the City Hall.

    You can purchase a small print copy of the Eutaw mural or other murals by Banks Compton by contacting his website at http://www.bankscompton.com.

     

     

     

  • Eutaw City Council meets May 13 and tables action on many issues

    The Eutaw City Council held its regular meeting on Monday, May 13, 2024, because members were planning to leave the next day to attend the Alabama League of Municipalities convention. Mayor Latasha Johnson and all members of the Council were present for the meeting.

    At the request of Council member, Jonathan Woodruff, the Council voted to amend the resolution to not allow members of the Eutaw Police Department to drive city vehicles home, so it would be easier and faster to arrive at crime scenes if they are called. Woodruff said, “We recently voted to give the police officers a raise and we are discontinuing the perk of being able to drive police cars home, even to residences out of the county. We allowed this expenditure, in place of a raise, but now that we have given the raise, we are no long permitting the cars to be driven home.”

    In the first of several tabling motions, the Council tabled a request from the Goodson Storm Shelter at 871 County Road 181, which is in the fire district of Eutaw, to be reimbursed for costs of electricity, water and gas.
    This was discussed in the May 7th work session and moved to the agenda for approval. Council members wanted more information on whether they were legally responsible for these storm shelter expenses.

    A representative of Living Waters, contractor for the city’s sewage system, was present at the meeting and asked the Council to approve the Municipal Water Pollution Prevention Report to be sent to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM). The report is a compilation of monthly reports. Several City Council members said that they had just received the report and had not had a chance to read it. The Council voted to table action on the report until its next meeting on May 28th, which will still enable the report to be filed on time.

    The Council then took up four requests for use of the Robert H. Young Community Center, by IRS 501c3, non-profit organizations, who may use the facility, at no charge, if the meeting has a ‘public purpose’. The Council approved the Greene County Childrens’ Policy Council for a public meeting and the Southern Poverty Law Center for a June 15th festival on voting rights. The Council tabled the requests of the Order of Eastern Stars and Eutaw High School Class of 1979, to determine if their meetings had a public purpose.

    The Council and the Mayor had a discussion of the prior decision to reduce the work time for employees to four days a week. Originally the Mayor tried to implement this with a half a day of work on Thursday and half day on Friday. Most of the employees thought it would be most effective to work a full day on Thursdays and take Friday off. The Council members want City Hall to be open on both Thursday and Friday for residents to transact business. Mayor Johnson said that as part of her day-to-day supervision responsibilities, she accepted the staff recommendations. Councilwomen Hunter asserted that the Council wants the City Hall open five days a week.
    The Council said they would come back to resolve this in the next meeting.

    Councilwomen Hunter also supported a motion for a hiring freeze, so no new staff are hired by the city. The Mayor said she was already abiding by a hiring freeze but felt this was again part of her “day-to-day supervising responsibilities”. This issue was not formally resolved with any actions. The Council also voted to pay outstanding bills.

    The Council also received several reports from Ralph Liverman, Financial Advisor. One report was on the status of the $500,370 loan from  Merchants and Farmers Bank for equipment and trucks. Liverman reported that as of April 30, 2024, 31 monthly payments of $11,169.08 had been made, leaving a balance of $185,014.81 to be paid by the end of 2025.

    Liverman also provided a report on 22 city operating bank accounts in Merchants and Farmers Bank for the first seven months of the FY2023-24. The General Fund had a balance of $185,002 as of April 30, 2024. Based on the budget, funds are available in most accounts to honor all financial obligations of the city through the end of the fiscal year on September 30, 2024. However, Liverman points out that the Council must be vigilant and not overspend and consider an increase in water and sewer rates because this department is operating at a deficit, that will need to be covered by the General Fund at the end of the fiscal period.

    Rick Harbin, CPA and the auditor of the city’s funds was present and informed the Council that he was 95% complete with the audit for Fiscal Year ending September 30, 2023. He said he hoped to have a complete report for approval by the Council at the meeting at the end of the month.
    The city needs the audit to qualify for certain grant funds.

  • Kickoff held for $6 million Sports Complex at Greene County High School

    This past Saturday morning, May 4, 2024, Dr. Corey Jones, Superintendent of Greene County School Board held a public kickoff celebration for the construction of a $6 million Sports Complex to serve the students and residents of Greene County.

    The Sports Complex will include three phases. Phase 1 includes a Football Field with bleachers, lighting, a press box, entrance plaza, which will be surrounded by a running track and broad jump and pole-vaulting areas for Track and Field, toilets, and a concession area. Phase 2 will construct a Football Fieldhouse with home and visitors dressing areas. Phase 3 will include a Softball and Baseball Complex, with toilets and concession stand.

    The Greene County Board of Education, with help from our state legislative delegation of Senator Bobby Singleton and Representative Curtis Travis, secured $1.1 million, from the Lieutenant Governor’s Discretionary Fund for Educational Capital Projects, to begin Phase 1 of the project this year. The Board has established a “Sport Complex Committee” of community leaders and volunteers to give advice and help to raise funds for the project.

    At the Kickoff celebration, there were several large placards with drawings of the potential elements of the Sports Complex. One of which we have photographed and included with this news story.

    Superintendent Jones explained the project at the Kickoff celebration. He was joined by Eutaw Mayor Latasha Johnson , Coach James E. Morrow, from the City Council of Boligee, Representative Curtis Travis and Board President, Leo Branch of the Greene County Board of Education, in giving greetings and support for the project. The Greene County High School Band and Cheer-Leaders performed several musical and dance numbers.

    The initial $1.1 million will be spent on preparing the football field, constructing the track and field areas, and as much of the other facilities that the funds can be stretched to purchase. McKee and Associates of Montgomery, an architecture firm with experience designing schools and school facilities, has been contracted to provide architectural design and inspection services. Contractors will be asked to bid on elements of the project.

    The Sports Complex Committee has been meeting regularly to discuss strategies to raise private funds from citizens, organizations, churches, business, and other sources to help match public funds that may become available for the project.

    Leo Branch, President of the Greene County School Board, commented, “We want to have a way for everyone, from the smallest donors to the largest, to participate in helping to build this project. We plan to sell bricks or stones, which will be engraved with the names of donors, to construct walkways at the Sports Complex. We also want to offer large corporations that operate in our communities, like Love’s Truckstop, RockTenn, Alabama Power, Consolidated Catfish, Black Warrior Electric, Colonial Pipeline and others, the naming rights on the football field, buildings, and other facilities at the Sports Complex.”

    Anyone interested in supporting the Sport Complex Committee may contact the Greene County Board of Education and Superintendent Corey Jones, at 220 Main Street, Eutaw, Al 35462, phone 205-372-3109.

     

  • Eutaw City Council raises pay for police department

    At its regular meeting on March 12, 2024, the Eutaw City Council agreed to a budget adjustment to increase the pay of police officers based on their years of experience working with the city.

    This action was in response to a concern raised by Police Chief Tommy Johnson that four officers had left the staff since the beginning of the calendar year because they received offers of higher pay from neighboring police departments.

    “Our starting salary of $15.00 an hour was too low to attract or keep trained officers,” said Chief Johnson. The mayor also indicated that the police department was currently paying overtime pay rates to officers to cover all required shifts.

    Council members, Jonathan Woodruff and Tracey Hunter, who are members of the Council Finance Committee, proposed an adjustment to the budget, which would raise the base pay, for police officers who completed training to $17.00 an hour ($35,360 annually), with one to five years’ experience. The salary for officers with 6 to 10 years’ experience would be increased to $18.00 an hour ($37,440 annually). For officers with more than 10 years, the pay rate was increased to $19.00 an hour ($39,520 annually)

    The Chief of Police will continue to receive $65,000 annually The Assistant Chief was raised to $22.00 an hour or $45,760 annually. There may be some other adjustments based on years of service. There were no cadets budgeted for this fiscal year, which created the budgetary savings to allow the increased salaries, within the current budget for this fiscal year.

    Chief Johnson said he would be able to recruit new replacement officers at the new pay rate but still urged further increases to allow for retention of capable and experienced personnel.

    The Council tabled action on setting rates for rental of the R. H. Young Community Center (formerly Carver School) since City Attorney, Zane Willingham, who helped draft the rates, was away attending a conference for municipal attorneys.

    At its prior meeting on February 27, 2024, the Council voted to change the check signers on all city accounts in Merchants and Farmers Bank. There will be two signatories, on each check, of three signers: Council members: Tracey Hunter and Jonathan Woodruff and Chief Clerk, SheKelvia Spencer. This action removed Mayor Latasha Johnson, as a check signer.

    The Mayor indicated some displeasure and disagreement with being removed from check signing but said she would abide by the Council’s decision, if they made sure to sign checks on a timely basis as needed.
    The Mayor said, “No money is missing, nothing is hidden, no money has been mis-spent. We have an audit that shows that we are financially stable and following our budget. In the past, we did not have our finances in good condition, but now under my leadership we do. There is no reason to remove me as a check signer.”

    In other actions, the Eutaw City Council:

    • Approved a resolution to allow the mayor to seek bids to renovate the restrooms at City Hall.

    • Approved a retail liquor license for Madi Food Mart, which plans to re-open a closed convenience store on Greensboro Avenue in Eutaw.

    • Approved travel for several city officials to attend upcoming conferences and training.

    • Received financial reports from Ralph Liverman, Fiscal Adviser, on bank accounts and loan balances. This included a report that 29 monthly payments had been made on the City’s four-year, equipment loan of $500,370, with 19 payments totaling $206,198 remaining to be paid. This monthly expenditure is included in the budget.

    • Received a report from the Chamber of Commerce that they received a $5,000 grant for a mural to be painted on the wall of a building in downtown Eutaw.

    • Approved payment of bills.

    The meeting ended with a discussion of the need to keep the streets of Eutaw clean and that some people were dumping trash and other waste materials at the side of the road and in ditches in the city. The mayor stated that she would work with residents and businesses to keep the areas around their homes and workspaces clean. Lorenzo French suggested involving young people in the clean-up efforts, so they would help maintain the clean streets and areas of the city.

  • Eutaw City Council holds cantankerous meeting refuses to vote on resolution to pay contractors for storm debris work

    The June 13th regular Eutaw City Council meeting saw members of the Council disagree with Mayor Latasha Johnson on financial matters, especially the payment of contractors for debris removal from the January 12 storm.
    All members of the Council were present except for Larrie Coleman, District 4, who was absent.

    The Eutaw City Council had previously approved payment of $267,750 to three contractors who did most of the debris removal work. The Mayor had submitted records to FEMA to be reimbursed for these and additional expenses, including the work of city employees, supplies, and administrative expenses. FEMA will only reimburse for expenses actually paid by the city.

    The first agenda item at the meeting was a resolution, prepared by City Financial Adviser Ralph Liverman, to pay the debris removal contractors by transferring funds from other city accounts, primarily the 4-cent gas tax fund, the 7-cent gas tax fund, and the bridge replacement fund to the General Fund, with the expectation that these funds would be reimbursed by FEMA and replaced in the accounts. Another alternative way to pay the bills would be for the City to borrow the funds until the FEMA reimbursement was received.

    Councilwoman Jacqueline Stewart made the motion to approve the resolution to move funds to the General Fund to pay the contractors. The motion died because no other member of the Council would second the motion. The members were distressed that the City’s finances were severely affected and limited by the storms, even though the funds would be reimbursed by FEMA, once the city paid these obligations.

    City Attorney, Zane Willingham, advised the Council to pay the contractors since not to do so would result in lawsuits and higher costs. The Council members disregarded his legal advice.

    The Mayor tried to have a special meeting on June 15 for the Council to reconsider its decision, however, the meeting was cancelled due to bad weather and unwillingness of councilmembers to attend.

    At press time, the Democrat contacted Mayor Johnson and she said,
    “I had no choice, the FEMA deadline for reimbursement was approaching, the Council had previously approved paying these expenses but then would not pass the resolution on using funds from several accounts to pay. At the advice of legal counsel, I went ahead and paid the bills.”

    The Mayor also provided the Democrat an email from JoAnn Mallett, FEMA Emergency Management Specialist, stating that the City of Eutaw has been approved for 100% reimbursement of $177,669.83 and 75% reimbursement of $ 241,747.94, which is more than the $267,750 paid to the contractors.

    Council adopts motions on financial controls

    The City Council then took up a series of motions to limit expenses to make sure that the General Fund did not run out of money. The Council on the recommendation of Councilwoman Hunter agreed to suspend all travel and per diem for all departments. This motion was approved by a vote of 4 yes and the Mayor voting no, because she said, we must send staff to training and conferences from them to keep their certifications current and up to date.

    The Council took up a motion to suspend all excessive overtime pay for all departments. This led to a discussion of what was the definition of excessive and the motion as tabled.

    A motion to suspend all purchases without Council approval was passed by a vote of 4 to 1 with the mayor voting against. The mayor indicated that many times there are emergencies requiring the purchase or replacement of pumps, motors, and other things, which coming back to the Council would cause delays and problems.

    The Council also approved a proposal from Councilman LaJeffrey Carpenter that the members of the Council receive copies of employee timesheets. This was approved 4 to 1 with the Mayor being the lone vote against the motion.

    A motion to cover the expenses and per diem for three members of the Water Department to receive training, died for lack of a second. This came in the context of a discussion that it was important for city staff to receive training so they could do their job better.

    The Council approved a motion to recognize September 11 as “Spiver Gordon Day in the City of Eutaw”. This motion was approved 3 yes, one no (Watkins) and one abstention (Carpenter).

    The Council also approved an agreement between the City of Eutaw and communities Unlimited for comprehensive technical assistance for the city water system, which includes a rate study and board training.

  • Appreciation held for Spiver W. Gordon,veteran civil rights and community leader

    A surprise appreciation was held Sunday, June 11,2023 in the gymnasium of the Branch Heights Community Center to honor Elder Spiver W. Gordon for his more than 50 years service to Greene County and surrounding counties in Alabama.

    There were over one hundred participants who assembled to honor Gordon for his lifetime of community service, civil and human rights activities and the creation of two museums in Greene County to collect and display photographs and artifacts of the civil rights movement.

    Gordon has a history of honoring others at public programs he convenes, giving plaques and certificates of appreciation to many in Greene County for contributions, big and small, to the movement for civil rights, economic justice and political and social change for Black people. On Sunday, it was Spiver Gordon’s chance to receive certificates, plaques and accolades.

    Mayor Latasha Johnson presented Gordon with a key to the City of Eutaw and said the Council would approve a resolution at its next meeting declaring June 11, as ‘Spiver Gordon Day’ in the City of Eutaw.

    County Commissioners Corey Cockrell and Garria Spencer presented a resolution on behalf of the Greene County Commission honoring Gordon for his decades of service to the county.

    Carol and John Zippert honored Spiver Gordon with a plaque from Alabama New South Coalition for his years of work training and supporting Black political candidates and office holders. They also spoke of working with him in the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) in Louisiana, before moving to Alabama.

    Anita Lewis, Executive Director of the Greene County Housing Authority honored Gordon for his service on, the public housing board but also recognized his support for her and other families in the community with personal and financial problems.

    Carrie Coleman, 91 thanked Gordon for his community service and presented him with a beautiful, multi-colored hand crocheted blanket, which took many hours and days of sewing to produce.

    Former State Senator Hank Sanders praised Gordon for “staying on the battlefield” for a lifetime of service to the community. William Bell, former Mayor of Birmingham, and guest speaker for the event, praised Gordon for his work around the state for civil rights.

    Gordon was also presented with a basket containing cards and love offerings from many people, churches and organizations wishing to recognize his service and contributions.

    Gordon, who was joined by his family: wife, Barbara and son Kenyatta,
    as well as others at the program. In his remarks at the end of the program, Gordon said he was truly surprised and humbled by the many tributes and recognitions given at the program.

     

  • Book signing held for George Hall’s biography ‘Tenacious’

    U.S. Air Force Major, Aretha Dix and Hall’s daughter Verita adorn him with various commemorative medals. and Eutaw Mayor, Latasha Johnson presents George Hall with Key to the City.

    On Memorial Day, Monday, May 29th a book signing and celebration of the life and work of George Washington Hall, former Sheriff of Greene County was held at Zion Brush Creek Missionary Baptist Church, near Eutaw, Alabama.

    Hall is the author of a biography, entitled ‘Tenacious’ about his life as a native of Greene County, forty-year military career, two terms as Sheriff of Greene County, a farmer and syrup maker, as well as one of six farmers who were named plaintiffs in the historic Pigford vs. Glickman, Black farmers class action lawsuit.

    Hall was assisted in writing and publishing his book by The Fifty Fund, a group of professional volunteers, based in Auburn, Alabama, with members around the nation. Members of The Fifty Fund were actively involved in the program honoring Hall and the publication of his biography.

    The program included a prayer and welcoming remarks by Pastor Samuel Ezell of the Zion Brush Creek MBC. Ezell also recognized George Hall’s service as a deacon of the church over many years. Mayor Latasha Johnson awarded Hall the key to the City of Eutaw and praised his lifelong contributions to his home county.

    Tributes were also offered by Robert Raymond, a lifelong friend of Halls and Mary McInnis, who served in the USDA Farmers Home and Farm Service offices and helped George Hall with documentation for his Black farmer discrimination claim. McInnis also mentioned that after the lawsuit, Hall was elected to the FSA County Committee and became its Chairperson, the first Black farmer in the state, to do so.

    Roger Thurow, a former Wall Street Journal writer and author of the book’s forward, recalled meeting George Hall, when he was at early court hearings in the Black farmer case. Thurow recounted, “It took farmers who were willing to stand up to racism and discrimination by the U. S. government to win this lawsuit. George Hall had an abiding faith in truth and justice, which helped him win this award of $1.2 billion for Black farmers around the nation.”

    Thurow and the book do not mention the role of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives and attorneys like Chestnut, Sanders and Sanders of Selma, who were instrumental in helping farmers like George Hall pursue their claims against USDA in Federal courts.

    Retired Major, U. S. Air Force, Aretha Dix, was present to award several medals to Master Sergeant George Hall for his forty years of service, from 1968 to 2008, in the active service, National Guard and Reserves. Among the medals, Dix awarded and pinned on Hall were U. S. Veterans Service Medal, Vietnam, 50th Anniversary Medal and the Armed Forces Retirement Medal.

    Earlier in the day, the Greene County Commission recognized George Hall by naming County Road 133, on which he lives on as “George Hall Road” in his honor.

    At the end of the program, guests were invited to purchase copies of Hall’s book, ‘Tenacious’ and partake in refreshments in the church fellowship area. Hall signed books for those who purchased one for $20.00 each.

    More books are available by contacting: George Hall at 1570 County Road 133, Boligee ,AL. phone: 205/372-9458.

  • County Commission expresses interest in county-wide Sunday alcohol sales

    The Greene County Commission met in regular session Monday, May 8, 2023. All Commissioners were present. At the Commission’s work session on May 3, Commissioner Allen Turner raised an interest in the county authorizing Sunday alcohol sales. Turner raised questions on the process – would the County have to present its request to the State Legislative Representatives, and would such a proposed bill have time to be advertised before the current session ended. Subsequently, State Representative Curtis Travis was invited to attend the Commission’s meeting on May 8. Rep. Travis stated that since Greene County is a “wet” county, the County Commission could authorize Sunday alcohol sales at prescribed times. He noted that the Commission should develop a resolution to that effect.
    According to Mayor Latasha Johnson, the City of Eutaw has authorized Sunday alcohol sales, but currently that does not extend throughout the county.
    The Commission approved a request by Probate Judge Rolonda Wedgeworth to secure a new contract for computer services in her office. In her initial request presented at the Commission’s work session on May 3, Judge Wedgeworth stated that her office was in dire need of an updated computer system. She noted that due to the inadequacies of the current vendor, her office is out of compliance with the State. “We are in a situation where we have to develop our own forms which is a set back to our work. Our current vendor will not respond to requests for assistance,” she said. As per her request, the Commission approved Ingenuity, Inc., business and technology services, as the new vendor at a cost of $28,000.
    The Commission approved three members for the Board of Equalization: Mrs. Alfretta Crawford, Mrs. Loydleetta Wabbington, and Mr. John Vester.
    Other items approved by the Commission are as follows:
    * Repair Jury Building on old courthouse square at cost not to exceed $35,000.
    * Engineer’s request to fill position of Shop Foreman.
    * Engineer’s request for right-of-way acquisition for bridge replacement on County Rd. 220 for the sum of $20, 500.
    Engineer’s request to move one driver from Highway Department to Solid Waste Dept.
    Engineers’s request to adjust salaries of four employees in Solid Waste Department.
    * Travel request for Assistant Engineer on June 7 and June 13-14, 2023.
    * Replacing back doors at Eutaw Activity Center.
    Sheriff’s request to replace commercial dishwasher at county jail.
    The Commission tabled the following items.
    * Request from the Water Authority Board.
    Consideration of Sunday alcohol sales in the County.
    The commission approved the financial report and the payment of claims for April 2023 as presented by CFO Macaroy Underwood. In his report Underwood noted the following: Accounts payable – $309,692.59; Payroll Transfer – $274,299.19; Fiduciary – $69,124.45; Total $653,116.23; Electronic Claims – $85,183.29. Bank totals at end of April: Citizen Trust – unrestricted $2,928,224.96, restricted $5,181,617.91; Merchants & Farmers – unrestricted $3,170,801.50, restricted $1,544,523.24; Total investments – unrestricted $877,979,73, restricted $881,522.99.