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scope it out for December 1, 2009

Posted on Nov 30, 2009 in News

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Jefferson County to reopen two satellite courthouses

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP-Jefferson County plans to reopen satellite courthouses in Gardendale and Forestdale next month. Interim Finance Director Travis Hulsey told The Birmingham News reports the two locations will reopen “in a somewhat limited basis until the county’s financial condition stabilizes.” The reopenings are set for Dec. 14.
Those locations and two others in Homewood and Center Point closed in August when the county placed about 1,000 of its 3,600 workers on unpaid leave.

Workers in Homewood and Center Point were called to reopen the satellite courthouses last month.

Hulsey said the Gardendale and Forestdale courthouses will handle driver’s license renewals, title applications, tag renewals, business licenses and most public services.
 

Giant Moon Pie to once again grace Mobile’s sky

MOBILE, Ala. (AP)-City officials say Mobile’s giant Moon Pie in the sky will return on New Year’s Eve and the crowd will get a closer look at it this time.

The Press-Register reports Friday that the papier-mache Moon Pie will be lifted at midnight at Mobile Landing just south of Cooper Riverside Park.

The Moon Pie’s debut last year drew about 12,500 people to the park. It was hoisted on the east side of Mobile River, about a quarter-mile away from the crowd.

The distance made the prominent pie appear much smaller.

City of Mobile spokeswoman Barbara Drummond said officials are also working to get fireworks to burst behind the Moon Pie.

Jimmy Hall and Wet Willie are slated to headline the show.
 

Birmingham mayor pro tem election questioned

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP)-Officials in Birmingham are examining the legality of the vote that made Steven Hoyt mayor pro tem of Alabama’s largest city.

The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday chose Roderick Royal as council president, making him acting mayor.
Royal then nominated Steven Hoyt as president pro tem and voted on the nomination.

But the mayor is not allowed to vote with the council, which chose Hoyt over Johnathan Austin in a 5-4 vote.

Councilwoman Valerie Abbott said Royal’s participation in the process is a problem.

“Obviously in the stress of the moment we allowed a mistake to be made that we cannot allow to stand,” Abbott said.
Thomas Bentley, Birmingham’s acting deputy city attorney, said the legal department is trying to decide what steps should be taken.

J. Richmond Pearson, the council’s legal adviser, said the dispute should be settled in court.

A decision to throw out the vote would unravel the council committee assignments made Wednesday.

State Rep. Demetrius Newton, a former Birmingham city attorney, said Councilwoman Carole Smitherman also should have abstained because of her previous role as acting mayor.

Smitherman voted for Austin for pro tem and herself as president.

A special mayoral election is scheduled for Dec. 8. Hoyt is among 14 candidates seeking the post left vacant when Larry Langford was convicted on federal corruption charges. Royal is not a candidate.
 

Decatur smoking ban panel to meet minus appointees

DECATUR, Ala. (AP)-A committee formed to review Decatur’s two-year-old smoking ordinance will move forward without appointments from two city councilmen.

City Attorney Herman Marks says he plans to brief the committee Thursday, providing its members copies of the ordinance and any other material they might request.

Mayor Don Stanford is expected to attend the introductory meeting along with District 2 appointee John Buchanan, District 3 appointee Joseph Wynn, and District 5 appointee Ted Whittington.

The Decatur Daily reports Friday that councilmen Ronny Russell and Billy Jackson are boycotting the committee and have refused to make appointments for Districts 4 and 1.

Both say the current ordinance needs no changes but others favor rules similar to Huntsville’s, which allow smoking in some circumstances.




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