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| Thursday, September 2, 2010 |
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Tension erupts at meeting
Published March 17, 2008
A meeting Thursday night in the auditorium of the North Alabama Electric Cooperative was to discuss encroaching infringement on rights of property owners, but erupted into a near melee at one point involving State Sen. Lowell Barron.
The session was surrounded by suspense, mystery and reports of a possible endorsement of a political coalition.
This was the second meeting of a group identifying itself as the Jackson County Ethics Committee.
Much of the discussion centered around an advertisement of the meeting in the Thursday edition of the North Jackson Progress showing someone running with money bags and another showing a steam roller with “State Motto: We dare defend our rights.”
The ad stated beside the man running with money bags: “This time it was in secret…your property rights were taken without a public hearing.” That was never explained.
It also stated: “Did you know….the new ‘Flood Ordinance’ says you can no longer erect a building on your property without permission? Soon they will take more property rights using a ‘junk’ ordinance. Later, they will limit the number of pets/animals you own with a health ordinance. (It’s in the works.) Your camper must be tied to the ground. For a violation you’ll be fined $500 per day and 30 days in jail. Join with us to fight and regain our rights.”
Eana Miles of Higdon called the meeting to order. She introduced Don Casey of Pleasant Grove near Birmingham, who began researching property rights in 1991.
Casey told of “comprehensive planning” in Elmore and Shelby counties in which he described it as more control on property rights of individuals throughout those two counties.
Casey warned of the potential of Limited Home Rule in Jackson possibly following similar paths within possibly five or so years.
Ken Freeman of Lacey’s Spring said he helped two legislators write an original home rule bill, but what was passed was much different than he thought it would be.
Sen. Barron went to the podium and said every elected official in Elmore and Shelby Counties is Republican and that Democrats in Jackson County will not allow that to happen.
It was at that point, several people stood up and surrounded the podium. Two Jackson County deputies, who had been assigned to the meeting as peacekeepers, moved into the group. One of the deputies told Cecil Hicks of Flat Rock to stay out of Barron’s face and watch his language.
State Rep. John Robinson was with Barron and started to speak, but was told not to, according to the legislative office. A spokesperson for Barron said Barron and Robinson had planned to go through the advertisement and discuss what was true or untrue about each item, but sat down instead due to the commotion.
The situation calmed down after that.
It had been reported the group was going to endorse a slate of candidates for the commission in the upcoming election, but Dr. Mickey Holder, one of the meeting organizers, said that was totally untrue.
Although everyone was invited to attend, Barron, Robinson and members of the commission (except for Glendq Hodges) showed up. The commissioners except for Darren Blizard had been at a meeting in Montgomery, but came back in time to attend the Stevenson meeting – reportedly unexpected.
Holder said this was only the second meeting of this committee and there were no plans to endorse any candidate nor would there be endorsements. He did say that on occasion candidates might be invited to speak -– like any other organization -- and committee members could make their own decisions.
Holder said the meeting had planned to be an organizational session along with a guest speaker (Casey), but the organizational part was postponed after the eruption.
One Skyline woman scoffed at the flood plain requirements that may be coming because she lives at Skyline on Cumberland Mountain.
County Commission Chairman James Tidmore was asked about the proposed flood plain. He said it is a state and national program that is actually a safeguard for people from building in flood zones. He said people even now probably would have a difficult time building in a flood zone and getting a home loan or insurance.
Officials at the meeting said people from Jackson, Marshall, Cullman, Morgan, Etowah and possibly another county or two were in attendance.
Holder said the meeting was open to everyone and he had not anticipated the tension that occurred when Barron started speaking.
The optometrist said after the meeting that Tidmore invited him to come to his office and they would sit down and discuss the flood plain or other issues. Holder said he plans to accept that invitation.
Holder said an organizational meeting of the Ethics Committee would be held at a later date, which has not been set. Among others helping with the organization is Greg Chapman of Skyline.
Holder said the meeting primarily was to get out the word about things going on in other areas and the flood plain.
He estimated the crowd at 75.
Barron said after the two-hour session, “It was a good meeting where people got to express their views. The folks that were presenting that the sky was falling were from some other county or state. “
Barron said none of the things they said are happening in Elmore, Shelby and Florida are happening in Jackson County.
He added that Home Rule is a good bill that allows a majority of the people to control their own destiny.
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