Jacksonville Tackles Final Budget Work Session Meeting by Hearing from Outside Agencies

1. Call to order.
2. Roll call.
   1. Tony Taylor – Present
   2. Andy Green – Present
   3. Terry Wilson – Present
   4. Sherry Laster – Present
   5. Coty Galloway – Present
3. Budget Discussion: Board of Education and Outside Agencies.
   1. Board of Education – Mike Newell – requests the same $150,000 in funds as last year, plus $34,000 for additional staff position of Absentee Officer to help reduce the amount of school days missed by students. There has been an increase in students due to higher population in Jacksonville and interest in local school systems.
   2. Humane Society – Shelley Hunt – services provided to Jacksonville and Calhoun County include handling strays and owner surrenders. Animals are checked out upon arrival, sent to veterinary care if needed, get vaccinations, dewormed, assess temperament, treat skin issues, and checked for microchips so the pet can be returned to its home. They also handle adoption applications and verify that owners have a fenced in yard, have no previous issues with pets and that personalities match the pets. Animal Control Officer Karen Johnson is instrumental in handling the stray and pet population in Jacksonville.
   3. Health Department – Carrie Johnson – services provided to citizens include annual exams, birth control, STD tests and treatment and childhood vaccinations. These services can be costly and patients pay on a sliding scale based on income. There are lab costs, overhead for medical facilities, and a focus on public education.
   4. Highland Health Systems – Mickey Turner – 501(c)(3) organization and has recently moved locations. It was known as the Mental Health Board from 1967-2015 until it became an integrated health care company for mental illness and overall health. Its purpose is to be primary care for medical health, mental health, and a pharmacy so it can better help its struggling patients who have limited resources and assistance. It keeps a RN on staff and also helps with residential care, case management and in-home interventions.
   5. Coosa Valley Youth Services – Jason Granholm  – they provide 3 programs: a secure detention center and 2 residential programs. The detention center houses youths from 10-18 years old under court order who are waiting for adjudication hearings or placement in treatment programs. 1 24-hour residential program is for at-risk girls and staffed by trained childcare workers, counseling and case management workers and provides programs for educational, medical, behavioral and emotional needs. Lewis Academy provides treatment plans to address their area of risk and need. They have a full academic program, food service and counseling staff. The purpose is to prepare them to be productive citizens. Every youth requires about $115 a day to have access to these services.
   6. Calhoun County DHR – Courtney Clark  – There are financial programs which consist of child support and food assistance, and service programs which consist of child welfare, foster care and investigations. DHR gets birth certificates and paternities so they can pursue child support from the parents. They also deal with immediate needs for foster care, clothing and education.
   7. Calhoun-Cleburne Children’s Center – Jay Harrington  – Children’s advocacy center, provides a safe place for interviews for children that have been victims of crimes and felonies. 5 full time employees, a director, a financial assistant, as well as a family advocate. There have been 18 felony interviews from the city of Jacksonville in the last year and 72 counseling sessions set up through DHR.
   8. East Alabama Commission – Shane Christian – Provides transportation for disabled in the community for medical, social and food needs. Average about 115 trips per month for Jacksonville residents.
   9. Big Brothers/Big Sisters – Misty Gardner –  Mentoring children in schools and out in community. Non-profit organization that services 14 schools in 5 counties and will be adding 4-5  new schools within the next year. Serves 200 kids annually, currently has 27 kids waiting to be matched with a volunteer. Match costs $1030 to support for 1 year and there are 8 volunteers from the city of Jacksonville.
   10. Boys & Girls Club – Johnny Byrd and Priscilla – Youth development to become productive citizens and good decent people. Help with after school programs, summer programs and education. Staff has been stretched thin with all the changes in schools and homes. They provide benefits to social, physical, STEM, nutrition, gardening, education, and lunch programs.
   11. NE Alabama Bicycle Association – Brooke Nelson – Cheaha Challenge is the largest bike ride in Alabama and one of the largest in the Southeast. The next set for May 14-15, 2022 and had over 1400 cyclists at this year’s event. Riders come from 36 states and 90% of riders come from outside of Calhoun County. The participation in this event boosts tourism and money spent on hotels, shops, and restaurants. Over 500 volunteers help on the course during the race.
   12. The Arc of Calhoun & Cleburne Counties – Pati Tiller – Helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Hosts an annual event every spring for kids in self contained units for track and field as well as monthly basketball games. They provide job readiness courses for adults, art classes, gardening, social clubs and community involvement. Anniston and Jacksonville needs help with transportation to better help these people who benefit from it.
   13. Jacksonville Christian Outreach Center – Pat Borstorf – Provide food pantry, emergency utility assistance and other monetary assistance, school supplies, first aid kits, coat closet, fresh seasonal vegetables, Easter and Christmas meals, and baby and pet food. In 2020, 153 homes were helped with utilities. So far in 2021, 418 homes have been served and over $20,000 has been paid in utility bills, gas, electric and water.
   14. Arts Council – Nancy Gillespie – Planning Christmas village and setting up a children’s art show during that time, with awards going to 1st-3rd place. Recently had Music on the Square run by the City of Jacksonville, but cosponsored by the JAC. 
   15. Great Things in Jacksonville – Gail DeParma – Historic sign restoration project and mural project coming soon. The murals help boost tourism and social media attention on Jacksonville. Quality Shoppe will be the next mural project coming soon.

 4. Any Other Business. – None