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Enhancing the Quality of Life
for Everyone in Jackson County | | Ask a neighbor what their county commission does for them, and you're likely to get a blank stare and maybe a vague comment about building roads and maintaining bridges. That is a typical response and perhaps understandable given the important behind-the-scenes role the Jackson County Commission plays in the life of the county. "Roads are just 
the tip of the iceberg of the County Commission's responsibilities," explains Glenda "Bit" Hodges, District 4 Commissioner. Indeed, it could be argued that the better a job your county commission does, the less they get noticed. Anonymity is a sure sign that things are working.
The truth is, the Jackson County Commission is involved in everything from building roads and bridges to financially supporting the county jail and law enforcement while helping
 | fund schools through a designated two-cent sales tax. Financial assistance is provided to a wide variety of services in the county, including libraries, rescue squads, animal shelter and a Senior Rx |
prescription
discount drug program. A new solid waste collection and disposal system provided for by the commission further augments local services. |  | In fact, a new roof has been put on the courthouse, the clock tower renovated and lighted, and the HVAC system in the courthouse has been upgraded. If you drive to work, go to school, or even visit a local park or use a public boat launch to go bass fishing in beautiful Lake Guntersville, you have benefited from the |
Jackson County Commission's hard work. All told, they employ more than 250 residents of the county in a host of jobs aimed at improving the overall quality of life in the county-and it is working.
An involuntary form of government, the Jackson County Commission is organized as a unit system of government, as opposed to a district system. This means that commissioners are nominated from each of the county's four districts but are 
chosen in a countywide election. The commission's functions are thus performed on a countywide basis without regard to political boundaries. What this means for citizens of Jackson County is that the commission operates more economically and more effectively since there are fewer redundancies in the unit system. The county gets more for less. For example, the Jackson County Commission can be proud about doing something many governmental agencies cannot, including the state: it balances it's $10-15 million budget each year. Presently, the economic scenario looks good for the entire county. | In terms of economic growth, Jackson County is in top standing, recently leading non-metro areas in North Alabama in job growth. It was third in the state in the number of jobs created from companies moving into the area and sixth in the number of jobs created by new and expanding industries. The County Commission is working with the other agencies in developing the county's first industrial park, which will attract more industry to the area. The county consistently is among the top 10 counties in the state for the number of new jobs
created. It has been named by Southern Business and Development magazine as one of the "Top Small Markets in the South" for industries looking to relocate. And for those thinking about settling down, Scottsboro was named by America's Best and Most Affordable Places as a top retirement location.
Navigable waterways, excellent highways, railway links and airports connect the county's inhabitants with the goods and services needed to run a dynamic modern economy. The excellent medical facilities of the Jackson County Health Care Authority ensure that residents can stay close to home when even the most complex medical needs arise. Whether it's a Cardiac Rehab or Sports Medicine program, cat-scans, MRI, chemotherapy or the new maternity center, the available medical services are cutting edge. Jackson County excels in agriculture as well. Poultry, beef and other stock flourish in northeast Alabama's temperate climate, and agribusiness is big business as Jackson County leads the state in corn production and is among its top producers of soybeans. | 
While the county has plenty of well-known attributes to be proud of, the Jackson County Commission relishes its role of quietly doing its work at the state and local level to ensure that quality of life remains high in the county. "Essentially, this is the governing body of the county," explains James Tidmore, Chairman of the Jackson County Commission. "Our authority comes from the legislature to relieve them of some duties and to better serve our local resident's needs and concerns." Still, like any county commission in Alabama, there are limits to what the Jackson County Commission can do without express approval from the state legislature. Due to an aging state constitution, commissions do not enjoy "home rule" or the ability to make all the local decisions they might like.
"We have to work with other governmental agencies to be in step with legislators and state representatives," says James Tidmore. "That's a big key to our work. We also work closely with local municipalities, our local legislative delegation, congressional representatives and others. It is all about cooperation." Hodges agrees, "When bills are introduced that might impact the county—positively or negatively—we work closely with our legislative group to assure that legislation doesn't pass that would aversely affect the county. We are fortunate that we all work well together." | | | | | | |
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Courthouse Calendar
