CULLMAN —
After a year of forgettable bickering and posturing by politicians on the North-central Alabama Council of Local Governments, the board finally made some adjustments that may just salvage the organization.
NARCOG’s problems crested in 2012 when Decatur and Morgan County bailed out because of disagreements over who would be the executive director and the voting sequence practiced by the board. Cullman County, with its many towns and cities, actually had the controlling votes over the larger Morgan County. The board — last week — agreed to return to an older voting structure that gives Morgan County more votes and leaves Cullman and Lawrence counties with the rest. Reaching this point of agreement was a painful, often embarrassing journey for NARCOG.
Personality conflicts, accusations of top-heavy salaries and political bullying were all part of the story. By the end of last week, Morgan County commissioners had voted to return to NARCOG, a move that must be approved by the NARCOG board. And that’s likely to happen.
At stake in this issue was the region’s senior programs, which impacts thousands of residents in the tri-county area. Gov. Robert Bentley had made it clear to the officials seated at NARCOG that he would do whatever was necessary to protect those programs, which are also tied to federal dollars and regulations.
A representative for the state appeared at last week’s decisive meeting, informing the group that the governor was prepared to send each county into separate councils of local government if they couldn’t reach an agreement. The threat, which was real, must have worked. Cullman County would have been shoved into the Jefferson County council, Morgan County into the Huntsville area, and Lawrence County into the Shoals. Such moves would not have played out well for local residents.
The established three-county area of NARCOG has plenty in common and should be able to work together without deep-rooted tension over who has the most votes. The organization needs to move forward, find a qualified executive director and get back to the business of caring for seniors and other needs in the region.
Editorials
EDITORIAL: NARCOG takes turn in the right direction
- Editorials
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NARCOG’S chance to shine
The North-central Alabama Regional Council of Governments is expected to name a new director in the coming week, a move that should return a sense of direction and stability to the organization.
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Growing pains in Cullman
A proposal to establish an entertainment district in north Cullman, which would have created a venue for live music, was rescinded last week after complaints from residents in the area.
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Bringing back the economy
The economic picture across the United States is beginning to smooth out for many Americans.
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A good job in Vinemont
The town of South Vinemont overnight has become a destination in the world of recreation.
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A time to remember
Those who served, and those who continue to serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard took an oath to uphold and protect the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic, and we can never forget the importance of their commitment to our Nation
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Taking the lead in education
The once-heralded ‘No Child Left Behind” education initiative from the federal level has just about run out of gas.
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Moving into the future
Hundreds of local high school seniors are accepting their diplomas and preparing to turn the page in the next chapter of their lives.
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Editorial: Seizure of AP phone records insult to independent press
This amounts to spying on an American news organization -- common practice in dictatorships but scary conduct in a democratic system that prizes the public value of an independent watchdog press.
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EDITORIAL: The IRS' Turn to Answer Questions
Washington is now sinking its teeth into a real scandal: the Internal Revenue Service using ideological criteria to choose the targets of its attention.
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Editorial: The house of death
The grisly details emerging from the murder trial of a Philadelphia abortion doctor place a glaring spotlight on a national disgrace.
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NARCOG’S chance to shine
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