CULLMAN — The Cullman area legislative delegation plans to seek public input this summer as it considers the state legislature’s role in making a potential change to Cullman County’s current three-member commission form of government.

District 12 Rep. James Fields, the chairman of the Cullman County legislative delegation, along with Senate majority leader Zeb Little, District 11 Rep. Jeremy Oden and District 9 Rep. Ronald Grantland will conduct a series of public meetings to discuss legislation that would allow voters to decide whether to expand the Cullman County Commission from three members to five. The meetings will also seek input on how a five-member commission would be structured.   

Fields said local interest in changing the current commission setup has been intense.

“Due to an overwhelming number of phone calls and inquiries from constituents expressing interest in expanding the number of county commissioners, the legislative delegation met and decided to hold a number of public hearings across the county to let as many people as possible voice their thoughts on this matter,” said Fields. “With Cullman County’s present and future industrial expansion, and the changing economy of one of the state’s most vibrant areas, we all feel the idea to hear what the people think is the thing to do.”  

Little, who has already broached the topic at a well-attended meeting held May 25 at the Cullman Civic Center, said he received strong feedback supporting a five-member commission on survey cards he distributed to those who attended.

“At my last public meeting, we asked those in attendance about their support for changing the Cullman County Commission from three to five members,” Little said. “Out of almost three hundred responses, only three stated they wanted to leave the commission the way it is. Hundreds expressed their desire for a change. That alone was enough for me to support further public meetings on legislation to let Cullman County decide this issue at the ballot box.

“I haven’t heard from almost anybody who is against it,” he added. “There have been some differences of opinion on how it would be made up, but that’s why we are holding these public meetings—to get more feedback on how people in Cullman County want their local government to work.”

County commission chairman James Graves has stated he supports moving to a five-member commission. On the evening of the June 1 primary, he pledged to cooperate with residents and legislators to put the proposal before the 2011 state legislative session.

Little said the legislature would ideally start the process of changing the commission structure after first being asked to do so by the new commission lineup that begins its term in November. A legislator could then introduce a local bill in the 2011 session tied to a referendum that would put the final decision before the people for a vote.

“I don’t think we can wait to start the process of discussing it, though,” Little said. “That’s why we’re holding these meetings now—we want the public to be informed on everything ahead of time.”

Oden, like his colleagues, said he supports the legislature playing its part in any changes that are initiated by local officials and citizen input.

“The meetings will be across the county, which I think will be beneficial to the citizens, and it will allow the county legislative delegation to make sure we know what the citizens want to do on this matter,” Oden said. “If we find the majority want the opportunity to vote to increase the number of commissioners, the delegation will pass legislation setting up a referendum on changing the makeup of the Cullman County Commission.”

Grantland, whose legislative district cover much more of Morgan County than the small portion that overlaps into northern Cullman County, said the five-member setup has been effective in other areas.

“The majority of my district,” said Grantland, “is in Morgan County—which has five county commissioners—and it seems to work well there. Only three counties in the state still have a three-member commission, so a change is certainly something to consider. I welcome input from the citizens of Cullman County to see if they would like an opportunity to expand the number of their commissioners.”

The first meeting will be held at 6 p.m. June 24 at the Baileyton Town Hall. More meetings will follow in Hanceville, Cold Springs, Harmony School and in Cullman.



* Benjamin Bullard can be reached by e-mail at bbullard@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131 ext. 270.