CULLMAN — A commission created to distribute certain monies to groups and towns in Cullman County met for the first time Monday to discuss its rules and procedures.
Called the Cullman County Community Development Commission, the organization’s sole responsibility is to distribute funds provided to the county from state-collected monies from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and funds provided to the county from state alcohol sales taxes.
To date, there is approximately $100,000 available for use by the commission — an amount that is expected to increase each year.
The commission was created through a House bill passed in the Alabama Legislature earlier this year. The bill was sponsored by Reps. Oden, James Fields, Ronald Grantland and Sen. Zeb Little.
“This is all new money into the county,” said Rep. Jeremy Oden. “We want this money to get into the hands of the citizens. I’m ready to get things going and start helping some of these smaller communities.”
The bill established that the commission would consist of five members, four of whom would be appointed by legislators who represent the county. The fifth member will be rotated every two years between the mayors of the county’s two largest cities, which are currently Cullman and Hanceville.
The current commission consists of the chairman, Cullman Mayor Max Townson; the vice-chairman, Mike Graves; the secretary, Staci Bryan; and the two members of the finance committee, Tommy Waldrop and Betty Dover.
Little appointed Waldrop and Grantland appointed Graves while Fields appointed Dover and Oden appointed Bryan.
Fields said all the commission members are volunteers and would not be paid for their services.
Oden said that during their Monday meeting, the commission reviewed their responsibilities and looked over possible by-laws for their organization.
Bryan said the commission would likely approve its by-laws and procedures regarding distribution of funds during their next meeting, which is set for Dec. 8 in the board room of the Cullman Wellness and Aquatic Center.
Though the majority of the commission is appointed, Fields wanted to assure citizens that he and his fellow legislators would not have a voice in where money is distributed.
“There will be no question ... because it will be totally up to the commission,” Fields said. “We will make no recommendations. This money belongs to the people in the county.”
According to an Alabama statute passed in 2006, all counties who receive the monies listed above were required to pass local legislation to distribute it. Cullman failed to comply, which prompted the creation of the bill.
The TVA money in question accounts for an extra 3 percent added to the 75 percent of funding north Alabama counties receive from TVA’s annual in-lieu-of-taxes payments to the state. The 3 percent is paid only to dry counties that are TVA customers.
The alcohol sales tax money in question is distributed to Cullman — despite being a dry county — because of the Terri Pines Country Club. According to Alabama law, if they meet the proper criteria, certain groups and organizations such as country clubs can sell alcohol in dry counties. Since Terri Pines is allowed to sell alcohol, Cullman receives a portion of the state’s alcohol sales tax revenue.
As stipulated in the bill, 50 percent of the alcohol money will automatically be dispersed among the municipalities based on population.
The Cullman County Commission and several local politicians staunchly opposed the bill while it was under debate in the Legislature. They alleged the bill would create an unnecessary governmental body and a slush fund for legislators.
* Patrick McCreless can be reached by e-mail at patrickm@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131 ext. 270.
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