The Alabama Municipal JournalVolume 77, Number 5 March/April 2020 OPI OOPPIIOOIIID CR IOIDD CCRIISIIS RIISSIISS S G NGG IINNG KIIN ICKK FIICC FFFI FFF AF RAA TRR T T T N N AAN AA M M UUM UU HH H H CC CC OO OO MM MM MM M M U U U U N N N N I I C C I I C C A A A A T T T T I I O O I I O O N N N N H H H H EE EEAA A ALL LLT TT H H HHC CCA AAR R R RE E EE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLES AAC HEALTHYHEALTHY LIFESTYLESLIFESTYLES C CC C CEES ES SS SS SS S S S S E S E S N S N S E SS E N S E N HOMELLEESSSS HHOOMMEEL 2 Official Publication:ALABAMA LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES Table of Contents The Alabama Municipal League Past Presidents Mayors George Roy, Alvin DuPont and Ted Jennings Remembered for their Leadership and Dedication .....................................4 Journal The President’s Report............................................5 Executive Committee Endorses Greg Cochran as Official Publication, Alabama League of Municipalities Next Executive Director; Revisions to Constitution March/April 2020 • Volume 77, Number 5 Barry Crabb Joins League Staff ............................6 OFFICERS Municipal Overview ................................................7 RONNIE MARKS, Mayor, Athens, President Reflections on 34 Years with the League LEIGH DOLLAR, Mayor, Guntersville, Vice President KEN SMITH, Montgomery, Executive Director CHAIRS OF THE LEAGUE’S STANDING COMMITTEES Quality of Life Factors: Committee on State and Federal Legislation Homelessness ................................................................9 ADAM BOURNE, Councilmember, Chickasaw, Chair Deaf and Hard of Hearing Challenges ...............11 JOCELYN TUBBS-TURNER, Councilmember, Marion, Vice Chair Opioids: Addressing Alabama's Committee on Finance, Administration and Substance Use Crisis ...........................................13 Intergovernmental Relations RUTHIE CAMPBELL, Councilmember, Robertsdale, Chair Opioids: Focusing on First Responders .....................18 CHARLES BLACK, Councilmember, Priceville, Vice Chair Opioids: Workforce Reentry Program ..........................19 Committee on Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Opioids: Unique Community Program .........................20 LAWRENCE HAYGOOD, JR., Mayor, Tuskegee, Chair Three-legged Stool: JOHNNY SMITH, Mayor, Jacksonville, Vice Chair Improving Rural Healthcare Outcomes ..........................21 Committee on Community and Economic Development Improving Rural Healthcare Access ..........................22 CHARLES GILCHRIST, Mayor, Glencoe, Chair WAYNE BIGGS, Councilmember, Saraland, Vice Chair Making Eye Health An Essential Part of Overall Health .............................................................23 Committee on Transportation, Public Safety and Communication JERRY PARRIS, Councilmember, Jacksonville, Chair Dental Access Issues in Alabama ..............................24 JERRY STARNES, Councilmember, Prattville, Vice Chair Alabama Hospitals Address Challenges Committee on Human Development through Advocacy and Collaboration ....................27 JENNIFER WILLIAMS SMITH, Councilmember, Jasper, Chair Human Trafficking: End It Alabama ............................31 BARRY MOODY, Mayor, LaFayette, Vice Chair State Parks – Year-Round Quality of Life ................. 33 The Alabama Municipal Journal is published six times a year by the Alabama League of Municipalities, 535 Adams Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36104. ADECA Programs Contribute to Telephone (334) 262-2566. Website: www.alalm.org. Healthy Communities ................................................. 37 Subscriptions are $24.00 per year. Advertising rates and circulation statement available at www.alalm.org or by calling the above number. Statements or expressions of opinions appearing within this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Legal Viewpoint...............................................43 the Alabama League of Municipalities. Publication of any advertisement should not Public Employees, Public Property and be considered an endorsement of the product or service involved. Material from this the Political Process publication may not be reprinted without permission. Editor: CARRIE BANKS Graphic Design: KARL FRANKLIN Quality of life is a top priority for Alabama's cities and #LiveLocallyAlabama towns. This issue highlights several statewide factors that impact the daily lives of citizens in their communities. ALM Staff Ken Smith, Executive Director CMO/Sponsor Services Theresa L. Cook, Executive Liaison Cindy Price, CMO/Corporate Relations Manager Technology Chuck Stephenson, Director of Information Greg Cochran, Deputy Director Finance Technology Steve Martin, Finance Director Ken Gabehart, Information Systems Administrative Services Barry Crabb, Deputy Finance Director Technician/Facilities Manager Barbara Alexander, Operations Manager Richard Buttenshaw, Operations Manager (MWCF), Rob Sellers, Information Systems Specialist Dana Buster, Office Assistant President (MIS) Alexis Rawls, Receptionist Melissa Chapman, Accounting Manager Rachel Wagner, Finance/MIS Assistant Advocacy/Communications For staff bios and Carrie Banks, Communications Director Legal Karl Franklin, Graphic Designer/Web Master Lori Lein, General Counsel contact information: Kayla Bass, Public Affairs Associate Teneé Frazier, Assistant General Counsel Rob Johnston, Assistant General Counsel www.alalm.org Sharon Carr, Legal Services Administrator League Past Presidents Mayors George Roy, Al DuPont and Ted Jennings Remembered for their Leadership and Dedication Since last year's Annual Convention, the League has mourned the loss of three very active past presidents who not only served in leadership roles with the League for many years but were unequivocally dedicated to their communities and the state of Alabama. Former Mayor George Roy of Calera passed away at age 91 on July 13, 2019. He served as League President from 2002-2003 and was a member of the League's Municipal Workers Compensation Fund (MWCF) Board of Directors. Beginning in 1960, Mayor Roy served the City of Calera for nearly 42 years – first as a councilmember and then as mayor. Calera's population was just under 2,000 when he first took office and was approaching 11,000 when he retired in 2008. The City built George W. Roy Recreational Park in 2004 and dedicated it to Mayor Roy “in appreciation for his many years of dedicated service, devotion and commitment.” Roy joined the Navy in 1944 at the age of 16 and served his country in the Philippines in the 5th Fleet aboard the YG30 where he eventually became commander of the ship. Once the war was over he returned to Calera where he completed his education and met and married his “sweetheart,” Elizabeth Marie Tomlin in 1948. Though he was an accomplished public servant and World War II Veteran, his proudest accomplishment was his family. n Former Mayor Alvin “Al” DuPont of Tuscaloosa passed away at age 94 on July 30, 2019. He served as League President from 1991-92 and again from 2000-01 when the Nominating Committee asked him to complete a term following a municipal election cycle that left the League without a President or Vice President. In addition, he was a member of the Building Subcommittee responsible for the expansion of League Headquarters in 1992. Mayor DuPont was also an active member of the Advisory Council for the National League of Cities. He served as the city’s assistant city engineer, public works director, city planner, planning and development director and as a grantsman before retiring and making his first run for mayor in 1981. He remained in office until he retired on his 80th birthday in 2005. As engineer, planner and mayor, DuPont was involved with a multitude of city-wide infrastructure projects and improvements, including the creation of Lake Tuscaloosa. He also was in office when Tuscaloosa landed Mercedes-Benz U.S. International manufacturing plant. A Louisiana native, at age 18 in 1943, DuPont became a medic with the 29th Infantry Division and was among the first wave of troops to storm Normandy on D-Day, reaching the shore of Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944. He received two Purple Hearts for the injuries he suffered during the war. After returning to the U.S., he was sent to Northington Hospital in Tuscaloosa to recuperate. He met and married Tuscaloosa native Susie Margaret McLeod and they remained in Tuscaloosa where they raised their children and where he attended the University of Alabama and graduated with an engineering degree. n Former Mayor Theodore “Ted” Jennings of Brewton passed away at age 76 on January 20, 2020. He and his wife, Susan, had just celebrated their 20-year anniversary. Mayor Jennings served as League President from 1998-99 and was a member of the League's Municipal Workers Compensation Fund (MWCF) Board of Directors. In addition, he served on the National League of Cities (NLC) Board of Directors and was an active member of NLC's Advisory Council. A native of Brewton, he was appointed to fill a Council seat in 1986 and then served as mayor from 1988 to his retirement in 2012. In addition, he worked with his father in the family-owned pharmacy several years before taking a position as a pharmacist at D.W. McMillan Hospital. Upon his retirement as mayor, Senator Jeff Sessions spoke of Jennings entered on July 19, 2012 in the Congressional Record: “During that time, he has grown Brewton both economically and technologically. But in addition to his success as a mayor, he has been a successful business owner and pharmacist ... All of us who have come to know him over