Jefferson County Cemetery Board
The Jefferson County Cemetery Board is an appointed board which oversees all cemeteries in Jefferson County.
The board was created by state legislation in June 2017. The initial seven board members were appointed in February 2018. The Jefferson County Senate delegation appointed citizens Loretta Knight, Evelyn Boykin, and Connie Goldsby. The state house of representatives delegation appointed funeral directors Korey Hameen and Venus Smith, attorney Hannah Thompson, and consultant Randy Matthews.
In 2016, Birmingham City Councilor William Parker reached out to state representatives Juandalynn Givan and Mary Moore to draft legislation that would give Birmingham and Jefferson County to authority to establish a cemetery board to oversee for-profit cemeteries. Governor Kay Ivey signed the legislation into law in June 2017.
The board investigates complaints from the public concerning cemeteries, and supervises the cleanup and maintenance of any neglected for-profit cemetery in the county, by coordinating with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office to provide inmate labor of any cemetery deemed a public nuisance, determined through a hearing. The board also has the power to file lawsuits against cemetery owners. The board is independent and does not fall under the Jefferson County Commission. Cemeteries owned by religious organizations and private families are exempt from board oversight.
The board is funded by revenue from pistol permits allocated to Jefferson County.
As of December 2020, board member Randy Matthews stated that the board had not met and had not fielded complaints, which were still going to the city council. Councilor Parker stated at the time he was working with state legislators and hoped to have the board fulfilling its assigned duties during 2021.
References
- Edgemon, Erin (June 1, 2017) "Gov. Ivey signs bill creating Jefferson County Cemetery Board: What happens next?" The Birmingham News
- Edgemon, Erin (February 15, 2018) "Residents appointed to Jefferson County cemetery complaint board." The Birmingham News
- Gauntt, Joshua (December 7, 2020) "On Your Side: Three years later, Jefferson County cemetery board still hasn’t met." WBRC