Jefferson County Greenways Commission: Difference between revisions

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The '''Jefferson County Greenways Commission''', formerly the '''Red Mountain Greenway and Recreational Area Commission''' is a public authority established in [[2006]] to own and operate [[Red Mountain Park]], a 1,108-acre parcel of [[Red Mountain]] adjoining southwest [[Birmingham]], east [[Bessemer]] and north [[Hoover]] in [[Jefferson County]]. The land was previously mined for [[iron ore]] by affiliates of [[U.S. Steel]] and its predecessors, serving as the basis for the [[Birmingham District]]'s iron and steel industry.
The '''Jefferson County Greenways Commission''' ('''JCGC''') is a public authority which operates [[Red Mountain Park]], [[Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve]] and [[Turkey Creek Nature Preserve]]. It is a successor to the former '''Red Mountain Greenway and Recreational Area Commission''' established in [[2006]].


Specifically, the commission was authorized, "to own, preserve, restore, maintain and promote as a greenway, recreational, or historic site the land and relics of the property known as Red Mountain Greenway and Recreational Area." [[USX]] closed the sale of its Red Mountain Park parcel to the Commission in the summer of [[2007]].
The original commission was authorized, "to own, preserve, restore, maintain and promote as a greenway, recreational, or historic site the land and relics of the property known as Red Mountain Greenway and Recreational Area." The commission formally acquired the Red Mountain Park parcel from [[USX]] in the summer of [[2007]].


An official kick-off ceremony for Red Mountain Park was held on [[October 30]], [[2007]] with plans to open the outdoor recreational site on a limited basis in [[2008]].
Per its enabling legislation, the Commission's employees are not considered employees of the state, except that they may participate in employee insurance, pension and/or retirement programs for state employees.


Per its enabling legislation, the Commission's employees are not considered employees of the state, except that they may participate in employee insurance, pension and/or retirement programs for state employees.
In November [[2022]] the [[Jefferson County Commission]] passed a resolution pledging $2 million from its [[American Rescue Plan Act]] funds to support the proposed partnership of Red Mountain Park with Ruffner Mountain and Turkey Creek, contingent on legislative approval of the coalition and their raising of at least $1.6 million in private donations.
 
[[Act of Alabama 2023-303|House Bill 336]] sponsored by Representative [[Rolanda Hollis]] to change the name of the body to the Jefferson County Greenways Commission was passed during the [[2023 Alabama legislative session]]. It was signed by [[Governor of Alabama|Governor]] [[Kay Ivey]] on [[May 30]]. Private donors to the coalition included the [[Jefferson County Health Department]], the [[Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham]], [[EBSCO]], the [[Alabama Power Foundation]], and the [[Goodrich Foundation]].


In [[2023 Alabama legislative session|2023]] [[Act of Alabama 2023-303|a bill]] sponsored by Representative [[Rolanda Hollis]] and signed by [[Governor of Alabama|Governor]] [[Kay Ivey]] changed the name of the body to the Jefferson County Greenways Commission.
In addition to its pledged ARPA funds, the Jefferson County Commission added an annual $350,000 appropriation to its budget for maintenance and operation of the park properties. The [[Red Mountain Park Foundation]] combined their own efforts with the [[Ruffner Mountain Nature Coalition]], which had already combined with the [[Friends of Turkey Creek]], to eliminate duplicative work.  


==Membership==
==Members==
===2021===
===2021===
* [[U.S. Steel]]
* [[Armand DeKeyser]], [[Paul DeMarco]], [[Jefferson Traywick]], and [[Mark Waggoner]], nominated by [[Governor of Alabama]]
** [[Peter Allsopp]], chair
* [[Cameron Vowell]] and [[Tom Spencer]], nominated by [[Freshwater Land Trust]]
* [[Mayor of Birmingham]]
* [[Jennifer Andress]] and [[Rosalind Young]], nominated by [[Jefferson County Commission]]
** [[Jennifer Egbe]]
* [[Ashley Curry]] and [[Gary Richardson]], nominated by [[Jefferson County Mayors' Association]]
* [[Jefferson County Legislative Delegation]]
* [[Evanne Gibson]] and [[Cheryl Morgan]], nominated by [[Jefferson County Legislative Delegation]]
** [[Evanne Gibson]] (House)
* [[Crystal Smitherman]], nominated by [[Birmingham City Council]]
** [[Cheryl Morgan]] (Senate)
* [[Jennifer Egbe]], nominated by [[Mayor of Birmingham]]
* [[Jefferson County Mayors' Association]]
* [[Peter Allsopp]] (chair), nominated by [[U.S. Steel]]
** [[Ashley Curry]]
** [[Gary Richardson]]
* [[Birmingham City Council]]
** [[Crystal Smitherman]]
* [[Freshwater Land Trust]]
** [[Tom Spencer]]
** [[Cameron Vowell]]
* [[List of Governors of Alabama|Governor of Alabama]]
** [[Armand DeKeyser]]
** [[Paul DeMarco]]
** [[Jefferson Traywick]]
** [[Mark Waggoner]]
* [[Jefferson County Commission]]
** [[Jennifer Andress]]
** [[Rosalind Young]]
 
===2019===
* [[Peter Allsopp]], chair
* [[Fred Keith]]
* [[Ashley Curry]]
* [[Cameron Vowell]]
* [[Mark Waggoner]]
* [[Rosalind Young]]
* [[Cheryl Morgan]]
* [[Gary Richardson]]
* [[Perry Ward]]
* [[Tom Spencer]]


===2007===
===2007===
* [[Freshwater Land Trust]]
* [[Steve Jones]] (president), [[Dalton Smith]], [[Temple Tutwiler]], and [[Mark Waggoner]], nominated by [[Governor of Alabama]]
** [[Cameron Vowell]]
* [[Fred Keith]] and [[Cameron Vowell]], nominated by [[Freshwater Land Trust]]
** [[Fred Keith]]
* [[Renee Carter]] and [[Rob Fowler]], nominated by [[Jefferson County Commission]]
* [[List of Governors of Alabama|Governor of Alabama]]
* [[Scotty McCallum]] and [[Gary Richardson]], nominated by [[Jefferson County Mayors' Association]]
** [[Steve Jones]], president
* [[Ervin Batain]] and [[Jim Bennett]], nominated by [[Jefferson County Legislative Delegation]]
** [[Dalton Smith]]
* [[Robert Green]], nominated by [[Birmingham City Council]]
** [[Mark Waggoner]]
* [[Perry Ward]], nominated by [[Mayor of Birmingham]]
** [[Temple Tutwiler]]
* [[Tom Howard]], nominated by [[U.S. Steel]]
* [[U. S. Steel]]
** [[Tom Howard]]
* [[Jefferson County Commission]]
** [[Rob Fowler]]
** [[Renee Carter]]
* [[Jefferson County Mayors' Association]]
** [[Gary Richardson]]
** [[Scotty McCallum]]
* [[Jefferson County Legislative Delegation]]
** [[Jim Bennett]]
** [[Ervin Batain]]
* [[Birmingham City Council]]
** [[Robert Green]]
* [[Mayor of Birmingham]]
** [[Perry Ward]]


==References==
==References==
* Jordan, Phillip (January 11, 2007) "It's not about the money." ''Birmingham Weekly''.
* Jordan, Phillip (January 11, 2007) "It's not about the money." ''Birmingham Weekly''.
* "[https://ruffnermountain.org/home-1/what-happened-in-montgomery-uniting-our-greenways What Happened in Montgomery: Uniting Our Greenways]." (August 11, 2023) ruffnermountain.org
* Byington, Path (August 18, 2023) "[https://bhamnow.com/2023/08/18/new-jefferson-county-greenways-commission-created-to-manage-area-nature-preserves/ New Jefferson County Greenways Commission created to manage area nature preserves]." {{BNow}}
* Spencer, Tom (October 17, 2023) "[https://comebacktown.com/2023/10/17/new-partnership-marks-stunning-victory-for-our-parks/ New Partnership Marks Stunning Victory for Our Parks]." ''[[Comeback Town]]''
==External links==
* [https://www.cfbham.org/report-to-the-community-2022/jeffco-parks-cooperative/ Jefferson County Parks Cooperative] at Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham (cfbham.org)


[[Category:Public authorities]]
[[Category:Jefferson County Greenways Commission|*]]
[[Category:Red Mountain Park]]
[[Category:2006 establishments]]
[[Category:2006 establishments]]
[[Category:2023 establishments]]

Latest revision as of 12:16, 23 October 2023

The Jefferson County Greenways Commission (JCGC) is a public authority which operates Red Mountain Park, Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve and Turkey Creek Nature Preserve. It is a successor to the former Red Mountain Greenway and Recreational Area Commission established in 2006.

The original commission was authorized, "to own, preserve, restore, maintain and promote as a greenway, recreational, or historic site the land and relics of the property known as Red Mountain Greenway and Recreational Area." The commission formally acquired the Red Mountain Park parcel from USX in the summer of 2007.

Per its enabling legislation, the Commission's employees are not considered employees of the state, except that they may participate in employee insurance, pension and/or retirement programs for state employees.

In November 2022 the Jefferson County Commission passed a resolution pledging $2 million from its American Rescue Plan Act funds to support the proposed partnership of Red Mountain Park with Ruffner Mountain and Turkey Creek, contingent on legislative approval of the coalition and their raising of at least $1.6 million in private donations.

House Bill 336 sponsored by Representative Rolanda Hollis to change the name of the body to the Jefferson County Greenways Commission was passed during the 2023 Alabama legislative session. It was signed by Governor Kay Ivey on May 30. Private donors to the coalition included the Jefferson County Health Department, the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, EBSCO, the Alabama Power Foundation, and the Goodrich Foundation.

In addition to its pledged ARPA funds, the Jefferson County Commission added an annual $350,000 appropriation to its budget for maintenance and operation of the park properties. The Red Mountain Park Foundation combined their own efforts with the Ruffner Mountain Nature Coalition, which had already combined with the Friends of Turkey Creek, to eliminate duplicative work.

Members

2021

2007

References

External links

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