BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
Top Photo: Construction projects, such as the one above, is just one aspect of Elmore County Business. As the population grows, keeping up with the times is a full time job.
The Elmore County Commission has recently been immersed in multiple projects, including quality of life opportunities, economic development, retention of employees and ongoing infrastructure projects for the county to name just a few.
The EAN recently sat down with Commission Chairman Troy Stubbs to discuss numerous issues on the forefront of county business.
Recent Economic Development Announcement
Chairman Stubbs touched on a new company BELLA + Canvas which is coming to a portion of the old Russell Plant. It is projected to bring around 400 new jobs to the area. For many years, the plant sat primarily dormant, but the county commission and ECEDA were constantly reaching out to companies, trying to lure them to the area. Stubbs and other officials throughout the county have heralded BELLA + CANVASS as a huge success story.
The Fields at 17 Springs, a great partnership model.
The Fields at 17 Springs Project of Millbrook is a major one that has involved multiple agencies coming together and all contributing to its success.
“We are in the throes of the 17 Springs project which I think is a true beacon of light and some might say a beacon of hope, that communities and different agencies can work together on a project and for it to be successful,” Chairman Stubbs said.
The project includes the City of Millbrook, The Elmore County Commission, the Grandview YMCA/Montgomery YMCA, the Elmore County Board of Education and the Elmore County Economic Development Authority.
“We are all working collaboratively to make it the best it can be to serve the people of our community,” Stubbs said. “I have always heard that people face challenges working with other municipalities or government agencies because they get mad or disagree, or want to take the credit for something. This is one project where that has not happened. The project is truly moving forward in a timely manner. This is in spite of the challenges we faced over the last two years with Covid, the lockdowns and all the issues that accompanied that.”
Another great cooperative project involves Hohenberg Field in Wetumpka.
“We are working on the redevelopment of Hohenberg Field in partnership with the City of Wetumpka and Elmore County Board of Education,” Stubbs said.
“I think most people in this area have traveled to see a family member participate in some type of sporting event, band competition, and the like. We will now have places that will attract those large economic development and recreation opportunities,” stated Stubbs.
Economic development opportunities are not the only infrastructure projects ongoing.
“Those two partnership projects are being worked on while continuing with our road projects and maintenance responsibilities. We’re also working diligently to properly invest the Congressional allocations from the American Rescue Plan. With close to $18.5 million in transportation related investment occurring now and over the coming twenty-four months, the Commission continues to focus on ensuring our residents have the best road and bridge infrastructure our revenue sources will allow. The COVID reduced work force and supply chain issues have created some logistical challenges for our county, but kudos to our staff who have done their best to keep all aspects progressing,” Chairman Stubbs commented
A big push with the county commission has been looking out for its employees.
“We are seeing a very positive trend,” Stubbs said. “For the nearly six years I have been in office we have had our fair share of challenges with retention of quality employees.”
Stubbs said the county first addressed that with a comprehensive study of salaries and benefits for county employees. This was done pre-pandemic.
“We completed that study and made some significant changes across the board to modernize the pay scale to be more competitive with neighboring governments. Since the pandemic, we received substantial federal funding with one of the potential uses being hazard pay as additional compensation.”
Around the area many agencies gave a one-time bonus, or sign on bonus, with these funds. The Commission took a different approach.
“We have actually identified a way that we can distribute that money over a three-year period with quarterly payouts to employees. So, if you worked that quarter then you will receive the additional funds that quarter. If you continue to stay with the county, you will continue to receive those payouts.”
Over a three-year period, Stubbs said this encourages employees to stay. It allows the Commission to properly budget over three years in a way to maintain the elevated pay scales in following years.
“Historically, in a commission meeting, when we read out the list of people hired, fired or new hires, that list would normally be 20-30 people at each meeting. Recently we have had four or five at each meeting. At this point, the turnover is substantially less. We attribute at least some of that to this approach we have taken to increase compensation for employees by doing it over a period of time rather than a one-time flash in the pan bonus.”
Stubbs said the goal is to become more competitive. There are currently 265 county employees. The goal is to continue to draw the best and brightest to all departments, and better pay can help in that area.
Stubbs also spoke on the much-needed expansion of Broadband services in the county, particularly in the rural areas.
“We have worked closely with the state legislature over the past six months to ensure that our county in a position to maximize dollars for broadband and internet expansion in rural areas. We have certainly monitored that closely in the legislature to ensure we are positioned financially as a county. If the legislature moves forward and allows counties to participate or incentivize private industry to expand in certain areas, then we’ll be prepared to partner with the state on those projects,” Stubbs said.
Current law does not allow the county to do anything for a private company.
“Suffice it to say we as a county commission have made sure that we are in a position to maximize our funding and leverage our dollars to bring broadband expansion to rural areas.”
Stubbs said the county commission has seen tremendous growth in population in recent years. An important aspect to plan for regarding the growth trend is health care.
“With that population growth comes insuring we have health care services for the people that are convenient, that are sufficient for the population which we have. In light of that we had a comprehensive study of all medical services currently provided, and services residents are leaving the county to obtain.”
Using that study, the county is continually talking to private health care providers for opportunities for them to come to the county. The pandemic did highlight areas of need, and health care is on the forefront of most people’s minds.
“As people choose where they want to live and retire, access to health care is a growing part of that decision,” Stubbs said. “We are making progress in that area.”
Stubbs also spoke of education throughout the county and the voluntary sharing of SSUT.
“We also have recognized that our school systems in Elmore County are growing and will continue to do so. We have two schools in the county that are over 100 years old. Those are Holtville High School and Elmore County High School.
“We have growing expectations from residents who live here. In order to ensure that we meet the needs of students and families, the county commission works closely with the Elmore and Tallassee boards of education and does what we can when the opportunity presents itself to help them out,” he said.
One way the commission has done that is to give the public schools systems 25 percent of our SSUT (Internet Sales Tax).
This fiscal year will equate to about $350,000 total for the school systems.
“No counties or cities received any internet sales tax about six years ago. The state of Alabama instituted the internet sales tax and part of that agreement was for a portion to go to counties and cities.”
Prior to that, some companies were not charging any sales tax online at all.
The challenge that occurred is when states, counties and cities realized people were buying everything online, Stubbs said. “Our brick and mortar stores were suffering; our sales tax revenue was suffering and became stagnant. What can we do about it? The response was for the state to implement an online sales tax.”
But how are internet companies supposed to navigate the individual sales taxes for particular areas?
“That led to a stalemate. What the state of Alabama did was create a Simplified Seller User Tax. If it is delivered to Alabama, they collect a standard percentage. Then the state divvies that up based on population after they retain a portion.
For us, we get our portion as a county commission, and we, by law, are allowed to put that in our general fund. We do that with 75 percent, but we put 25 percent into our school systems by population. So the schools systems receive a check every month. Individual cities get their own share of the overall pie, not what is distributed to the county.
Stubbs said many states are starting to follow Alabama’s approach. “It is not perfect, I am sure there are some areas that people buy more things online than not. But it is the most equitable way it can be done for the cities and counties without putting a logistical burden on everyone.”
“We have underestimated the funds every year, because it just keeps growing. That is one way that we participate with the school systems recognizing they are experiences some growing pains. There are current challenges that our school systems are facing in light of the pandemic and the additional responsibilities on teacher and staff.
“Talk to anybody at a board of education and their primary concern is teacher shortages,” Stubbs said.
On a related matter, a bill that would have increased the ad valorem tax across Elmore County for schools and public safety, failed to make it to the legislature. Had it succeeded, Elmore County residents would have had the decision to vote in favor or against, but some legislators did not support the bill.
“We as a county commission did support the Board of Education’s efforts to allow the residents of Elmore County to vote on an ad valorem increase. We have seen our neighboring school systems pursue similar adjustments. For me, if making a decision is not within my scope of authority and there’s an opportunity for the people to vote, then we should let the people vote!”
Commission awarded funds to construct regional storage facility.
In the area of public safety, the commission secured a grant to build a second storage facility to accommodate health and safety supplies.
“Partnering with ADECA, the county was awarded a $600,000 grant to partially fund a new facility that will be used not only by our EMA but also by volunteer fire departments, law enforcement, EMS personnel, medical professionals, municipalities and even some of our neighboring EMA services. We will be able to house a lot of emergency equipment, masks, gloves, cleaning supplies and things that we will have within our reach locally. We will be prepared.”
By now most know that Elmore County was chosen for one of multiple Mega-Prisons to be constructed to replace overcrowded and antiquated prison facilities in the state.
Construction is set to begin soon for the county’s prison, which will be built on state-owned land behind Draper Prison.
The facility will house around 4,000 prisoners. Also, part of the complex will be physical and mental health facilities. This is huge, officials have said, as the lack of mental health facilities, in particular, is a difficult challenge for area families and law enforcement on a daily basis.
“As a county commission we have been advocating for Elmore County to be the home of one of the mega prisons as long as I have been in office,” Stubbs said. “Our primary reasoning for that is the prison system is a large employer in Elmore County. If we did not get one of those facilities, then we would have had hundreds of people unemployed, and leaving the area.
“So we advocated for Elmore County. I met numerous times with the DOC Commissioner and Governor. Our message was always the same. We always believed that if the state chose to build a mega prison, Elmore County should be a partner. Elmore county wants the prison, and the prison should be built on state owned land. That was our clear and consistent message throughout the process. The process ebbed and flowed. But we are very excited and pleased that the decision was made in the end to build that prison on state-owned land in Elmore County.”
Site work has begun on a limited basis for the prison at this point.
“One nice piece of the puzzle here that we did not ever advocate for, but are pleased, is this location will also house the mental health and physical health for state prisoners. That adds a substantial number and level of employees. Now you are talking about medical professionals, nurses, technicians all employed and living here in Elmore County to work here,” Stubbs said.
On his candidacy for House District 31
As a candidate for House District 31 my hope is to be one of the 105 state representatives who participate in state government representing the people of my district. The district includes Tallassee, Eclectic, Titus, Holtville, most parts of Deatsville, parts of Wetumpka and Wallsboro.
“I have served and been committed to Elmore County for many years. I have served as a teacher in the school system and on the commission for six years. I have volunteered on many different organizations serving on numerous civic boards. I view my time in the legislature as a continuation of my commitment to Elmore County, not a starting point.”
Stubbs is married to Jenny Enslen Stubbs. The couple has four children and the family resides in Wetumpka.
For more information about the Elmore County Commission, visit their website at https://www.elmoreco.org/elmore-county-commission
