01/18/2013 – January 18th, 2013 – Capitol Report – Senator Roger Bedford

Report for January 18th, 2013

         One of the best programs for paving roads and streets in the counties and cities is the new ATRIP program also formally known as the Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation Improvement Program.  ATRIP will allow each county to invest up to 10 million dollars including a local 20% match in much needed bridge maintenance.  The funds will be shared between all cities towns and unincorporated areas in each county as a percentage based on the 2010 census.  Many of our towns and cities have already agreed to move forward on the ATRIP program and I think it will help create jobs and make our roads safer for our citizens to travel on.  I am pleased to be supporting this program as I think it will make a great improvement in the overall quality of life here in our local area and throughout Alabama.  

 

            As the year came to a conclusion Governor Bentley was kind enough to help us with many important needs from the tornado and storm damage that still remains.  I was pleased to support and fight for these grants as I think they are very much needed and will help our area.  As you may know the Franklin County Commission will receive $125,000 the City of Hackleburg will receive $4,788,921.  The Marion County Commission will also receive $300,000 along with Moulton receiving $375,000.  The City of Phil Campbell will receive $2,450,000.  This will enable our communities to build back in a better and safer environment.  As I said after the storms tore through our Senate District in April of 2011, it would e a marathon and not a sprint to get rebuilt and back on track.  However, these grants will help our local officials and communities to accomplish those goals as well as create new jobs in our area through the construction and rebuilding. 

 

            As you know each one of the TVA counties receives TVA in lieu of tax monies.  These funds originally were distributed throughout the State of Alabama.  However some years ago the Legislators  of the TVA counties came together both the Democrats and the Republicans and captured that money which was going state wide to be brought back home and to be distributed through grants within each county.  In our Senate District that includes Lawrence, Franklin and Colbert counties.  I’m pleased to report to you that Representative Johnny Mack Morrow and I have been able to return $478,869.77 through the year ending 2012, helping all our schools and communities throughout Franklin County.  You may rest assured that I will continue to fight to see that our tax dollars come back home to help us in a positive way. 

 

 

We received some really good news for the Town of Littleville this past week.  They were approved for a $200,000 ADECA Grant which will be matched with $63,000 of the city’s money to assist with the construction of an access road, drainage, and site work to facilitate the location of the Big Star grocery store that is coming to Littleville.   This business will be the first modern supermarket to ever be in Littleville.   Mayor Copeland and the City Council have been working tirelessly to locate that industry here and I was proud to support the grant.  It will create approximately 21 new jobs and increase the tax base for the town.  As you can imagine when they were the first town to go wet e.i , selling beer and liquor legally, they received a great portion of tax returns from people that lived outside of their city and county.  With other cities in adjoining counties voting to go wet, it caused a dramatic decrease in sales revenue taxation for the City of Littleville.  I congratulate them on accomplishing this grant and I was proud to be a big supporter. 

 

            I am pleased to inform you that the Alabama Department of Youth Services has awarded diversions grant funding for the implementation of several community-based programs that will benefit the youth in our district.   This new, competitive and accountability based process, is the result of a comprehensive strategic planning effort by DYS to increase the ability of local jurisdictions to provide better services.  As you know I have been a champion in providing a more effective and less costly diversion services to at risk youth.  We are showing the DYS financial support provided to our juvenile detention centers where they can be more effective in providing services.  This not only helps DYS fulfill its goals and objectives but also provides vital resources here at home to help our youth rather than send them off to detention centers throughout the state.  I am proud to announce to you that H.O.P.E Center will receive $100,000, Colbert-Lauderdale Attention Home, Inc will receive $121,000, Mitnick Wilderness Program will receive $320,000 and the Tennessee Valley Juvenile Detention Facility will receive $183,718.  You may rest assure that I will continue to fight to bring our tax dollars here at home.   

 

Thank you for all the phone calls, letters and e-mails about your concerns dealing with the issues facing us at the State and local level.  Please continue to contact me at the following address. 

 

 

Roger H. Bedford, Jr.              

Alabama State House                                                                          

11 S. Union Street, Suite 738

Montgomery, Alabama 36130

Phone 334-242-7862, Fax 334-242-9202

Russellville Office

P.O. Box 370

Russellville, Alabama 35653

Phone 256-332-6966 Fax 256-332-6967

Email: senbedford@aol.com

Website: www.RogerBedford.com