Mayoral Candidate Q&A – Jim McCamy

News

Thursday, 18 July 2024 11:52

Each candidate running for public office was asked a set of questions on for publication.
Below are answers from candidates for Mayor of Scottsboro.

1. What do you see as the biggest issue facing our city, and how do you intend to solve this problem?
We don’t have one single biggest issue, but rather several inter-related and connected challenges.
•Aging infrastructure, streets, natural gas supply and adequate electricity to enable and support growth, low workforce participation, reputation of not being business friendly, available housing both single and multi-family, are some of the most significant challenges we are facing.
• To favor and focus on one singular issue will only delay others that are equally significant. These challenges must be addressed collectively to allow us to continue the incredible progress we have made the last 4 years. Continued collaboration and cooperation with our City Council will keep us successful.

2. What are your plans to address eel grass in non-residential areas throughout the city’s public access points and waterways?
We have been, and continue to pressure TVA to both continue and expand the areas they are spraying.
There are two different but related issues here. First is TVA’s problem of not adequately managing the presence and growth of the eel grass.
The Tennessee River, and its embayments, are absolutely critical to our economy, and our drinking water. TVA has continued to spray but that effort needs to be expanded and I will continue to pressure TVA to develop a solution.
We are supporting TVA with disposal of what they are harvesting and unloading at several points along the shoreline.
I will continue to pressure TVA management to utilize their harvesters within Roseberry embayment to remove eel grass and continue to spray public access points. The City and WSG Board are already spraying at 72 & Broad, and will continue to spray that area.
The second issue is some of those with harvesters are not removing what they are cutting, but are dumping what they cut back into water creating floating islands of eel grass. When asked on three different occasions about controlling this activity, TVA stated, “The water is the State’s issue.” As a result, I have been and will continue to work closely with Rep. Kirkland and Sen. Livingston to draft a regulation through ALDCNR and/or legislation requiring that harvesters be permitted and that all vegetation they cut be removed to the shoreline.

3. What kind of paving plan would you implement if elected?
In FY21 the paving budget was $265,876 for 1.3 miles. FY22 budget was $1.07M, FY23 was $919,528 and FY24 budget will be over $1.3M. Even with these increases we can never pave enough!
I request input from city departments, schools, WSG and feedback from residents to identify worst areas and most heavily traveled collectors. We review the list with a paving committee consisting of 2 council members, city engineer, street department superintendent, WSG, and me. We then determine areas WSG has identified repairs that have to be made.
The committee then selects the most effective schedule that will benefit the most residents.

4. How would you ensure that the city junk ordinance is enforced, as many citizens report not knowing who is responsible for enforcing it or who to contact with a complaint?
The Ordinance is clearly stated and is posted on the City’s website under “Ordinances” in Chapter 28 – Nuisances. We have a process for resident complaints.
•Call City Hall with location and details.
•The complaint is turned over to the City Compliance Officer who contacts property owner/resident/ about the violation.
•The Officer gives them a deadline to take care of the issue or be cited.
•It will then be prosecuted by a City Prosecutor in Municipal Court.
We have met with, and have a commitment from, our Municipal Judge to ensure these cases are properly adjudicated.

5. Currently, girls’ softball is played on outdated fields in poor condition with facilities that are not ADA compliant. What will you do to make their facility comparable to the boys’ facility, Veterans Field? Do you support modernizing the city’s facilities to compete with surrounding cities to host girls’ softball tournaments?
ADA is a priority. There is no question the Bynum fields and facilities have to be repaired and improved. An improvement of this magnitude is expected to be a multi-million-dollar investment which must be carefully planned and budgeted.
We are already working toward a solution. At the City Council meeting on May 20 Council President Bailey appointed a committee comprised of 2 Council members, 1 member of Rec Advisory Committee, Rec Director, and Mayor to review options and make recommendations for improvement to the Council.
Following our first meeting the Rec Director sent out 7 RFPs and received 3 responses.
This information will be reviewed with potential solution options offered to City Council during the budget process.
Again, ADA is a priority. The new state of art WeGo Swing is scheduled for delivery in August.
Yes, I do support modernizing the city’s facilities to compete with surrounding cities to host tournaments. It is equally important that both girls and boys at all ages and stages have the facilities they deserve.