Friday, February 17, 2006

From the WMPM news page

Ah...OK. It is hard to have a 5 to 3 vote when there were only five people voting. By the way, the council did not vote to close the courthouse. The council was split and the mayor was the deciding vote, just for clarification. I was there. The mayor was the one who made the motion for the closure vote. I was told by a former mayor of Selma that the mayor is not allowed to make motions, only vote, especially in a tie breaker type situation. Perhaps that information is erroneous.

Selma Council Votes 5-To-3 To Close Courtroom - In a 5-to-3 vote, the Selma Town Council has voted to ask judicial leaders to permanently close the Selma District Courtroom. Some have said loitering and traffic are big problems on Anderson Street on the days court is held. Sheriff Steve Bizzell expressed safety concerns last year after an inmate was stabbed in the parking lot while being transported to Selma court. On Tuesday night, the town board heard a report from a study committee appointed in January to study the issue. After hearing the report, the council voted to seek the closure of the courtroom in 30 days. However, law enforcement officers already have court dates scheduled through the end of March and the 30 day timeframe may be too soon. Selma town officials must write a letter to Clerk of Court Will Crocker and Chief District Court Judge Andy Corbett, who in turn will take the closure request to the Administrative Office of the Courts.

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