Commission declares October as Census Awareness Month

During the Sept. 23 Shelby County Commission meeting, a resolution was passed to proclaim October 1-31, 2019 as Census Awareness Month. The county’s goal is to ensure every resident in the area is counted. 

Chief Operating Officer for Shelby County, Phil Burns, said that they are stressing the amount of $1600, which is what the city will lose for every person that goes uncounted. 

“What we’re trying to do now is education,” Burns said. “We want to make sure people understand the value to their community is that $1600 number.”

2020’s census will be the first one done digitally. Residents will get a postcard in the mail reminding them to complete their census. They will have three options: internet, phone or paper. 

Burns said to be sure to count everyone in your household, that all occupants of an address need to be accounted for. 

“The Census has nothing to do with citizenship,” he said, but affects the amount of funds received for things including Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP and free lunch programs.

There are 16 large federal assistance programs that distribute funds on the basis of decennial census derived statistics, with total program obligations over $7 billion. Others include WIC, foster care, Title I grants to local education agencies and special education grants. 

Burns and Reggie Holloway have been meeting with groups of pastors in Shelby County urging to them to remind their congregations of the importance of participating in the Census. Shelby County will also have floats in upcoming Christmas parades to spread the message as well. 

With Alabama forecasted to lose house representation, Burns said their goal for Shelby County is 90 percent participation. In 2010, Shelby County had the highest rate at 80 percent, but hope to surpass it next year. 

“The census form only has 10 questions for each individual living in the house,” he said. “The postcards will be sent out in March 2020 and the process will begin then.”

There are still census jobs available and those, along with more information can be found at census.alabama.gov.

Other items approved during the meeting include: 

A bid for a convection steamer for the jail was awarded to Pueblo Hotel Supply for $13,785.

A resolution was also passed for a Digital Information Cooperative Agreement with ALDOT for the 2019 computerized mapping project. This is an annual agreement with the state to help defray the cost of topology and digital aerial photography. ALDOT will provide 80 percent ($10,000) and the county will pay the remaining 20 percent ($2,500).

The next Shelby County Commission meeting will be held on Monday, Oct. 14 at 6 p.m. at the County Administration Building in Columbiana.