Corrections commission asks for travel proof

By Staff
Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
The Morgan County Community Corrections and Court Services Commission is ordering its executive director, Alison Nix, to provide detailed affidavits on 11 travel reimbursement requests she filed and was compensated for during a five-month period beginning Feb. 13.
The decision was reached on a unanimous vote Friday, Aug. 31, after the commission met with Nix in a two-hour executive session. Circuit Judge Steve Haddock made the motion. It directs Nix to document the affidavits with dates, times, purpose of the trips and persons visited along with other pertinent details. The documents are to be filed with the commission not later than its next scheduled meeting on Sept. 10.
After the meeting was called to order by Commission Chairman John Glasscock, County Attorney Bill Shinn instructed to governing body on the law with respect to meeting in executive session. A motion was then made to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing the job performance and good name and character of its of its executive director.
Shinn said it would not be appropriate for him to be present while the commission is meeting in executive session except for the purpose of providing legal advice on a limited basis. He also said counsel for Nix was not entitled to be present, but left that decision up to the commission. After Nix requested that her attorney, John Mays, be allowed to accompany her, Glasscock called for a motion to that effect but no motion was made.
Nix is being questioned about reimbursement she received totaling $1,857 for business trips she claims she made on behalf of the Corrections Commission from Feb. 13 to July 24. She reported using her own vehicle to make seven trips to Montgomery during that time and collected $184 for each trip.
Members of the Community Corrections and Court Services Commission are Commission Chairman Glasscock, Circuit Court Judge Haddock, District Attorney Bob Burrell, County Attorney Bill Shinn, Hartselle representative Police Chief Ron Puckett, Decatur representative Carter Tutwiler, District Court Judge Shelly Waters, State Probation Officer Ben Trimm, Circuit Court Clerk John Pat Orr, Municipal Judge Tildon Dillard and Sheriff Greg Bartlett.