Commissioners delay vote on proposed license-inspector job after certification and scope questions

Commissioners debated a proposed job description for a new revenue license inspector during a work session, raising questions about whether Alabama Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certification should be mandatory and about the role’s duties.
The commission has budgeted funds for the position in the FY budget, but members disagreed about language in the draft job description. One reading of the draft showed a POST certification requirement under “education and experience”; another version used the word “preferred.” One commissioner said the draft appeared to include an older file and requested the correct version.
The chairman and other commissioners discussed the scope and reporting structure: the inspector would be appointed by the commission, housed temporarily in the revenue commissioner’s office to use specific software, and would answer to the commission. Commissioners said the inspector’s principal duties would be to verify business licensing and sales-tax collection, not to conduct land-use enforcement.
Commissioners also raised enforcement topics discussed in the session: unpaid or uncollected sales tax and mobile-home registrations. The chairman observed that “If he does his job within a couple of years, he'll be paying his salary,” reflecting support among some members for the enforcement focus.
Action taken: Commissioners agreed to remove the job description from the next meeting’s consent items and to place it on a subsequent meeting agenda to allow all commissioners time to review and reconcile the draft language. No formal hiring decision or vote was recorded during the work session.
Why it matters: The position is intended to increase compliance with business licensing and sales-tax rules; how the job is defined affects enforcement scope, qualifications, and relations with county staff and business owners.
Ending: Commissioners asked staff to circulate the current job description and supporting materials to allow members time for review before formal consideration at the next regular meeting.