By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA–Helena City Councilman Mike Jones was recently appointed to serve as a member on the Alabama League of Municipalities Transportation, Public Safety and Communication Committee.

Jones, who is the only member currently serving on the committee from Shelby County, was notified by the Alabama League of Municipalities where he will be joining four other members from Jefferson County and two others from Chilton County to represent the congressional district.

The TPSC committee is comprised of municipal mayor or council members appointed by the League that serves all 440 municipalities in the state.

Those chosen to serve on the committee must be a current council member or mayor at a municipality and Jones said it is an honor to be able to represent Shelby County as well as Helena.

“To be able to represent Shelby County as a whole and to serve on a statewide level it means a lot,” said Jones. “I look forward to serving on a committee that has such a great impact on public safety, transportation, and communication legislation, budgeting, policy development and programs statewide.”

Those serving on the TPSC committee review and develop policy on public safety issues, including crime prevention, law enforcement, fire prevention and protection, emergency medical services, emergency management and response, motor vehicle safety, animal control, transportation programs and their revenue sources and allocations, in addition to public works programs, particularly those related to infrastructure development, public and private utilities, including telecommunications.

Jones believes his experience on a local and state level with law enforcement was one of the reasons he was appointed to serve on the committee.

“I think on my end it was my experience at the local and state level on law enforcement and where I came from and what I’m doing now is what encouraged them to let me be on committee,” said Jones.