In a recent session, the Shelby County Board of Commissioners voted against implementing a 30-day moratorium on their grant-making procedures. This proposed break in doling out funds was a response to the indictment of Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. on charges of bribery and tax evasion related to the grant program. As reported by the Commercial Appeal, the suspension was aimed to allow the commission to reevaluate the operation of the Milton Community Grants program and consider necessary adjustments.
Despite the vote to not immediately pause the grants, discussions are set to continue on the program's future, which disperses around $2.6 million to local nonprofits annually. The proposed moratorium followed allegations that Ford Jr. used the program to channel money into his own businesses. The commissioners that supported the halt included Amber Mills, Mick Wright, David Bradford, Brandon Morrison, and Michael Whaley, while Commissioners Miska Clay Bibbs, Erika Sugarmon, Britney Thornton, Henri Brooks, Mickell Lowery, and Shante K. Avant were against it, as per Action News 5. Ford himself abstained from voting.
Commissioner Whaley had hoped that the moratorium would serve as a period for reflection and to reaffirm public trust in the commissioners' activities. Meanwhile, WREG detailed comments from other commissioners, with Charlie Caswell noting the need for transparency and Mickell Lowery advocating for the program's continuation despite unfortunate events.
