MONTGOMERY — In the closing hours of the legislative session, the Alabama Senate gave Rep. Richard Laird, I-Roanoke, one of the things he wanted — $107,000 a year to help build a livestock show barn in his hometown. But even if Gov. Robert Bentley signs the bill into law, it might not end Randolph County's debate over how to fund the show barn project. "There's so much politics in this right now," said Jimmy Fetner, president of the Randolph County branch of the Alabama Farmers Federation and an organizer of the show barn project. Lawmakers voted Monday night to approve a bill, submitted by Laird, that would change the way Randolph County distributes its revenues from tobacco tax. At present, 10 percent of that money, or about $107,000 per year, goes to the Randolph County Water Authority to help install new water lines. If the bill is signed, that money would instead go the Randolph County Equine and Agricultural Association, a nonprofit incorporated by Fetner last year to build an agricultural center with a show barn. Laird said Tuesday that he decided years ago to move the tobacco tax money from the water board to some other project. He said the water authority hasn't completed projects that were supposed to be paid for with tobacco tax. Attempts to reach the Randolph County Water Authority on Tuesday were unsuccessful. Fetner, of the Equine Association, said the area needs the kind of show barn and agricultural center his group plans to build. "We're trying to do our kids a justice," he said. "We're trying to keep them out of jail." The show barn, he said, would also be an agricultural center where people could learn about planting crops and raising cattle and other livestock. Laird said he wasn't sure how much the project would cost. "I think they're going to build it in stages," he said. He said he expected the group to start small, perhaps with a fence and a concession stand, and build from there over time. Laird is already looking for other sources of funding for the show barn project. Members of the Randolph County School Board say he approached them recently with a deal: He could get them $200,000 from a state program for "at risk" schools if they'd promise to keep only $25,000 of it. Laird wanted the other $175,000 to go to the Equine Association, school board members say. Randolph County Schools superintendent Rance Kirby said neither he nor the board could make that deal. "I'm not against an ag center," Kirby said. "I wish them well. But I can't give money from the Education Trust Fund, labeled for at-risk programs, to a private nonprofit." Laird said it was school officials who approached him with a request for $25,000 to put security cameras in schools. He combined that with a request for help with the show barn and pitched the $200,000 grant request to the Alabama Department of Education. "I've been in this business for a long time and I've never had anybody refuse money like that," Laird said. Craig Pouncey, the deputy superintendent of Alabama schools, said the money would have come from the Governor's At-Risk Program, a program set up in the 1990s. At one time, Pouncey said, the money went to schools identified as at-risk under the state's original school accountability program. Lately, the money, roughly $10 million per year, has been used to pay for projects in school districts with little tax revenue. "My charge is to make sure those districts' needs are met, and those needs vary from district to district," he said. Pouncey said he believed other districts had used the money for agricultural centers to boost their agricultural education programs. He said that due to the disagreement over how the money would be used in Randolph County, the Education Department probably wouldn't move forward with the $200,000 grant. "I think what we're dealing with here is a conflict in local politics," he said. Capitol & statewide correspondent: 256-294-4193. On Twitter @TLockette_Star.

Four men pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges stemming from a 2011 hazing incident involving a Jacksonville State University fraternity. Justavious Quintae Johnson, 22, of Jacksonville; Juston Thomas, 23, of Birmingham; Mikel Whitter, 23, of St. Louis, and Varian May, 28, of Oxford, each pleaded guilty to one count of hazing, a misdemeanor. Johnson, Thomas and Whittier — who were being initiated into Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity during the off-campus incident — were each initially charged with one count of hazing, a misdemeanor. If they comply with the terms of the agreement, according to Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Weems, the cases effectively will be dismissed, and the pleas will not appear on their records. May was initially charged with first-degree assault and two counts of hazing, one for committing the act and one for failing to report it. He pleaded guilty to one count of hazing, and if he complies with the terms of the agreement, prosecutors will recommend a sentence of one year of probation, Weems said. If he fails to comply, she said, he could face 90 days imprisonment or probation, the length of which would be determined by a judge. May’s charge will remain on his record. Under the agreements, prosecution of the four men will be delayed for one year, according to Weems. During that time, they are required to pay court costs, perform community service, testify as required for other cases moving forward and have no contact with the victim. “All agreements and offers and pleas have been discussed with the victim and his civil attorney,” Weems said. “In adult cases, we try to work with and comply with whatever requests the victims make.” The victim, Jason Horton, filed a civil suit last year against Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, its JSU chapter and fraternity officials. In the complaint, Horton alleged that pledges were made to drink vodka and mustard, struck with eggs and flying objects, and were beaten repeatedly with fists and paddles. The next morning, according to the court document, Horton vomited all day and was discouraged by fraternity members from seeking medical treatment. By the time he was taken to the hospital that evening, his urine was black, he was bleeding internally, and his kidneys were functioning at 50 percent, the complaint says. A total of 18 men have been charged in the incident, and Weems said approximately 10 of those cases are ongoing. Weems said some of the suspects may be granted status as youthful offenders, whose records would be sealed. Others charged Each charged with first-degree assault and two counts of hazing: -- Jeremiah Antwon Bradford, 24, of Harpersville -- Brandon Marquell Bush, 23, of Phenix City -- Fidel M. Corfah, 23, of Lawrenceville, Ga. -- Daniel Dwayne Covington, 23, of Fairfield -- Juston Patrick Daniel, 23, of Jacksonville -- Antonio Davis, 28, of Montgomery -- Quintin Deandrae Day, 27, of Anniston -- Adeoye Faleti, 23, of Jacksonville -- Jacolby Quantel Parks, 24, of Atlanta -- Benjamin Puckett, 23, of Jacksonville -- Carl Robinson, 22, of Jacksonville -- Rhyan Anthony Swanson, 24, of Jacksonville Each charged with one count of hazing: -- Roosevelt Morgan Jr., 21, of Leeds -- Jeremy Deshaun Potts, 21, of Tallassee Staff writer Paige Rentz: 256-235-3564. On Twitter @PRentz_Star.

PIEDMONT — The Piedmont City Council Tuesday night replaced its mayor pro tem. The decision followed Councilman Kenny Kelley’s proposal late in the meeting that the council give the job to Councilman Bill Baker, a move that effectively dismissed Councilman Frank Cobb from the post. The matter was not listed on the council meeting’s agenda. Kelley, citing Cobb’s management of a recent utility committee meeting, said Cobb was not qualified to be mayor pro tem. “What I really think needs to happen — I think we need a more experienced mayor pro tem,” Kelley said. Cobb came under fire last week when he ended a utility committee meeting before it started because the meeting was attended by disgruntled landlords. Some have since said Cobb’s decision, though not technically wrong, was against the spirit of the open meetings law. Cobb said he did not call the meeting off to impede public discussion, but minutes later he lost the pro tem position in a 4-2 vote. Kelley, who sits on the three-person committee with Cobb and Councilman Ben Keller, said Cobb, who chairs the committee, was wrong to call it off. Keller seconded Kelley’s motion. Mayor Rick Freeman was not present at Tuesday night’s meeting. Cobb said he called the utility committee meeting off because the landlords attended to discuss proposed changes that would affect renters and landlords. Cobb said he thought the landlords would disrupt the meeting with discussion that Cobb, who is himself a landlord, can not legally discuss because of ethics laws. “The discussion had already gone beyond the discussion that I could discuss, so I had no choice but to adjourn the meeting,” Cobb said. The proposed changes would require landlords to keep their names on renters’ utility accounts and it would implement a utility deposit that could cost more than $500. The proposed changes, which are being considered to curb the amount of unpaid utility bills, are expected to be considered at a future meeting, City Clerk Michelle Franklin said. In other business the council approved a resolution in support of applying for a grant to make improvements to nine wooden bridges on the Chief Ladiga Trail. The city is expected to learn within a month whether it will be cleared to apply for the grant through the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. The council also approved a motion to hire a trained arborist to review old trees on city property that are at risk of toppling and may need to be removed. Staff Writer Laura Gaddy: 256-235-3544. On Twitter@LJohnson_Star.