Money management is very important, especially in times like these. Jacksonville City Council voted Monday night to adopt the Investment and Operational Policies for Management of Public Funds.

“This is changing our investment policy,” said Jacksonville Mayor Johnny Smith said. “Originally, we would put 20 percent of our interest back into our savings account and 80 percent of that would go into operational funds. Now, that is pretty much going to stay the same. Twenty percent is still going to be held back, but that 80 percent is getting broken into half: 40 percent going into a general fund and 40 percent going into our capital investment fund.”

The mayor said that this would help the city prepare to handle the capital improvements that are needed.

Members of Jacksonville’s City Council also heard a report from Councilwoman Sandra Sudduth on the upcoming events in honor of Black History Month. The city’s annual Black History Program will be Feb. 28 at 2 p.m. at the Jacksonville Community Center.

The program will spotlight the youth in Jacksonville and Joanna Maddox will be performing her one woman show. There will also be a Soul Food Dinner provided by The Village Inn. The event is free for anyone wishing to attend. The Community Center will also be hosting an art show spotlighting local black artists called “Baring the Soul.”

The show will be open to the public during the center’s regular business hours Saturday and Sunday. Sudduth, who is the chair for the Black History Committee says that it is important to remember the contributions of so many.

“We celebrate Black History Month because so many books and so many events never mention the positive things that blacks have done for this country,” Sudduth said. “So we celebrate it so we can spotlight the contributions of blacks in America

In other action, the council:

• Entered into an executive session to discuss the general reputation and character, physical condition, professional competence or mental health of individuals, or to discuss the job performance of certain public employees.

• Authorizied the mayor to sign the agreement for service and the addendum to agreement for service with Deltacom, Inc., for telephone service for all city departments, with the exception of City Hall, for a term of three years.

• Approved the FY2011 Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Grant pre-application in the amount of $15,000, administered by the Alabama Public Library Service Program Grant, for the purchase of technological equipment and wireless internet service for the Library Annex.

• Approved the mayor to sign the Byrne Jag Program Grant pre-application in the amount of $25,000, administered by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, for the purchase of technological equipment for police department.

• Consider action to approve JPWP #118, Chief Ladiga Rail Trail Resurfacing Project, and authorized bids to be received.

• Approved Public Works Project #119, construction of a pavilion at Skate Park.

• Approved the termination of the employment of Jeffrey Steen, Jacksonville firefighter/paramedic, effective immediately.

•Voted to allow the mayor to sign the Contract for Fire and Safety Support with Jacksonville State University in the amount of $81,450.