BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Jefferson County suffers from low morale and lingering management issues due to a lack of sound leadership, writes a court appointed receiver in a report filed Wednesday in federal court.

"Overall, there has been a lack of strong leadership at all levels of the county," writes Ronald Sims in his 120-day report to the court. "These historical failures in leadership have compounded over time into low morale and a plethora of ongoing organizational problems and crippling crises."

Sims filed his 120-day report on the county's human resources department ahead of a status conference scheduled before U.S. District Judge Lynwood Smith Jr. on Thursday.

Read full report here.



The county lacks any clear vision or accompanying operational strategy and the lingering car tag line problems are an example of "numerous problems related to the lack of a vision, strategy . . . throughout the county," Sims writes.

"These include the failure to be able to consistently offer the most basic services to the citizens or to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars," he writes.

Sims says that an "us versus them" mentality exists and serves as a cornerstone of the county's "toxic culture, and like other situations, is a result of ineffective leadership."

Sims, who says $23.5 million is needed over the next two years to fix the HR department problems, does point out some "good news" in his report.

"The receiver is pleased to report to the court that, over the first 120 days of his tenure, he has received commendable cooperation from the county commissioners, the county manager, the deputy county manager . . . and other upper management at the county," Sims writes. "But while cooperation is certainly needed and appreciated, the leadership needs to do more than cooperate."

County officials declined to comment, but said they may respond after today's status conference.

Smith in October appointed Sims, a Virginia business school professor, as receiver over Jefferson County's human resources department.