On December 5, the Clay-Chalkville Cougars Football team won the state championship for the sixth time, setting in motion a chain of events that would test new Mayor Jane Anderton's commitment to fiscal responsibility and adherence to state law while pitting her against long time city employee Ronnie Dixon and exposing that the process used by Dixon and the City of Clay for years may not have followed law.
For months after the championship win, Dixon insisted that the City could pay for the team's championship rings using the Clay-Pinson Chamber, where he serves as executive director, as a pass-through entity.
Dixon reportedly told AL(dot)com the arrangement is "all completely legal," and that "the chamber has used city funds to purchase seven sets of championship rings for Clay-Chalkville High School and Pinson Valley High School in his time as director."
"Those were mainly, and when I say mainly, I mean 90% funded by the city," Dixon explained.
Dixon turned down repeated requests to be interviewed by 1819 News.
In the AL(dot)com piece, Dixon laid out what happened in the past while lamenting that Anderton would not just do things the way they've always been done.
"As Mayor, I want to emphatically state that I am in full support of the CCHS football program and in recognizing our dedicated student athletes for their hard work, character, and athletic achievements," Anderton said in a statement after opposing the expenditure.
"There is no question whether our student-athletes deserve a ring to commemorate their championship. The question is whether this $30K expense meets the criteria of serving the public good," she continued.
The Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts appeared to agree with Anderton's position, providing 1819 News with two formal opinions from the Attorney General's Office that dispute the claim that the rings can be purchased with City money, the way Dixon has described.
The two opinions included were Attorney General Opinion 2022-002 (pp. 8-9) regarding the "public purpose" doctrine from Slauson and the requirement for a local governmental body to consider the statutes that set forth its authority to make an expenditure.
Further, Attorney General Opinion 2020-053 related to a municipality's authority being limited to activities authorized by the Legislature, also known as the "Dillon Rule."
While not speaking specifically to the facts of this case, the office provided 1819 News with the formal opinions that clearly stated that the expenditures would not be lawful.
"We have told some public entities in the past that they are not allowed to purchase championship rings," Rachel Riddle, the chief public examiner for the state, told 1819 News.
She added, "We would take issue with a public entity making a donation with the sole purpose of circumventing the law."
In response to the answers from the Department of Public Examiners, Anderton told 1819 News, "Having guidance like this helps every elected official operate with confidence in matters of fiscal responsibility."
"I am pleased that another source of funding was identified so that our student athletes will be recognized for playing football at the state championship level. It is a source of pride for our city. I look forward to working together with all our county schools and their leaders to ensure a bright future for our students and the city of Clay," Anderton said.
Dixon is currently employed full-time in senior administrative roles at the City of Leeds and the City of Clay, and he serves as executive director of the Clay-Pinson Chamber. He's also been elected to the Jefferson County School Board and to the position of constable.
Dixon cleared out his office at the City of Clay before Anderton was sworn in on November 3, leaving a letter of resignation to her predecessor that said he was "retiring" effective May 2026.
On November 5, the City of Leeds announced he had been hired there. According to sources, Dixon claims that, despite a myriad of other responsibilities on the school board and with the chamber, which meets during traditional business hours, he has accrued enough paid time off during his time in Clay that he should be paid full-time, through May.
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