Robin's Blog for Dauphin Island

Message from Bill Harper

November 12, 2008

Dear friends,

Our November board meeting went well, sparsely attended by members, but we take that as a sign that our governance is satisfactory, or at least not so anxiety inducing that you are willing to come out on a beautiful autumn Saturday morning and voice your complaints.

Our finances continue to remain firm, although we have some large expenses coming in December with property taxes, insurance, and capital expenditures for asphalt work on the road and parking lot. Remember, the first four months of the new fiscal year are traditionally our biggest income producers.

Jeff Collier reported that our course continues to increase golf play this fall over last year which is a good sign. The course is being seeded with the winter grass. We are sprucing it up a bit with new greens flags, ball washers and tee markers for the winter golfers.

The legal front is mixed. No news on what was supposed to be a Federal Claims Court hearing this month on the Corps settlement. We go to trial December 15 on the West Surf Beach transfer to the Town.

The movement of sand from the Town's roads and right-away on the West End to the beach front is in full swing now. The goal is to place it next to the seaside and let nature takes it course. Overall, the western end of the island is looking much better.

On the issue that is paramount to our small island, coastal restoration, we have been working hard. Mayor Collier and I met with Congressman Jo Bonner in October. Congressman Bonner stated that he will support legislation for engineering studies of our coastline, something the Mobile Press Register called for in a September editorial. Last Friday, Mayor Collier, along with Representative Spencer Collier and Senator Ben Brooks, met with Governor Bob Riley asking for his support in assisting Dauphin Island in their quest for solutions to our coastal erosion. Governor Riley said he would contact Senators Shelby and Sessions, and Congressman Bonner stating that the State of Alabama would support any congressional action that would assist the state in finding long-term solutions to coastal erosion, especially erosion on Dauphin Island. Although the process goes forward at a snail’s pace, I am pleased with our progress over the last year. The Town has engaged a consultant in Washington DC to assist us in finding our way through labyrinth of congressional politics.

At our November meeting we discussed the issue of abandoned and neglected houses on the Island, especially several on the West End. Jeff Collier helped us understand many of the complicated issues involving FEMA, insurance, and foreclosure process. The Town knows about the specific problems owners of these houses have to deal with, and is working the system to bring resolution to all. One house on the far west end has a January, 2009, deadline which should bring resolution. The rest are in varying degrees of the legal and governmental process.

One of the attendees at the meeting asked that we clear some paths at Jeffreys Park so residents can have an easier access. This we will do.

We will not have a board meeting in December, with our next board meeting scheduled for January 8, 2009, a Thursday, at 4:00 pm at the Isle Dauphine Club.

Best regards and have a wonderful holiday season,

William (Bill) Harper, President

The new issue of the Dauphin Island Town Crier is provided in the link below.