DIPOA Newsletter From Bill Harper

February 2008

Dear Friends,

It has been a while since I last wrote, so this correspondence will be rather lengthy.

Although the Board did not hold a public meeting in January, it did meet on January 26 for a "work session," during which several issues, felt to be particularly pressing, were addressed.

The most important issue revolved around the creation of a voting system that not only identifies property owners but also maintains ballot secrecy. We think we have come up with a method that will allow us to do that. The method uses two envelopes. The property owner/voter will identify their name and Dauphin Island property location on the reverse side of the return envelope. That envelope will contain a smaller sealed ballot envelope that will go into a lock box once the voter is identified as a legitimate member. But in order for this method to work, It will be essential for the property owner to identify correctly his/her property by name, address and block/lot location as recorded by property tax records as well as our in-house records. A deadline for receipt of mailed and hand-carried ballots will be set before any general membership meeting to give staff and volunteers time to verify and count ballots. We hope to eliminate the inordinate delay between gathering ballots and announcing the results of elections. We will vote on this proposal at February's Board meeting.

Another issue, one that has become personal for me, is what I perceive to be the need for a mechanism that will allow the Board and the island, as a whole, to reach out to all levels of government—County, State, and Federal.

My experience last June working with the Town on the Coastal Impact Assistance Program, made me very aware that Dauphin Island lacked the political clout that other communities on the Alabama coastline wield so dexterously. The Town of Dauphin Island has, by engaging consultants/lobbyist at both the state and federal level, taken steps to correct this situation, but we should not leave our fate entirely in the hands of the down. I have proposed to the board, and they have agreed in principle, that we create a political action committee, a PAC, that will collect funds from our members which will then be distributed to persons in County, State, and Federal offices, or running for office that have shown support or will show support for Dauphin Island. At the very least this should guarantee that Dauphin Island will have a place at the table, and that those sitting at the head of the table will return our calls and emails. We will vote on this issue at our next meeting, and if it passes, we will ask members to include $5, $10 or more, by separate check, in addition to the annual-membership check due in May 2008.

On the legal front we are reaching end-games on all of the legal challenges facing us. The eight-year Corp of Engineers lawsuit and settlement is in its final stages with the Expert's Report to be given to the presiding Federal Judge on January 10, 2008. We should hear something within weeks. The almost year- long West Surf Beach Resolution suit is now tied to the results of the Corp suit, so as soon as the Federal judge rules on the Corp lawsuit/settlement we should see some movement by Judge Graddick on this issue. Just today, our attorney in the covenant appeal received notice that the Alabama Appeals Court has reversed the trial court's decision to dismiss our lawsuit against the Pitts for breaking our covenants, remanding it back to Judge Graddick's court for adjudication. The Appeal Court cited cases and statures upholding our complaint.

All of this reminds me of the old-lawyer joke: "the difference between a good lawyer and a bad lawyer is that a bad lawyer can let a case drag on for several years, while a good lawyer can make it last interminably."

I attended the Town's recent meeting on the strategic-planning process. Mainly, the meeting dealt with defining a concept for the central business district with its working waterfront district on the Aloe-Bay harbor area. As the plan stands now, the central business district will include the area within the Bienville, Lackland, Desoto and Key streets which will be rezoned to a mix of housing and cottage shops, many of which could be both commercial and residential. It will be a walking friendly area with brick sidewalks and appropriate landscaping. The working waterfront will be a mix of public areas, seafood industry, shops, docks, housing and restaurants/pubs with public and citizen access to the harbor area being paramount.

Two architectural students from Auburn presented overlays projecting what these areas might look like. I was favorably impressed. They had created a wider, beautifully landscaped Lemoyne Ave from the bridge to the water tower, with circles, or roundabouts, at Desoto and Bienville. I am excited about this planning and we, the DIPOA, can be involved in the process in many ways. There was discussion of the need for a small hotel, 110 rooms, on Dauphin Island and some even mentioned it at our golf course location.

Board member, Bruce Jones, working with Thompson Engineering has done a nice job of overseeing our $99,000 grant from the Dept of Interior which member Doug Ford obtained to affect repairs to the Isle Dauphin Club buildings. The roofing work is complete, with bids for the concrete repair now in the process. Bruce is hoping that we can work a fresh coat of paint on the buildings from the grant if everything falls into place financially.

I received a welcome call the other day from Robert Dixon of the SeaLab/Estariaum asking if we could use the labor of some Americorp volunteers, arriving soon to work on some painting projects at the SeaLab. These folks are the same that painted the SeaLab dormitories those wonderful colors a few years ago. I sent him a list of projects that we could use their help with around the grounds of the Club and course. I understand they will also help with some projects the Dauphin Island Park and Beach Board has in hand. They will be on the island for about a month or two starting soon. I am delighted with this inter-organizational cooperation.

New Board-member Phil Baldwin has hit the ground running with his Greens Committee at the Club. He has enlisted Merrill McPhearson, Fred Rounsaville and Vernon Fly. They have a check list of items that will be worked on in the weeks and months ahead. I hear the snowbirds are delighted with the condition of the golf course. When ones drives Orleans over the dune, it truly is a brilliant sight.

On the property tax front, many of us got reductions on our property taxes last year by filling claims for reductions, so stay vigilant when your notices come in early July, 2008 for the period 2006/07. We are still in the doldrums, value wise, on the coast and it's not getting any better, so if you feel that the assessed value of your DI real property is still too high, you only have ten (10) days to file for a reassessment.

Our next board meeting is Saturday, February 9, 2008 at 11:00 AM in the Isle Dauphine Club. Hope to see you there and please offer any comments on what we are doing as a Board. We value your ideas and suggestions. The ballot system we are proposing came from a suggestion from a member in Louisana.

Best regards,

William (Bill) Harper

President

Alabama Insurance Reform Bill

by Senator Ben Brooks

Published: February 28 2008 - 4:37 am Last Updated: February 28 2008 - 4:51 am

SB5
By Senators Brooks and Glover
RFD Banking and Insurance
Rd 1 05-FEB-08


SYNOPSIS: This bill would create the Alabama Coastal Insurance Authority, comprised of all insurers authorized to write property insurance in Alabama. This bill would require all members of the Authority to participate in the writing, the expenses, the profits, and the losses that occur when insuring residential and commercial property in counties adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico for essential property insurance. This bill would allow persons with insurable property in counties adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico to apply to the Authority for essential property insurance coverage.
This bill would create the Alabama Coastal Insurance Authority Board, appointed by the Governor, to promulgate operational rules for the Authority to follow.
This bill would provide individuals in certain areas in Alabama counties adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico an income tax credit for certain weather-resistant property improvements.
Under current law, condominium associations established prior to 1991 are governed by the Condominium Ownership Act. This bill will allow unit holders in a pre-1991 condominium to elect to be governed by the Alabama Uniform Condominium Act.
This bill will clarify that condominiums governed by the Alabama Uniform Condominium Act may obtain insurance from captive insurance companies created under the Alabama Captive Insurers Act.
This bill will provide an income tax credit for homeowners for hurricane-resistant home upgrades of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000) or 25 percent of the cost, whichever is less.


A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

Relating to property insurance, to add a new Chapter 22A to Title 27, Code of Alabama 1975, consisting of Sections 27-22A-1, 27-22A-2, 27-22A-3, 27-22A-4, 27-22A-5, 27-22A-6, and 27-22A-7 and to add Section 35-8-23 to the Code of Alabama 1975, in order to create the Alabama Coastal Insurance Authority to provide essential property insurance for residential and commercial properties in counties adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico; to provide for certain tax credits; and to create the Alabama Coastal Insurance Authority Board to promulgate rules for the Authority; to allow condominium associations organized under the Condominium Ownership Act to elect to be governed instead by the Uniform Condominium Act; and to amend Section 35-8A-313, Code of Alabama 1975, to allow condominium associations to obtain property insurance coverage from a captive insurance company.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:

Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the Alabama Coastal Property Insurance Reform Act.

Section 2. Chapter 22A of Title 27 consisting of Sections 27-22A-1, 27-22A-2, 27-22A-3, 27-22A-4, 27-22A-5, 27-22A-6, and 27-22A-7, are added to the Code of Alabama 1975, to read as follows:

Chapter 22A

Alabama Coastal Property Insurance Reform

§27-22A-1.

The purpose for this act is to encourage market participation by private insurance carriers and an adequate market for essential property insurance for residential and commercial property to applicants in counties in Alabama which are adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico.

§27-22A-2.

For purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(1) AUTHORITY. The Alabama Coastal Insurance Authority.

(2) BOARD. The Alabama Coastal Insurance Authority Board.

(3) ESSENTIAL PROPERTY INSURANCE. Insurance against direct loss to insurable property as limited in the standard fire policy and extended coverage endorsement thereon, as may be approved by the Commissioner of Insurance.

(4) INSURABLE PROPERTY. Immovable property at fixed locations and tangible personal property located in it, which property is determined by the Authority to be in an insurable condition as determined by reasonable underwriting standards.

(5) INSURER. As defined in Section 27-1-2.

§27-22A-3.

(a) There is hereby created and established an Alabama Coastal Insurance Authority Board that shall consist of the following nine members appointed by the Governor:

(1) Five members representing insurance companies licensed to transact property insurance in this state, at least two of which shall represent insurance companies domiciled in this state.

(2) One member licensed in this state as a property insurance producer.

(3) Three members not affiliated with the insurance industry, one of whom having his or her primary residence in Baldwin County and one of whom having his or her primary residence in Mobile County.

(b) Members of the board shall serve terms of four years each and are eligible for reappointment. The Governor shall stagger the terms of initial appointments with four members serving two-year terms and five members serving four year terms, such that four or five members will be newly appointed or reappointed every two years. Members may continue to serve until their successors are appointed. When making appointments, the Governor shall consider the racial, gender, geographic, urban and rural, and economic diversity of the state, and shall strive for the board to reflect this diversity.

(c) The board shall promulgate rules and procedures for the Alabama Coastal Insurance Authority to follow in a plan of operation.

(d) There is no liability on the part of the board or any member for any act or omission in the performance of these powers and duties.

§27-22A-4.

(a) There is hereby created and established the Alabama Coastal Insurance Authority for the purpose of providing essential property insurance coverage for residential and commercial properties in Mobile and Baldwin Counties. The Authority shall be comprised of all insurers authorized to write property insurance in Alabama. Each insurer must be a member of the Authority and remain a member as long as the Authority is in existence as a condition to conduct and transact business of insurance in this state.

(b) A person having an insurable interest in insurable property is entitled to apply to the Authority for coverage and for an inspection of the property.

(c) If the Authority determines that the property is insurable and there is no unpaid premium due from the applicant for prior insurance on the property, the Authority, upon receipt of the premium, or a portion of it, shall cause to be issued a policy of essential property insurance for a term of at least one year.

(d) The board shall develop a plan of operation for the Authority, which, along with any revisions thereto, shall be submitted to and approved by the Commissioner of Insurance before the effective date thereof. A copy of the approved plan of operation, together with any approved revisions thereto, shall be maintained for public inspection in the Department of Insurance.

(e) The Authority shall be exempt from all state and local taxes based on insurance premiums and from state income tax. To the extent possible, the Authority shall be structured so as to be exempt from federal income taxes.

(f) The Authority shall carry over any unexpended monies and any unexpended surplus to subsequent fiscal years. These funds shall be maintained in a special fund to be designated as the Alabama Coastal Insurance Authority Trust Fund. Monies in this fund shall not lapse, shall not be subject to transfer to the General Fund or other state funds, and shall not be redistributed. Any interest earned or investment earnings on amounts in the fund shall be deposited to the credit of the fund. Monies in the special trust fund may be used only for the purpose of assisting the Authority in defraying expenses, paying claims, and paying reinsurance costs.

§27-22A-5.

(a) All members of the Authority shall participate in its writings, expenses, profits, and losses in the proportion that the net direct premium of the member written in Alabama during the preceding calendar year bears to the aggregate net direct premiums written in Alabama by all members of the Authority, as certified to the Authority. Credit for voluntary writings in the Gulf Front, Beach and Seacoast Zones shall be calculated separately for each zone on the basis of 100 percent credit for fire policies, 75 percent credit for homeowners and mobile homeowners policies, and 50 percent credit for commercial multi-perils policies. The "Total Credit" for each zone shall be allowed a credit separately for Gulf Front, Beach and Seacoast property premiums. Premiums for policies excluding wind and hail are not eligible for credit. Farm premiums are not eligible for credit. Participation shall be determined separately for each zone using credits as calculated separately for each zone.

(b) The assessment of a member insurer may be ordered deferred in whole or in part upon application by the insurer if, in the opinion of the board, payment of the assessment would render the insurer insolvent or in danger of insolvency or produce a hazard to its policy holders, creditors, or the public. The deferral must be repaid to the Authority by the impaired insurer with interest in a manner prescribed by the board.

(c) A member company that perceives an assessment by the Authority to be unjust or illegal shall pay the assessment or interest under protest in writing within 30 days of the assessment. If determined by the board that the assessment was collected unjustly or illegally, the Authority shall refund the assessment. If the member fails to pay an assessment within 30 days, the member is subject to disciplinary actions prescribed by the board.

§27-22A-6.

The board shall have the general powers and authority granted under the laws of this state to property insurers and in addition thereto, the specific authority to do all of the following:

(1) Enter into contracts as are necessary or proper to carry out the provisions and purposes of this act, including the authority, with the approval of the commissioner, to enter into contracts with persons or other organizations for the performance of administrative functions or with similar plans of other states for the joint performance of common administrative functions.

(2) Sue or be sued, including taking any legal actions necessary or proper to recover or collect monies due the Authority.

(3) Take legal action as necessary to do any of the following:

a. To avoid the payment of improper claims against the Authority or the coverage provided by or through the Authority.

b. To recover any amounts erroneously or improperly paid by the Authority.

c. To recover any amounts paid by the Authority as a result of mistake of fact or law.

d. To recover other amounts due the Authority.

(4) Establish and modify from time to time as appropriate, rates, rate schedules, rate adjustments, expense allowances, claim reserve formulas, and any other actuarial function appropriate to the operation of the Authority. Rates and rate schedules may by adjusted for appropriate factors such as type of construction and geographic variation in claim cost and shall take into consideration appropriate factors in accordance with established actuarial and underwriting practices.

(5) Issue policies of insurance in accordance with the requirements of this act and regulations issued pursuant thereto.

(6) Appoint appropriate legal, actuarial, and other committees as necessary to provide technical assistance in the operation of the Authority, policy, and other contract design, and any other function within the authority of the Authority.

(7) Borrow money to effect the purposes of the Authority. Any notes or other evidence of indebtedness of the Authority not in default shall be legal investments for insurers and may be carried as admitted assets.

(8) Establish rules, conditions, and procedures for member insurers to receive credit for essential property insurance voluntarily written in the beach area.

(9) Employ and fix the compensation of employees.

(10) Provide for reinsurance of risks incurred by the Authority.

(11) Provide for wind mitigation credits.

(12) Adopt policies and procedures as may be necessary or convenient for the implementation of this act and the plan of operation of the Authority.

(13) Perform all acts that relate to the function and purpose of the Authority, whether or not specifically designated in this act.

(14) Establish a trust account or similar account in which to maintain and carry over any surplus or unexpended monies which may exist or be created.

§27-22A-7.

The Commissioner of Insurance, by regulation, may establish additional powers and duties of the Authority and may adopt rules and regulations as necessary and proper to implement this act.

Section 3. Section 35-8-23, is added to the Code of Alabama 1975 to read as follows.

§35-8-23.

Condominium property may be removed from the provisions of this chapter and placed under the provisions of Title 35, Chapter 8A, the Alabama Uniform Condominium Act, provided that two thirds of all unit owners of a condominium agree. Such a conversion may be effectuated by a vote at a called meeting, or by petition with each signature of a unit owner witnessed on the petition by someone other than a unit owner, such conversion being duly recorded as a change to the bylaws of the association.

Section 4. Section 35-8A-313, Code of Alabama 1975, is amended to read as follows:
§35-8A-313.

"(a) Commencing not later than the time of the first conveyance of a unit to a person other than a declarant, the association shall maintain, to the extent reasonably available:

"(1) Property insurance on the common elements insuring against all risks of direct physical loss commonly insured against or, in the case of a conversion building, against fire and extended coverage perils. The total amount of insurance after application of any deductibles shall be not less than the greater of 80 percent of the actual cash value of the insured property at the time the insurance is purchased or such greater percentage of such actual cash value as may be necessary to prevent the applicability of any co-insurance provision and at each renewal date, exclusive of land, excavations, foundations and other items normally excluded from property policies; and

"(2) Liability insurance, including medical payments insurance, in an amount determined by the board but not less than any amount specified in the declaration, covering all occurrences commonly insured against for death, bodily injury, and property damage arising out of or in connection with the use, ownership, or maintenance of the common elements.

"(b) In the case of a building containing units having horizontal boundaries described in the declaration, the insurance maintained under subdivision (a)(1), to the extent reasonably available, must include the units, but need not include improvements and betterments installed by unit owners.

"(c) The insurance described in subsections (a) and (b) may be provided by a captive insurance company defined in Title 27, Chapter 31B, the Alabama Captive Insurers Act. If the insurance described in subsections (a) and (b) is not reasonably available, the association promptly shall cause notice of that fact to be hand-delivered or sent prepaid by United States mail to all unit owners. The declaration may require the association to carry any other insurance, and the association in any event may carry any other insurance it deems appropriate to protect the association or the unit owners.

"(d) Insurance policies carried pursuant to subsection (a) must provide that:

"(1) Each unit owner is an insured person under the policy with respect to liability arising out of his interest in the common elements or membership in the association;

"(2) The insurer waives its right to subrogation under the policy against any unit owner or member of his household;

"(3) No act or omission by any unit owner, unless acting within the scope of his authority on behalf of the association, will void the policy or be a condition to recovery under the policy; and

"(4) If, at the time of a loss under the policy, there is other insurance in the name of a unit owner covering the same risk covered by the policy, the association's policy provides primary insurance.

"(e) Any loss covered by the property policy under subsections (a)(1) and (b) must be adjusted with the association, but the insurance proceeds for that loss are payable to any insurance trustee designated for that purpose, or otherwise to the association, and not to any holder of a security interest. The insurance trustee or the association shall hold any insurance proceeds in trust for unit owners and lien holders as their interests may appear. Subject to the provisions of subsection (h), the proceeds must be disbursed first for the repair or restoration of the damaged property, and the association unit owners and lien holders are not entitled to receive payment of any portion of the proceeds unless there is a surplus of proceeds after the property has been completely repaired or restored, or the condominium is terminated.

"(f) An insurance policy issued to the association does not prevent a unit owner from obtaining insurance for his own benefit.

"(g) An insurer that has issued an insurance policy under this section shall issue certificates or memoranda of insurance to the association and, upon written request, to any unit owner, or holder of a security interest. The insurer issuing the policy may not cancel or refuse to renew it until 30 days after notice of the proposed cancellation or nonrenewal has been mailed to the association, each unit owner and each mortgagee or beneficiary under a deed of trust to whom a certificate or memorandum of insurance has been issued at their respective last known addresses.

"(h) Any portion of the condominium for which insurance is required under this section which is damaged or destroyed must be repaired or replaced promptly by the association unless:

"(1) The condominium is terminated, in which case section 35-8A-218 applies,

"(2) Repair or replacement would be illegal under any state or local statute or ordinance governing health or safety, or

"(3) Eighty percent of the unit owners, including every owner of a unit or assigned limited common element which will not be rebuilt, vote not to rebuild. The cost of repair or replacement in excess of insurance proceeds and reserves is a common expense.

"If the entire condominium is not repaired or replaced, (i) the insurance proceeds attributable to the damaged common elements must be used to restore the damaged area to a condition compatible with the remainder of the condominium, (ii) except to the extent that other persons will be distributees under section 35-8A-205(a)(12)(ii),

"(1) The insurance proceeds attributable to units and limited common elements which are not rebuilt must be distributed to the owners of those units and the owners of the units to which those limited common elements were allocated, or to lienholders, as their interests may appear, and

"(2) The remainder of the proceeds must be distributed to all the unit owners or lienholders, as their interests may appear, in proportion to the common element interests of all the units.

"If the unit owners vote not to rebuild any unit, that unit's allocated interests are automatically reallocated upon the vote as if the unit had been condemned under section 35-8A-107(a), and the association promptly shall prepare, execute, and record an amendment to the declaration reflecting the reallocations.

"(i) The provisions of this section may be varied or waived in the case of a condominium all of whose units are restricted to nonresidential use."

Section 5. For tax years beginning after December 31, 2007, an Alabama income tax credit shall be made available against the tax imposed by Chapter 18 of Title 40 of the Code of Alabama 1975, for the lesser of the two, 25 percent of the cost or one thousand dollars ($1,000) to individuals in counties in Alabama which are adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico who make the following improvements in order to provide a more weather-resistant property:

(1) Roof deck attachment.

(2) Secondary water barrier.

(3) Roof covering.

(4) Brace gable ends.

(5) Reinforce roof-to-wall connections.

(6) Opening protection.

(7) Exterior doors, including garage doors.

(8) Tie downs.

(9) Non-decorative shutters and window covers designed to be storm and hurricane resistant.

(10) Any other mitigating technique approved by the Commissioner of Insurance.

In order to obtain the credit described herein, each citizen claiming such a credit must maintain sufficient records of the improvement, including, but not limited to, receipts from contractors, receipts for materials, records from local building officials, and such records shall be subject to audit under regular state income tax procedures.

Section 6. This act shall become effective on the first day of the third month following its passage and approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.

 

Message from Bill Harper

February 17, 2008

Dear Friends,

At the Board of Directors meeting, Saturday, February 9, we enjoyed, while transacting the business of the Association, beautiful weather. Attendance was moderate. The view from the top of the Isle-Dauphine Clubhouse is quite enthralling at this time of the year. There is, now, virtually no gap between Dauphin Island and Sand Island. One can have a pleasant walk on Sand Island without getting one’s feet wet. The pier, of course, is completely marooned in sand.

In December, as expected, our finances dipped a bit due to the large expenses of property taxes and insurance payments. Even though we had many days of rain, play on the golf course in January was good, generating almost $25,000 in receipts, equaling our play for all of the fall months. With a respectable number of snowbirds playing golf every day, our income is up, but it will take a huge amount of luck for us make our budgeted goal. However, in all likelihood, we will increase golf income over last year by 35%, amounting to $60,000. With royalties up and membership slightly over budget, we will come close to breaking even this year.

As I mentioned in previous correspondence, Phil Baldwin, our new board member has been busy assisting the Golf-course committee clarify its long-term goals. After a short presentation giving an overview of long-term and short-term goals Phil believes the Board should embrace, he offered a resolution encapsulating those goals. In brief, for the short term, a committee of volunteers will work to improve the appearance of the golf course and for the long term, that committee will seek to find ways to insure the solvency of the golf course in perpetuity. Several members in the audience expressed the view that plans for the future should involve a diversification of attractions so that in satisfying a wider spectrum of interests the public would be drawn consistently to the Island thus enhancing commercial prospects. Tom Brennan pointed out that a previous board had already resolved that plans for future development should include requirements for diversification, but was forced to put those plans on the back burner when the West-Surf-Beach lawsuit stopped the Ox dead in its tracks. The Board passed Phil Baldwin’s motion unanimously.

With regard to plans for the future, should the court find in its resolution of the West-Surf-Beach lawsuit that deed-restrictions do not nullify all development of our property, I am sure that long-term strategies for the club and golf course will involve a lodging component of some sort. But the size and type of the lodging component is, of course, an issue still to be decided by the Board and by the entire membership.

The Architectural Committee reported a number of repair requests and two new housing starts for the month. Lisa Hansen has been added as a committee member.

March 10th is now the date for hearing something on the Corp-of-Engineers settlement agreement. It is expected that the Experts Report will be made public on or about or after this date. Since the West-Surf-Beach lawsuit is now tied to the results of the settlement, we expect some movement on this issue at the same time. We were advised in the last few days that the Pitts’ appeal, which reversed Judge Graddick's ruling, has now been moved into a petition for certiorari with the Alabama Supreme Court on behalf of Pitts. We have now to wait a month or two to hear whether the Court will hear this petition.

As you know the CIAP funding for East-End beach restoration has been denied by the State of Alabama's Department of Conservation. Instead they have offered the Town of Dauphin Island $2M for another project, probably for the obtaining property on Aloe Bay for the creation of public land and docks as a part of the Working Inner Harbor concept. Beggars can't be choosers, but the State’s politically correct generosity does nothing to protect the East End.

The Town of Dauphin Island is working with a Washington DC consultant, preparing legislation for our congressman and senators to accomplish the East-End beach restoration. Last year when we sought to interact with our local, state and federal politicians, it became quite evident that Dauphin Island did not have anything like the political leverage our neighbors to the north of us and in Baldwin County have. At the last meeting, I proposed and it passed the board that we, the DIPOA, will create a political action committee. In May, when our yearly membership drive starts we will ask members, apart from dues, to contribute $5, $10 or more to this fund. The fund will be non-partisan, and not for local Town elections, but will be directed at elected county officials and state legislators, especially our local ones. And it will support our federal legislators. We will donate to people who have helped Dauphin Island and to those who will listen to our concerns and needs. I urge you to support this effort.

We have settled on a method of secret ballots for future elections. However, in order for it to work, it will require that members take care to indicate in detail their names, DI address and lot information on the outside envelope that will contain a smaller envelope holding your ballot choices sealed in it. We will use this for the May elections of three board members.

And finally, If you are interested in running for a board position, please contact our office, sending a 200-word statement about yourself and your stand or thoughts on some of the issues facing our association and Island. We must have these by close of business April 1, 2007. Our e-mail address is dipoa@skyynett.com and our mailing address is DIPOA, PO Box 366, Dauphin Island, AL 36528.

Our next meetings are March 6, 2008, 7pm, April 3, 2008, 7pm at the Club. Our May meeting, which is our annual membership meeting, will be at the Isle Dauphine Club, May 10, 11:00am.

Best regards,

William (Bill) Harper

President

Dauphin Island Property Owners Assoc.