Robin's Blog for Dauphin Island

Below is a combination of highlights of several meetings that have taken place in the past few days , sent in by several attendees. Thank you.
We have tried not to repeat items already mentioned in the Monday evening meeting while writing about the Tuesday evening’s meeting unless there was a substantial addition to the topic.
 
 
 
COUNCIL 4 HOUR WORK SESSION

Street Department has sold approximately $50,000 of used equipment on the web site GovDeals.com.
Mayor Collier has had weekly meetings with Sen. Brooks and Spencer Collier with regard to the East End stabilization, and has made great strides.
Mayor Collier and Mary Thompson will meet with all the candidates for council to get up to speed on projects and regulations they will have to deal with if elected. Council members who are up for re-election were not invited to this meeting so that it was able to be a closed meeting. Mayor Collier and Mary Thompson are running unopposed.

Carolyn Wood stated that some of the candidates signs were not legal due to their size and that they had no disclaimer on them. Because all candidates were present at this meeting, with only one exception, the offenders will address this problem.
Joyce Allen reported that LTS, a company doing various projects for the town, is now being charged for unfinished work at Billy Goat Hole. LTS said the work should be finished by the end of the week.

Joyce made a recommendation that the parking area be better lit with LOW IMPACT lighting. She also made a recommendation the town charge for parking for any events the vendors sponsor from 6:PM to 10PM. as suggested by the Di-BBS.

The island will have two shuttle buses in the fall.
There was a discussion concerning the large amount of money spent on advertising. Several council members felt that the effort should be to create a positive image of Dauphin Island on a national basis. Other council members felt that the “good press” should be concentrated closer to home. Dauphin Island currently employs a 2 PR persons and it was suggested that a clarification be made as to what DI’s goals and needs are.
The Town Fire Truck ownership will be changed from the Town to the DIFD.
Alabama Lighthouse association had changed its agreement with Dauphin Island. FIRST agreement stated they would be responsible for raising ALL funds required to refurbish the lighthouse, the NEW agreement states they will ASSIST Dauphin Island in fund raising.
Nanette Davidson, our new Town Clerk will get her certification in October. Congratulations!


There was only 1 bid from a vendor who wants to use the new building at Billy Goat Hole to sell his wares. It is the same vendor who runs one of the tiki hut concessions at the West End Beach. (Note: After some discussion by the council and audience input whether to re-open the bidding process to allow for more competition at Tuesday evening’s meeting, it was decided that the town should go into negotiations with the sole bidder for the concession stand.)

ABC Board said Flamingo Faye’s will need to get a different liquor license to be able to sell booze and food to golfers if it is “take out”.

Nanette, town clerk, reported the ballots have been printed up and no changes or additions can be made at this point.

Mary Thompson brought up the plans for a “senior center”. She stated that she thought the town should go ahead with the plan to build a place with all the basics we need without trying to build into it all the bells and whistles. It appears that the DI Foundation, and Chamber of Commerce were going to all partner in this in some fashion and the plans got so inflated that the CC and the DIF pulled out, and that it was the latter not the town that wanted more extensive facilities. The mayor said he wasn’t sure we should do that because he was hoping that at some future time the other two would “get it together and build what they want. He saw no need for two buildings of this type.(see additional comments-Tuesday evening’s meeting)



TOWN OF DAUPHIN ISLAND COUNCIL MEETING
AUGUST 5, 2008
Public Hearing
The first reading of the sign ordinance was made available for all who attended the Public Hearing.
Sandwich signs ‘ 24’wide x 36’high ‘ can now be placed on the right of way. Certain restrictions will apply. Permits and details may be obtained at City Hall.
Regular Council Meeting
.
Total Invoices; $261,216,06
During discussions concerning Police Activity, the following questions/responses were generated:
Can anything be done about the road blocks coming onto the Island during Rodeo weekend ?
“This is the jurisdiction of the State Police and they can do what they want” advised Chief Goodwin; the Police Chief.
Other comments from the attendees regarded:
Speeding on the West End and other areas, people building sand castles on the berm, the police not responding to calls about people on the berm, and the height of the grass/weeds along the right-of-way on the West End restricting a drivers view as they enter Bienville Blvd.
 
West End reported no damage from the recent hurricane that went into Texas.
Some sand was brought in and the Beach Bash with volley ball, venders, and a live band was a great success this past weekend.
Parking lot repairs on the West End beach are still in negotiations.
Funds are available for a Senior Center in the 2009 Funding. The Chamber of Commerce is willing to continue shared (Town, DI Foundation and DI Chamber of Commerce) funding for the employee at the Welcome Center that would work at any future Senior Center.
 
The house on the West End owned by the Town of Dauphin Island, to date has spent $62,323.90 and $88,975. The house will be used as a guest house “for whatever the Town decides to use if for” said Mayor Collier.
 
An amendment to approve the Liquor License at Flamingo Fae’s Beachside Grill and Tiki Bar, to include sale of Alcohol Beverages on the entire Dauphin Island Golf Course property was approved.
The question as to whether the DIPOA or Flamingo Fae’s had the burden of Liability for alcohol consumption on the golf course was to be addressed by the DIPOA.
It was suggested that the position of Finance/Public Relations be filled from within the Town Hall employees.
Resolution: 2008-08-05 B, to elect the Mayor, Jeff Collier, without opposition was read and approved. (This is a technicality when a person runs unopposed.)

Resolution: 2008-08-05A , to elect place 2, Mary Thompson without opposition was read and approved.
 
Note:  If you will be out of town for the election, please remember to call town hall to get an absentee ballot. Now!  (251) 861-5525.

Hello All:

The NOAA Coastal Storms Program, NOAA Regional Team and Gulf of Mexico Alliance Resilience Team have worked together to post a Gulfwide Web portal linking to a wealth of information about Tropical Storm Gustav and Tropical Storm Hanna.

The portal will continue to be updated with information on preparation and short-term recovery in all Gulf states. There are no graphics so that the information can be easily downloaded to a PDA or cell phone in case of evacuation. You can access the portal at: http://masgc.org/gulfstorms.

Please pass this information along to your local contacts in the area and others who may benefit from it. And, if you have disaster information you think should be included on this site, please contact me.

Thank you,

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

Sealed proposals will be received by the Town of Dauphin Island at 1011 Bienville Blvd., Dauphin Island, Alabama 36528 until

2:00 p.m. CDT September 2, 2008,

for

A New Police Station for the Town of Dauphin Island

at which time and place they will be publicly opened and read.

A Pre-Bid Meeting is scheduled to be held at 1:00 p.m. CDT, on August 26, 2008, in the Town Hall Meeting Room, 1011 Bienville Blvd., Dauphin Island, Alabama 36528.

Bid Documents may be obtained through SCI, Fairhope, AL, (251) 929-2656.

Bids must be submitted on proposal forms furnished by the Town of Dauphin Island or copies thereof. All bidders bidding in amounts exceeding that established by the State Licensing Board for General Contractors must be licensed under the provisions of Title 34, Chapter 8, Code of Alabama, 1975, and must show evidence of license before bidding or bid will not be received or considered by the Owner; the bidder shall show such evidence by clearly displaying his or her current license number on the outside of the sealed envelope in which the proposal is delivered. No bid may be withdrawn after the scheduled closing time for receipt of bids for a period of (30) days. The Owner reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and to waive technical errors if, in the Owner’s judgement, the best interests of the Owner will thereby be promoted.

NOTICE OF SALE & USE TAX EXEMPTION: Materials incorporated into the Work are exempt from sales and use tax pursuant to Alabama Act No. 2000-84 (effective October 2000.) General Contractors and subcontractors interested in bidding are advised to contact the Sales, Use & Business Tax Division of the Alabama Department of Revenue for information regarding required qualifications for exemption.

Message From Bill Harper

August 14, 2008

Dear friends,

Our summer is almost over and a calm and peaceful summer it was. I just hope this continues into September and the fall months, for these are often the most active months for hurricanes.

Our beach area was quieter this season, but our golf course, tennis courts, and pool were bustling. The accretion of sand, solidly joining Pelican Island to Dauphin Island at the pier/public beach area has changed beach dynamics at Dauphin Island. Our golf-course beachfront has calmer water now, perfect for families and children. Quite a change from Memorial Day weekend, 2007, and the crowd we saw then! The two-dollar environmental fee for keeping the grounds and beach clean and for paying a security officer has proved its worth. I remind you that dogs must be kept on a leash at all times.

We recently sent out a reminder note for the 2008/09 membership dues which included postage paid envelopes. If anyone was offended, I apologize and take complete responsibility for this note. Trying to raise money is not a pleasant task. Since, as everyone knows, making dues mandatory is not feasible, we remind, cajole, beg and urge our members to send us money to keep our association solvent. As a wise member recently said and I am paraphrasing:

The Dauphin Island Property Owners Association protects and manages the property owners land, and the largest and most valuable piece is the Golf Course/ Isle Dauphine Club. We as property owners are all part owners of this valuable land owned by the DIPOA. How can anyone believe that $100 is too much to give to such a valuable organization on the island. Does anyone have any idea what the course and club property could become if the DIPOA ceases to exist? This organization protects our island no matter what happens to the Town of Dauphin Island. The Dauphin Island Property Owners restrictive covenants on the deeds to your property govern what type of buildings can be built. We as property owners have at least one voice on some matters affecting the island, and that is through our Property Owners Association.

To date, we have over 650 members contributing yearly dues to our effort. We have over 2,800 members in our association. I am hoping that we can reach the 1,300 member level this year. I urge you to support our membership drive this year, it does make a difference. Send your checks for $100 to DIPOA, PO Box 39, Dauphin Island, AL 36528.

At our August 7th, 2008, Board of Directors meeting our finances showed a slight dip in total financial assets, but we had a large insurance payment during the last month as well as some unforeseen repair bills. We still have, including an outstanding receipt of $73,000 from the Alabama Historical Commission, over $960,000 in the bank and in reserves. I am hoping we can break the one million mark soon.

Jeff's course and Club report was encouraging. Golf rounds continue to go up with full paying public guests leading the way. Recent rains have helped the course, which is in the best shape in years. The road leading into the grounds has been temporarily repaired. We expect to resurface it this fall. Vernon Fly, our one-man landscaping and painting crew, has been busy tending to the grounds and the Club buildings this summer. We will have volunteer work parties this September and October, when it is cooler, to complete the painting of the Isle Dauphine Club structures.

On the legal front, the Corp of Engineers settlement is moving toward the Federal Claims Court's hearing which will hear arguments on the Expert's Report and then make a final decision. Our lawyers tell us that this may happen this fall, but no one is sure. The plaintiffs in the West Surf Beach lawsuit filed for a continuance last week, and we heard Monday, August 11th that it was granted by Judge Graddick. He cited the need for clarity regarding the Corp settlement—whatever that means—but ruled that if a settlement does not take place as of the end of November, 2008, a trial will be set at the earliest date in December. The Pitt's covenant case is moving forward toward a re-trial.

A few members have written me about our island allowing street-legal golf carts on side streets. This could be an excellent idea, adding quality to our little island, but, of course, such an innovation would require enforcement of strict regulations. We are hearing that Daphne and Fairhope are considering something similar. We are researching this issue along with the Town's attorney, but I would like to hear your comments on this issue.

Again, we welcome any and all comments from our membership.

Sincerely,

William (Bill) Harper

DIPOA