Robin's Blog for Dauphin Island

Message from Bill Harper, President - Dauphin Island Property Owners Association - January 4, 2009
January 7th, 2009 6:14 PM

 

Message From Bill Harper
January 4, 2009
 
Dear Members,
 
I hope everyone had a happy holiday period and that the new year will bring better news and better times for both our country and our little island.
 
This message is just a reminder that the monthly Dauphin Island Property Owners Association's Board of Directors meeting is this Thursday, January 8, 2009, at 4:00 PM in the Isle Dauphine Club, lower level. I would like to see a better turn out of members for the board will discuss our decision to settle the West Surf Beach lawsuit, plus updates on other legal cases. A lot of things happening on the legal front!
 
Another issue that has come to the fore front in recent days and weeks is that Dauphin Island needs to start looking at ways to create a source of income that will support our share of any costs in federal or state monies that will come our way for an engineered beach on the East and West ends of our island. I would like to see our island come together to make this happen in a short time. Again, I hope you can come out to offer your ideas and comments on this issue.
 
All the best, and hope to see you on Thursday.
 
William (Bill) Harper
President, Dauphin Island Property Owners Association  

Posted by Robin Linn on January 7th, 2009 6:14 PMPost a Comment (0)

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January Message from Bill Harper, President - DIPOA
January 13th, 2009 7:42 PM


January 8, 2009

Dear friends,

Aside from two attempts by one participant in the West-Surf-Beach lawsuit to derail the meeting into acrimony over that aborted affair, and one attempt to have the Board withdraw completely from the lawsuit against the Pitts—from a couple with a personal stake in the outcome of the Pitts’s suit—the first Board meeting of the new year went reasonably well with a larger crowd than usual in attendance. Doubtless, the increase in attendance was prompted by an interest in the details of the last-minute settlement requested by the lawyer of the West-Surf Beach plaintiffs.

I want to thank Cliff Brady, our lead attorney, for doing a good job in condensing almost two years of litigation into a cogent summary.

In sum, the settlement agreed to by both parties stipulates that the DIPOA's West Surf Beach, which is mostly underwater, will be transferred to the Town of Dauphin Island once the documents are drawn and signed. The agreement also stipulates that the town must produce within five years a feasibility study, and has an additional two years (seven years all toll) to start a beach restoration program. If the town fails to meet these requirements, the West-Surf-Beach property reverts to the DIPOA. The other restrictions—included in the original proposal—still obtain. They specify no structures, commercial or otherwise, will be built on the property.

Mayor Collier, present at the meeting, expressed great optimism that the agreement constituted a critical turning point in the Town’s ability to procure funding from the state and federal governments. In the past, the sticking point for funding beach restoration was the perceived lack of access to the West-Surf beach by the public. This perception was mightily exploited by the Mobile Register, making it impossible to obtain cooperation from state and federal power brokers.

Our finances, while not robust, are nevertheless for this time of year satisfactory. As usual, the month of December was heavy with expenditures for property taxes, property insurance, plus legal fees. The last four months of the year traditionally produce the most income with winter visitors coming to the island, and many playing golf daily. Golf play at the course continues to increase at an average of 10-15% over last year.

The main property at the Club and golf course is looking better and better every month. Within weeks we hope to be able to resurface the road leading into the property and the large parking area beyond the club buildings. As it warms up, we will continue painting and repairing the main Club building.

Our other two main legal cases, the Corps of Engineers settlement and the Pitts Case seem to be coming to an end.

There will be a closed hearing January 27th at the Federal Courthouse in Mobile for the Corps settlement. I will attend, but no news or information will come out for all participants will be bound by a confidentiality agreement. When the judge rules, the court will go public with the ruling.

In the Pitts’s covenant-violation case, we have a new circuit court judge who has called for a special legal master to review all the documents and rulings over the last several years. He will then report his conclusions to the judge.

Now that the West-Surf-Beach lawsuit is over, the town will be working closely with our consultant in Washington, D.C. in his efforts to obtain congressional support for funding an engineered beach, extending from the eastern point to the western end of our island. But this effort, while vital, is not the end of the story. The members and governmental entities of the Dauphin-Island community need to start making plans about how we will contribute our share of any federal or state funding coming our way.

U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner has stated in the Mobile Register that he is willing to help us in our efforts to secure federal funding, but we cannot expect the federal government to foot the entire bill. I quote, "I am pleased that the settlement was reached, because there was no chance of getting any federal assistance as long as the area in question was in private control," Bonner said. "But the fact is ... no one should get big-eyed and excited about a beach renourishment program where the federal government comes in and builds a new beach without a lot of the responsibility still falling on the local community's shoulders."

At this juncture, I’m not prepared to say where our share of funding should come from, but I do believe that the town should get cracking seeking the advice of the residents and property owners for ways, we as a community, might find the requisite funding stream that will generate our share of any beach renourishment program. Everything is on the table. We welcome any and all suggestions from our members who know of similar problems in other coastal regions. I will forward them to our Mayor and Town Council. We cannot procrastinate on this issue.

After our board meeting, the Dauphin Island Community Forum met. The DI Park and Beach Board announced that better board walks are being planned for the DI Audubon Bird Sanctuary, as well as upgrades at the public beach area. Mayor Collier announced that full time Public Safety Officers have been hired to work round the clock out of the DI Volunteer Fire & Rescue station to respond to emergency situations here on the island. They are trained paramedics and EMT's. The DI Water & Sewer authority stated that plans are moving forward for a better, reverse osmosis system, for processing the water coming from our wells.

Our next Board of Directors meeting of the DIPOA, will be held February 14, 2009 at 10:00 AM in the Isle Dauphine Club, lower level. All members are welcomed.

Best regards,

William (Bill) Harper

President

Posted by Kelby Linn on January 13th, 2009 7:42 PMPost a Comment (0)

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Town of Dauphin Island - Employment Opportunity
January 7th, 2009 6:21 PM

 

THE TOWN OF DAUPHIN ISLAND

IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

FOR THE POSITION OF

LICENSE/PERMITS CLERK I

REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE:

Must possess a valid driver’s license, high school diploma or GED. Must possess good verbal and written communication skills. General computer knowledge required. Pre-employment physical and drug screen required

DUTIES INCLUDE:

GREET PUBLIC, ISSUE BUSINESS LICENSE, MAIL OUT YEARLY BUSINESS LICENSE RENEWALS; ISSUE BUILDING, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, MECHANICAL, & MISCELLANEOUS PERMITS; MISCELLANEOUS REPORTS, COPIES, FAXES, BANK DEPOSITS SET UP INSPECTIONS, POST INSPECTIONS, ELECTRICAL RELEASE TO POWER, PREPARE PERMITS FOR POA MEETINGS; REPORT TO TOWN COUNCIL MONTHLY ON BUILDING PERMITS, ADEM & CENSUS REPORTS, SERVE AS SECRETARY OF THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT AND ATTEND MEETINGS AS NEEDED; PREPARE PURCHASE ORDERS; ASSIST PUBLIC WITH ZONING ORDINANCE, MAP AND FLOOD MAPS; BACKUP PAYROLL, ASSIST TOWN CLERK, AND ANY ADDITIONAL DUTIES AS NECESSARY.

Applications may be obtained at

Town Hall, 1011 Bienville Blvd, Dauphin Island, AL

Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM.

APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED THROUGH

JANUARY 20, 2009 12:00 NOON

THE TOWN OF DAUPHIN ISLAND IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.


Posted by Robin Linn on January 7th, 2009 6:21 PMPost a Comment (0)

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Green Park - Dauphin Island
January 7th, 2009 6:15 PM

 

COME PLANT SOME FLOWERS IN GREEN PARK!

IN THE COMING MONTHS THE TOWN WOULD LIKE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO HELP MAKE GREEN PARK A PLACE THE ISLAND CAN BE PROUD OF.

WE INVITE THE RESIDENTS TO COME AND HANG A BIRD FEEDER IN THE TREES, PLANT A TREE, MAKE A BUTTERFLY GARDEN OR FLOWER BED THAT YOU CAN MAINTAIN YOURSELF.

LET’S SEE WHO CAN GROW THE PRETTIEST FLOWERS OR ATTRACT THE MOST BUTTERFLIES AND HUMMINGBIRDS. LET’S ALL WORK TOGETHER TO BRING THIS LITTLE PARK TO ITS FULL POTENTIAL.

WE AS A COMMUNITY NEED TO MAKE GREEN PARK A WELCOMING SIGHT FOR OURSELVES AND VISITORS TO OUR ISLAND.

.

CONTACT: TOWN HALL, MARY STRICKLAND, 861-5525


Posted by Robin Linn on January 7th, 2009 6:15 PMPost a Comment (0)

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Mobile Press Register Article - January 4, 2009
January 7th, 2009 4:50 PM

 

Mayor says Dauphin Island faces 'desperate situation'

Sunday, January 04, 2009
By KATHERINE SAYRE
Staff Reporter

DAUPHIN ISLAND — The west end beach on Dauphin Island, a few miles of sand facing the vast Gulf of Mexico, has nearly disappeared.

Now, leaders on this barrier island have a deadline to try to revitalize the battered and eroded strip of beach.

The Town of Dauphin Island must launch a rebuilding project within seven years or lose the land it was granted last month in a lawsuit settlement. Revitalizing this part of the west end will require a lot of planning, sand and money — at least some of which will have to come from outside the town's coffers, island officials said recently.

The west end beach — from the south boundaries of the private home lots down to the Gulf water stretching across 3cm HALF miles — has shrunk from about 120 acres in the 1950s to less than 4 acres today, said one land surveyor who has studied the island recently. A few private lots have been completely submerged in water.

"Certainly, it's a desperate situation that we're dealing with," Mayor Jeff Collier said. "Conditions are such that we don't have the luxury of time."

The Dauphin Island Property Owners Association had owned the beach since 1954, but members of the association voted last year to turn this property over to the town in the hopes that a publicly owned beach would be eligible for government-funded beach renourishment. Some property owners filed a lawsuit to block the move.

The town must complete an engineering study within five years and begin construction on a new beach within seven years. If the town fails, the eroded land will revert back to the Property Owners Association.

The town will face several challenges in getting the task done, including how to pay for such a project. Town officials said local, state and federal funds will be sought. The cost of renourishment could go up to $4 million per mile, officials have said, although it will take an engineering study to develop a more accurate cost estimate.

Some beach nourishment projects can be led by the federal government through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Other projects are implemented from the state and local levels. Many are paid for through a combination of federal, state and local funds.

U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner, R-Mobile, said he will help Dauphin Island in its efforts to secure some federal funding, but the island must pay for its own share of the costs.

"I am pleased that the settlement was reached, because there was no chance of getting any federal assistance as long as the area in question was in private control," Bonner said. "But the fact is ... no one should get big-eyed and excited about a beach renourishment program where the federal government comes in and builds a new beach without a lot of the responsibility still falling on the local community's shoulders."

State Rep. Spencer Collier, R-Irvington, said he also supports the island's efforts to rebuild on the west end, but he said the only likely state funding for the project would come through the Coastal Impact Assistance Program, a federal fund intended to compensate coastal states for the effects of offshore oil and gas drilling.

In 2007, Alabama and its two coastal counties were allocated about $51 million for coastal projects that included a fishing pier, land acquisition, and land restoration.

Collier said that while he understands that money is tight, the island is worth saving because of the potential for more tourism dollars and the protection the barrier island provides to south Mobile County during hurricanes.

"It's not as simple as the beach is a beach for an elite few," Collier said. "It's a complex problem; it's going to take a complex solution."

Barrier islands naturally change shape, grow and erode, moved by sand drifting on the westward currents along the shore. Federal scientists who studied the Alabama-Mississippi chain of barrier islands — including Cat, Horn, Ship, Petit Bois and Dauphin islands — have blamed their rapid erosion on rising sea levels, more intense and frequent storms and a lack of sand supply due to dredging of nearby ship channels.

Scott Douglass, a coastal engineer for the University of South Alabama, said any west end renourishment would require the town to find lots of good quality, native sand to place on the beach. Dauphin Island's sand tends to be of a larger grain and all of the pieces are about the same size, he said. The sand is also very white, which is typical of Alabama beaches.

"The challenge is significant, and it's going to cost a lot of money," Douglass said. "We'll have to decide where we want the island to be and put it there, and put it there in a way that it survives."

In October, island officials announced a plan to rebuild the east end beach near Fort Gaines and the Audubon Bird Sanctuary. The east end is the older, more stable part of the island that has a natural dune system and pine trees.

The project would likely cost about $12.8 million. Collier said the town will continue to pursue that restoration project. A few hundred feet of beach has eroded from that part of the island over the past 100 years.

Meanwhile, a lawsuit by the Property Owners Association blaming west end erosion on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredging practices in the Mobile Ship Channel has been pending in federal court since 2000. One possible outcome of an ongoing settlement proceeding in that case could be a beach renourishment project on the west end.


 

©2009 Mobile
© 2009 al.com All Rights Reserved.


Posted by Robin Linn on January 7th, 2009 4:50 PMPost a Comment (0)

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