May 15th, 2009 6:41 PM

Summary of Public Meeting on Bienville Blvd Berm Concept

Several members of the Board of the Dauphin Island Property Owners Association attended this important public hearing last night. The following provides a summary of what took place. At the end of this message, we have created a method to affect a quick straw poll to help our elected officials come to a decision on this difficult decision.

Meeting Summary

Mayor Jeff Collier opened the Public Hearing at 6:05 PM. All of the Town Council were in attendance. Hand-outs were provided to attendees outlining the course of the evening, and the ground rules for the question and answer period. We estimate that 150-175 people attended the hearing. A show of hands during the latter part of the evening indicated that the crowd appeared to about 60% West End property owners, and most of those were from the south side of Bienville Blvd.

Mayor Collier began the discussion with a history of the situation that is now facing the Island. The Berm on the shoreline constructed after Katrina was destroyed by Gustav and Ike. The Town submitted a request to FEMA for a replacement which was denied. The Town was denied this request for lack of a stable shoreline. The Town appealed, suggesting the shoreline was adequate, with this being denied too. Town staff/representatives met with the State EMA to consider alternatives with an idea to relocate the berm to parallel the south side of Bienville Blvd in the road right-of-way.

The berm’s purpose is to protect infrastructure, mainly the road and associated drainage/utilities, plus to adhere to FEMA regulations for Emergency Protective Methods. The Town must submit a second appeal no later than June 28, 2009 for FEMA to make a determination on the proposal. The Town has one final chance to approve or opt out. If the Town submits the appeal, FEMA will then decide to fund or not to fund.

Mayor Collier outlined the following benefits and challenges associated with the berm proposal:

BENEFITS:

· Placing berm away from the surface zone would likely increase its life expectancy

· Cost of berm construction will be shared, 75% Federal, 10% State and 15% Town of DI

· Easy access for berm maintenance

· Future post-disaster support for Bienville Blvd. infrastructure

CHALLENGES:

· Future post-disaster support for Bienville Blvd. infrastructure

· Providing vehicular/pedestrian access to the South side of berm

· Emergency response, fire, medical

· Cost to construct a service road on the South of the berm for which the Town would pay 100%

· Infrastructure South of the berm no longer eligible for post-disaster funds

· Access and maintenance of all utilities, water/sewer and electricity

· Adverse economic impacts, rentals, property taxes, reduced tourism

· Legal issues

Mayor Collier briefly discussed each of the benefits and challenges. The main focus was that if the berm is built, FEMA will continue to support repairs of future storm damages to the Town's infrastructure north of the berm. If it is not built, the Town can expect short-term support, but in the long term this is questionable.

Mayor Collier stressed that no engineering design or cost information had been developed to date and that the berm had not progressed past the concept stage.

At this point in the hearing, the floor was opened to a question and answer period. Some of the more important questions and answers are highlighted below.

Mr. Jim Hartman stated that a berm in this location will create constant standing water in and around homes south of the berm, plus create a 40% drop in property values.

David Graves was concerned that there was not enough right-of-way to create an access road on the South-side of the proposed berm.

A lady who traveled from Canada lamented that south side property owners would be walled off and that their investments would not be protected.

Stan Graves pointed out that the berm would be north of the main sewer line on the south side of the road, thus not really protecting it.

Laura Martin stated that a sand berm is not really a stable structure. She suggested creating a reef offshore would be a better idea.

Glen Coffee provided information on the Comprehensive Barrier Island Restoration Plan (CBIP) being prepared by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in connection with the Mississippi Coastal Improvements Program. The CBIP could provide a long-term solution in lieu of the short term benefits of a berm proposal. Since the CBIP is presently limited to the barrier islands located in Mississippi and Dauphin Island is excluded, the Town and many other interests are working to have Dauphin Island added to the Plan. Mr. Coffee requested all property owners to contact their Congressional delegations (specifically Congressman Jo Bonner and Senators Jeff Sessions and Richard Shelby) requesting that they take action in Congress to have Dauphin Island included. A draft letter for this purpose was previously provided to the DIPOA membership for this purpose. It is not too late to send letters on this matter since the Corps has not finalized their study.

Mr. Coffee also suggested two other “challenges” be added to the Town’s list for consideration: (1) need to include drainage between the road and the proposed berm; and (2) the construction method to minimize disruption of activities on the south side of the road. Mayor Collier stated that the sand would likely be trucked in instead of pumped as was the case with the two prior berms.

Lisa Young pointed out that the sand movement from Pelican Island is massive and will ultimately move westward, and asked who would maintain the berm? Mayor Collier replied that the Town would be responsible for maintaining the berm.

A resident north of Bienville Blvd stated that a good storm will move the berm sand to the canals that were recently dredged.

Several people talked about jetties and devices for protecting the shoreline. The answer stated these approaches would be costly and permitting could be problematic.

Joy Russell elegantly said, "we are damned if we do, and maybe damned if we don't"

Jeff McFarland asked the Town Council members how they will vote. Although most said that they were undecided and still considering information and public comments, most of the members indicated they did not favor this option. Sherry Carney said she would vote no. Council members are facing a difficult vote, and they know it.

The meeting ended around 8:30 PM

Bienville Blvd Berm Straw Poll

The DIPOA is conducting a straw poll of our membership on the Bienville Blvd berm concept. We will tally the replies received and forward the results to the Town Council for its consideration. We will also inform the DIPOA membership of the results of this poll.

The poll will be conducted by depending upon each DIPOA member sending a reply to this message by following the below instructions:

If you are in favor of the West End Berm: (1) vote “Yes” and (2) state if you have property on the West End or East End of the Island

If you are opposed to the West End Berm, (1) vote “No” and (2) state if you have property on West End or East End of the Island

Please send your votes in by May 18th, so the results can be tallied and provided to the Town Council in a timely manner. Thanks so much.

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