Rauf Bolden: Proposing off-island parking and free shuttle service
Life presents you with motivational moments. “My thoughts are to have fewer vehicles on the island. Vacationers should park offsite, and ride free shuttles [electric] from secure-parking areas [across the bridge]. Orange Beach has become a very expensive parking lot,” said Ian Boles, a resident of Orange Beach in an email. Developing a strategy for off-island parking with free shuttles makes sense, eliminating the need for a Flyover Bridge west of the Foley Beach Express, and the proposed Wolf Bay Bridge by Doc’s. Imagine taking the $87 Million allocated by the State of Alabama for the Flyover Bridge, and the $60 Million earmarked by the City of Orange Beach for the Wolf Bay Bridge, using those funds to lower the environmental impact of traffic. Electric buses, recharged by solar panels, running every five minutes along the Beach Road (Hwy. 182), Canal Road (Hwy. 180), and Orange Beach Blvd (Hwy. 161), minimizing the congestion problem. We must create several secure parking areas off the island for vacationers, enhanced by Orange Beach’s family-friendly atmosphere, simultaneously providing better control over the visitor experience. City Managers do it at Beaver Creek, Davos, and Disney. Why not here? The city is growing at a phenomenal rate, outstripping infrastructure resources for traffic and boat launches. The Council must find innovative solutions that do not include more parking per condo bedroom, minimizing gridlock on the island. Crafting a 2030 Plan with off-site transfers is vital, engaging with City Council, businesses, and residents, creating policies for the future of parking in Orange Beach, perhaps imitating the example of other successful resort cities. “From timely shuttle buses to complimentary door-to-door transportation, getting around Beaver Creek is easy,” according to a report on the Beaver Creek website.“Complimentary standard parking [off-site] is available to Guests,” according to a report on Disney World. The key issue is Mayor Tony Kennon, refusing to have a publicly viewable 2030 Plan, as if the future is an undecided secret. Mayor Kennon told Fox10 News, “You can’t stop the growth. It’s coming whether you like it or not.” Are the constituents comfortable, knowing their City Council has an insatiable appetite for big developments and the dollars they bring without consideration to the quality of life? A 2030 Plan should not be considered a threat to elected officials. Rather a blue print, providing a venue for meaningful discussions from residents and businesses before adoption. “All I know is we need a road through the State Park,” said Mayor Tony Kennon in aninterview with John Mullen of the Lagniappe, putting commerce ahead of environmental impact, supporting development of the natural resource the State Park was created to protect. Exploitation of the State Park seems to be his real plan, exposing this protected area to development. Luckily the Deep-Water Horizon Settlement Team blocked his proposed roadway across the State Park for 20 years, putting his caucus “in check” for the immediate future. Some will argue Mayor Kennon already has a plan, widening Canal Road, building a Flyover Bridge, and constructing a span across Wolf Bay. Throwing concrete and asphalt at the traffic problem is short sighted, simply hoping it goes away. Orange Beach has had no professional infrastructure studies done by independent-academic bodies. Professional-planning research (aside from ALDOT) is the start of the solution. The Orange Beach Police Jurisdiction (PJ) stretches from the Foley Beach Express to Pirates’ Cove, including many agricultural areas suitable for parking north of the Intracoastal Waterway, according to the GIS Map from Community Development. Respectfully, I propose the city debate off-site parking, because politics is the art of the possible. Elected Officials must undertake feasibility studies by multiple universities, buying non-wetland areas north of the Intracoastal as loading points for environmentally-friendly electric busses, transporting tourists to and from the island, as if Orange Beach were a theme-park resort. Rauf Bolden is retired IT Director at the City of Orange Beach, presently pursuing his dream as a Web Technologies Consultant on the Beach Road. He can be reached by email: publisher@velvetillusion.com. Disclosure: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author. I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Steve Flowers: Infrastructure program should be priority 1
As the new quadrennium crests in Alabama government, everybody looks toward a new beginning. There is a new fresh four years ahead for the newly elected leaders. They are overwhelmingly Republican. The Governor is Republican and all of the accompanying constitutional officeholders are members of the GOP. More importantly, the State Legislature, both the House and the Senate are Republicans. In fact, over two-thirds of each chamber are Republican. It is a supermajority. The cards are lining up for these leaders to leave a legacy. That legacy could and should be to rebuild Alabama’s roads and bridges. The optimum word is infrastructure. Folks know that it is time. Alabamians see the needs everyday as they drive to work. The staunchest and most conservative people I know throughout the state tell me, adamantly, that they are flat ready to pay more in gasoline tax to fix their roads. The hue and cry arises from rural folks whose roads are impassable from large potholes. Birmingham’s roads are deplorable. Suburban commuters who have to travel highway 280 in Jefferson and Shelby counties are exasperated. Indeed, commuters in the state from all of our largest metro areas are acutely aware of the horrendous log jams they experience every day. The country folks have figured out that it would be cheaper to pay more for gasoline than it is to pay for having their frontends aligned and tires balanced every few weeks from hitting holes in their roads. A good many of the rural bridges in the state have been condemned and are hazardous for heavy trucks and school buses to travel. The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) has an unprecedented number of unmet repairs and expansions. A spokesman for ALDOT says there are $10 billion of identified capacity projects and needs. Some big-ticket items on the ALDOT list include a new Interstate 10 and bridge and Bayway widening project in Mobile and Baldwin Counties, the completion of the Birmingham northern beltline, the Montgomery Outer Loop, and additional lanes along the interstate in Huntsville. Speaking of Huntsville, they are poised to be one of the fastest growing areas of the entire nation over the next decade. It is imperative that their infrastructure needs are met to keep pace with their expansion. Toyota-Mazda is set to build their largest plant in the Huntsville-Madison metro area. They were assured that roads would be built to accommodate their location and expansion. Alabama, like most states, relies on gasoline taxes to pay for their roads and bridges. It has been 26 years since our gas tax was raised. The last time that Alabama had an increase in our fuel tax was 1992. That state increase was just ahead of the last federal gas tax increase enacted by Congress. President Donald Trump pledged while running and again after his election in 2016 to advance a massive infrastructure program, the largest in U.S. history. He signaled support for increasing the federal gasoline tax to pay for this American infrastructure initiative. This rebuilding of America infrastructure is one of the bipartisan issues that both Democrats and Republicans are espousing. It is a certainty that states will have to come up with matching dollars to get the federal money. Indeed, 28 states have raised or reformed their taxes since 2013 in anticipation of a federal tax increase which they will have to match. This is the one issue in which both parties in Washington can come to an agreement. We in Alabama are not ahead of the curve, but we are poised to maybe come to grips with this issue. A gasoline tax increase to fund infrastructure needs will be the paramount issue of 2019. My guess is that it will happen this year. Governor Kay Ivey, shortly after taking office, said she “supported an increase in the state gasoline tax to fix state roadways.” House Speaker, Mac McCutcheon, of Huntsville, has trumpeted the need for a road program for years. Most of his Republican colleagues in the House ran for reelection without having to take a vow that they would not raise any new revenue or taxes. The stars are aligned for Alabama to act. The time is now. The timing is good. We will probably never have the Chairman of the United States Senate Appropriations Committee as our Senior Senator ever again. Senator Richard Shelby will make sure that we get our fair share of the federal money. However, we must have the basic revenue to draw down the federal funds. See you next week. ••• Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in more than60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.
Supporters, opponents address proposed new beach bridge in Baldwin County
Transportation officials in Alabama have gotten plenty of opinions, pro and con, to consider on a proposed bridge to improve access to the state’s beaches. The department of transportation heard from 28 people in Gulf Shores on two proposals for a road and bridge project that’s expected to cost between $56 million and $61 million, news outlets reported. City leaders in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach also testified in favor of the project, saying it would help evacuate the beaches during hurricanes. “You cannot get on or off the island during any kind of catastrophic event,” said Orange Beach City Councilman Jerry Johnson. Gulf Shores public works director Mark Ackerman pointed out one of the existing bridges was closed for more than a day because of a barge collision in 2014. Thursday’s hearing comes just weeks after Hurricane Michael slammed ashore on the nearby Florida’s Panhandle as a Category 4 storm killing 45 people. The Alabama DOT is accepting public comments for the rest of the month. It plans to decide on a plan early next year. “We want to improve community connectivity, said Vincent Calametti, Southwest Region Engineer for the transportation department. Supporters say a new bridge would improve congestion that clogs roads heading to the beach during peak travel months. More than 6 million people visit the state’s beaches each year. Opponents say it’s a waste of money and should not be a top priority for transportation funds. They say the project might not get tourists to and from the beaches any faster, calling it a “Bridge2Nowhere.” Other opponents say the Mobile area has more important needs, including the widening of U.S. 98. Some residents living near the proposed bridge site are worried about noise and the appearance in the neighborhood. Republished with permission from the Associated Press.
Jim Zeigler vows to continue to request information from ALDOT on Baldwin County bridge project
Alabama State Auditor Jim Zeigler is back at it — trying yet again to get answers from the evasive Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) on the proposed Baldwin County bridge project. ALDOT has managed to side-step Zeigler’s requests for over well over six months, and thus, for the third time, Zeigler is asking for further information about an $87 million state-funded bridge project in Baldwin County. But rather than sending a letter and waiting patiently, this time Zeigler is going to make the appeal in person at Thursday night’s scheduled hearing on the proposed new ALDOT bridge over the Intercoastal Waterway. ALDOT announced the first project-specific public hearing last month. They are scheduled to make a “brief presentation” around 5:45 p.m. and then open the hearing to public comments. Speakers will have two minutes to make statements. Zeigler said two minutes is “not-near long enough” to ask his questions, so he will present them as written comments, an option that is allowed. History of Zeigler’s unanswered questions It all began in April, when Zeigler made a request for public documents. At the time, he requested the following documents from the ALDOT: Copies of any and all studies that demonstrated a need for a bridge over the Intercoastal waterway Any and all documents that show a change in the need for the Intercoastal bridge since the determination in 2016 that the bridge was unnecessary Any and all analyses to support spending $30-$87 million in state funds in light of the pressing infrastructure needs throughout the state Any and all documents that resulted in the range of costs projected ($30 to $87 million) Documents that show cost overruns on current and recent ALDOT projects According to the court filing from the bridge company, they agreed to widen their bridge at no additional cost to Please provide any and all documents that address why the option of widening the original bridge is not being utilized. But after three months, the State Auditor, who filed the request as an everyday Alabama citizen, had not received any update from the ALDOT, so he filed a second follow-up request July 12, 2018 giving ALDOT’s Cooper and Patty a deadline to respond: August 17. Now, nearly three months after that deadline Zeigler has yet to hear anything back from the ALDOT. So Zeigler will try yet again on Thursday where he expects to get a response “because they are required to respond.” “We have to take the comments and will sort through them and summarize and we have to respond to them,” said Brian Aaron, assistant region engineer for ALDOT’s Southeast Region, which includes Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Zeigler is again requesting the following documents from the ALDOT: Copies of any and all studies that demonstrated a need for a bridge over the Intercoastal waterway. Any and all documents that show a change in the need for the Intercoastal bridge since the determination in 2016 that the bridge was unnecessary. Any and all analyses to support spending $30-$87 million in state funds in light of the pressing infrastructure needs throughout the state. Any and all documents that resulted in the range of costs projected ($30 to $87 million). Documents that show cost overruns on current and recent ALDOT projects. According to the court filing from the bridge company, they agreed to widen their bridge at no additional cost to Please provide any and all documents that address why the option of widening the original bridge is not being utilized. “I have more questions than answers about the proposed additional bridge,” Zeigler said in April. “I hope to solve that with my specific requests for public records. With other pressing needs for infrastructure improvements, we need to make sure that this $30 to $87 million-dollar project is the best use of our limited funds.” Project construction is expected to begin next summer, and last for two to three years. The state expects to finish the environmental permitting process by spring of 2019, and the public meeting is a requirement during this stage.
Rauf Bolden: Bridge2NoWhere in Orange Beach
Joe Emerson is a man of action. He made an activist’s move over three years ago, establishing a Facebook Group, presently having 2660+ members called: End The Bridge2Nowhere. The group opposes an $87 million state-funded flyover bridge (Diagram 1 below) west of the Foley Beach Express in Orange Beach. The flyover bridge (Diagram 1) is scheduled for 2019, ostensibly alleviating tourist traffic, and providing a hurricane-evacuation route from Orange Beach and Gulf Shores. The Wolf Bay Bridge (Diagram 2) is another proposed project next to Doc’s, but funded by the City of Orange Beach not the State of Alabama. The two bridges have different funding. It is easy to confuse the two, being only a few miles apart on Canal Road. This piece is concerned with opposition to the flyover bridge. Although the Wolf Bay Bridge is mentioned, it is not the focus of any opposition in Orange Beach. Joe’s Facebook Group argues the taxpayer-funded flyover bridge is a misuse of the State of Alabama’s infrastructure money. According to a report by Apryl Marie Fogel at Alabama Today, the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) cannot explain how the decision was made; funding the ALDOT approved flyover bridge in Orange Beach with state taxpayer dollars. Mayor Tony Kennon of Orange Beach thinks Joe’s group does not have all the facts, “…load up and come to a council meeting so that u can get the facts, the real truth and stop being educated into further ignorance by following this site,” posted Mayor Tony Kennon on Facebook. Public Meeting Notice: The City of Gulf Shores is hosting a comments meeting, as required by the Corps of Engineers, discussing the flyover bridge on November 15, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m., in the Gulf Shores Activity Center, 260 Club House Drive, Gulf Shores, Ala.. This meeting should clarify any doubts regarding the actual location of the proposed flyover bridge, allowing citizens to submit letters for or against the project. Send your email to: swinfo@dot.state.al.us. “Right now, there is a proposal to take that damn flyover [bridge] out of our backyard [in Craft Farms]. Supposedly they are going to move the road further east closer to the Foley Beach Express. I don’t have anything set in stone they’re going to totally do away with the flyover,” said Mike Powell in a report by the Lagniappe. “This [flyover] bridge and roadway will be built,” said Gulf Shores Mayor Craft at a Council Meeting, reported in the Mullet Wrapper. The Mayor’s comments carry weight, summarizing the public hearing on November 15 as simply a formality by the Corps of Engineers. His comments essentially galvanize opponents of the flyover bridge with a mix of alarm and apathy. It seems the cities of Orange Beach and Gulf Shores have already decided to endorse the project. Residents care about how their tax dollars are spent. “I think a [flyover] bridge west of the toll bridge would be a redundant idea, east of the bridge would be a better idea,” said Jonathan Christie, an eight year resident of Orange Beach. “Living in the Josephine community, I am afraid of the growth and everything that goes with that [Wolf Bay Bridge],” explained Deputy Chief Greg Duck (retired), a veteran of the Orange Beach Police Department. “Neither [bridge] makes sense to me,” Karen Clark, a 39-year resident of Orange Beach said. “It seems to me that [flyover] bridge [will only be another place that cars will be dumped on to Canal Road — they’ll then either have to go east or west just like they do coming off of the Foley Beach Express. That won’t help the traffic problem on Canal. What I think is really needed is another road south to beach highway,” added a resident of over 20 years, requesting anonymity. The Facebook Group argues the flyover bridge is not needed, but others disagree. “If we give them [tourists] another option [flyover bridge], a free option and potentially a quicker option than Highway 59, you’re removing 20 percent of the traffic off of Highway 59. The largest pinch point on this island is that bridge [on Hwy 59],” said Blake Phelps, Gulf Shores Director of Economic Development, in a report by the Mullet Wrapper. One wonders if the sole motivation of the flyover bridge is to put the privately owned toll bridge (Foley Beach Express) out of business. Perhaps the Orange Beach City Council is planning to acquire the Toll Plaza in receivership for pennies on the dollar, giving residents a healthy return on their public-private partnership. ••• Rauf Bolden is retired IT Director at the City of Orange Beach, working as an IT & Web Consultant on the Beach Road. He can be reached at: publisher@velvetillusion.com.
Amid continued lack of answers from ALDOT, residents request records from Army Corps for Baldwin County bridge
Having grown tired of waiting for the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) to give them answers about a proposed new bridge in Baldwin County, a group of locals have taken matters into their own hands on their quest for more information. On Thursday, 6 local residents sent the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Mobile District office a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to “obtain access and review the permit application and records and studies, and comments, and other correspondence and documents in the file: SAM-206-00913-LET (The new permit application for the ICW bridge and road project).” According to the FOIA document, the signers “are making this request on behalf of residents, property owners, homeowners, tourists, a citizens’ group specifically formed based on interest in the project, and others including local public officials who correspond with residents and citizens through a Facebook page.“ At issue is a $87 million state-funded, competing bridge to the Foley Beach Express — a proposed connector from SR-180 to Foley Beach Express Bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway that will run between Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, Ala. Opponents of the bridge insist it is a waste of taxpayer funds that will be diverting much-needed state resources away from other critical state infrastructure projects while not addressing the true transportation and infrastructure needs of the community while proponents say they’re tired of paying tolls and believe the new bridge will solve traffic problems. Last week news broke that ALDOT has scheduled the first project-specific public hearing for the bridge on Nov. 15. ALDOT has invited anyone in the Southwest Region (Mobile area) interested in the new bridge to the hearing at the Gulf Shores Activity Center. There, they will get a chance to ask questions, make comments, and may review project information and exhibits on display. But some local residents don’t have much faith in what they consider the long-overdue ALDOT hearing, which is why they’ve turned to the USACE FOIA. “Myself and many other members of the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach community feel it is necessary to be allowed access to the permit plans, records and studies associated with the ICW bridge project,” said Joe Emerson, the founder of the Facebook group dedicated to stopping what he dubbed “End The #Bridge2Nowhere. “Multiple requests were made by the public to the USACE in May of this year asking for a public hearing about the LET request and we haven’t even been granted as much as an answer.” Emerson continued, “The state and local officials that are endorsing this project would have the taxpayers believe that this project is good for local and state interests when in fact in is quite to the contrary. If the project is so beneficial, then why can we not be granted access to public information about this project in a timely manner?” The FOIA requestors are asking that the fees be waived for their request as “the project is being funded with our tax dollars, and because this is public information.” “When the State Auditor, journalists and the tax-paying public are denied timely access to public information surrounding the ICW Bridge and Roadway project, there are few assumptions to be made besides the one suggesting there are faults and problems with the plans at their core,” Emerson concluded. Read the USACE FOIA request below:
Better late than never: ALDOT to hold public hearing on Bridge to Nowhere
In what may be a turning point for a highly controversial bridge project, the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) has announced the first project-specific public hearing on a proposed bridge to the beach in Baldwin County. The bridge at hand is the proposed connector from SR-180 to Foley Beach Express Bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway. It will run between Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, Ala. ALDOT is inviting anyone in the Southwest Region (Mobile area) interested in the new bridge to the public hearing on Thursday, Nov. 15 at the Gulf Shores Activity Center. There, they will get a chance to ask questions, make comments, and may review project information and exhibits on display. The bridge debate One one hand is those who are pro-bridge. This group includes several local mayors like Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon, Transportation Director at ALDOT John Cooper, as well as the Gulf Shores/Orange Beach Tourism board. According to their website, the tourism board operates “With 34 full-time and 11 part-time employees, the CVB has a $10.46 million budget, which is funded by a 2 percent lodging tax.” The board came under fire last year for starting what some residents called a misleading petition campaign over the bridge. In a Change.org petition to garner support for the new bridge. At the time of publishing, it had garnered the signatures of 5,508 supporters. Opponents of the bridge pointed out that the language included in the petition was at best misleading if not an outright lie. They explain their side saying: Going to the beach has become an all day affair and that’s just the drive time. We can do something about it if we stand together. By signing this petition we can tell the elected officials along the Gulf Coast that we need better ingress and egress to Pleasure Island on the Gulf Coast. A new bridge, with no tolls, will allow more traffic to come across the island and it will reduce traffic flow on our major highways. In a lawsuit against the state testimony confirmed that no studies have ever been conducted to determine the need or impact of an additional bridge. Local residents question any assertion that states that it will “reduce traffic flow” noting that it will put more traffic on Canal Road which is already an area of significant congestion. Meanwhile, those against the beach bridge have amassed in a Facebook group called “End the #Bridge2Nowhere.” They believe $87 million state-funded bridge project is a misguided attempt by ALDOT and specifically John Cooper to curry favor with local politicians while solving no problems and potentially causing more harm to locals through both increased traffic congestion, noise pollution and damage to local property owners through the states use of eminent domain to seize houses and land. ALDOT’s lack of transparency about this project has come under fire from many including local residents, State Auditor Jim Zeigler, Alabama Today’s own Apryl Marie Fogel, and most recently State Senate candidate Jason Fisher. Details and official notice below. If you are not able to make it residents can also send comments by November 30, 2018 to: Email: swinfo@dot.state.al.us Fax: (251) 473-3624 Mail: Vincent E. Calametti, P.E. Region Engineer, Southwest Region ATTN: Edwin L. Perry III, P.E. Alabama Department of Transportation 1701 I-65 West Service Road N Mobile, Alabama 36618 View the invitation Southwest Region residents received to the public hearing below:
Gov. Kay Ivey deploys personnel, resources to N.C. ahead of Hurricane Florence
Ahead of Hurricane Florence’s expected landfall late Friday, Gov. Kay Ivey announced the State of Alabama is deploying state personnel and resources to assist with hurricane response efforts in North Carolina. The Alabama Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) received requests for assistance from North Carolina and South Carolina as Hurricane Florence approaches the East Coast. Currently AEMA has one mobile communication site vehicle, one AEMA staff member and one Mobile County responder in route to a staging area in North Carolina. “As the East Coast makes preparations ahead of Hurricane Florence, Alabama will also be prepared to aid in any way we can. I spoke with the governors of North and South Carolina and offered our support,” Ivey said. “Alabama EMA will continue working with their counterparts in the Carolinas. Taking the necessary precautions ahead of time and having all hands-on deck to respond is of the utmost importance. Alabama stands ready to help.” The Mobile Communication Site Team will support North Carolina in maintaining critical communication links for public safety radio communications. Their primary role will be to support their North Carolina counterparts as they experience an overwhelming need to coordinate their state response efforts. “We are leaning forward to support those states that may be impacted by Hurricane Florence” said AEMA Director Brian Hastings. “We are a close-knit team in FEMA Region IV, and when one state is threatened, we all stand ready to assist our incredible neighbors to prepare, respond and recover to save lives and mitigate human suffering. Alabama is always ready to assist when there is a need.” Additional support currently under consideration for states forecasted for impact by hurricane Florence includes: Nurse strike team Emergency Operations Center personnel Damage assessment teams and debris management personnel Mental health professionals Volunteer services personnel Maxwell Incident Support Base Electrical line maintenance crews Additionally, the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) is prepared to expedite passage of vehicles for disaster response through Alabama to affected areas on the East Coast.
Rauf Bolden: We need a trauma center in Orange Beach
It is hard to miss the distinct sound of disappointment. A stand-alone trauma center is not even in the planning stages, only bridges and roads, according to Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon’s 2017 Town-Hall Presentation, being available on the city’s web site. Prioritizing infrastructure over the urgency for healthcare is financially driven. Roads move people, pushing development forward, putting heads in vacation-rental beds, and generating huge revenues for the city. Whereas health-care facilities support families, tending the critically ill, generating an enormous sense of well being for the local community. This asymmetry in choices nurses the for-profit model, nested in an outdoor community where swimming, fishing and boating accidents happen, simultaneously developing contact-sports programs at the new Middle School/High School, located within a community of medically dependent retired residents is the mosaic we must plan for. Arguing for a 24/7 stand-alone trauma center with a helicopter pad on site over the need for another bridge makes sense to local families, because we should care for the people who live in Orange Beach first. Getting comfortable with the idea of driving 17 miles (29 minutes) to the nearest trauma center in Foley is misguided. We shouldn’t have to do that. Our public debate is marinated in despair, finding no answer for the critically injured, needing immediate state-of-the-art care in Orange Beach. “South Baldwin Regional Medical Center [in Foley] is your community healthcare provider,” according to a report on the hospital’s website. The Medical Center has an average review rating of 2.5 out of 5.0 from 128 reviewers, according to a report by Google. South Baldwin is the only facility in the area providing emergency-care-for-veterans, according to Larry Belmonte a Marine Corps veteran. We deserve better, understanding Orange Beach has Walk-In Clinics, being open during the day, supported by local Fire EMTs (Emergency-Medical Technicians) at night. The ambulance service is Med-Star, coming 17 miles from Foley, returning the patient 17 miles north to the trauma center. “I was about to lose consciousness when the helicopter landed so there are a few blanks. I had 2 stents immediately (last night) and had one more this morning. Thank goodness I didn’t have to have a bypass. I can tell you I am going to start doing some things on my bucket list when I’m cleared. Life is so short & there’s a lot less road ahead of us then there is behind us… life, love & happiness is what should matter for all of us… I’m so grateful to be here,” said Melba Morgan a resident of Green Cove Springs, Fla., having survived because her community provided state-of-the-art healthcare. Retired Hospital Administrator John D. Davis explained what is needed to start the conversation about a trauma center. “Certificate of Need (Alabama State Health Planning and Development Agency), resurrecting the Gulf Coast Health Care Authority, allowing the authority to issue bonds, studying the financial-feasibility, and determining realistic alternatives (Plan B),” estimating five beds are enough for a local trauma center in Orange Beach. Healthcare facilities are expensive, priced on a per-bed basis, “around $1.5 million per bed to build,” according to a report by Quora. “Whether as a patient or visitor, we’ve all been in a hospital and had ideas about what would have made our hospital experience exceptional. Thinking about what I would want to see as a patient coming in for surgery helps determine everything from signage to the design of the hospital rooms,” according to a report by Becker’s Hospital Review. To make this dream a reality we need local support. Orange Beach has a government of Mayor and City Council, being clear who is the junior partner. It is the Mayor who sets the agenda for the media and the government. Mayor Tony Kennon has dug his heels in, being clear about Council’s priority for an ALDOT (Alabama Department of Transportation) Bridge west of the Foley Beach Express, and the Wolf Bay Bridge by Doc’s over anything else. Still 1538+ members of the Facebook Group: “End The #Bridge2Nowhere,” are in opposition to the proposed span west of the Beach Express, thinking the State’s money could be better spent. The Mayor responded to this opposition. “i have been following with much interest the comments on this site [Facebook]. my suggestion is that everyone who is in disagreement with this bridge, in favor of the bridge, in favor of the road thru the park , those who r against the road thru the park and everyone who wishes to blow up the bridges so no one else can make it across the canal now that u have ur piece of the island, load up and come to a council meeting so that u can get the facts, the real truth and stop being educated into further ignorance by following this site. i welcome all of u. in the end we may agree to disagree but at least u have the true facts to base ur decision on. let me know of a date and i will make sure we accommodate the request,” said Mayor Tony Kennon in a Facebook post (End The #Bridge2Nowhere, June 18, 2018). His writing speaks volumes. Changing the Mayor’s mind, allocating funds for a local trauma center is not going to happen, perhaps he has simply lost touch with the needs of constituent families. Besides the political headwinds, other factors mount a convincing argument against a trauma center, including issues with Medicare and Medicaid patients, budgeting for “cuts to Medicare reimbursements, around $112 billion in the ensuing years,” according to a report from the Congressional Budget Office. Several exceptions to the make-it-pay model used to exist in Orange Beach, like the Sportsplex, Recreation Center, Aquatic Center, Tennis Center, Art Center, Golf Center and Senior Center, being maintained for the greater good of the community. Taking this now extinct precedent, and running with it is the only way to open a dialogue with City Hall. “The right to decide” is a simple and seductive slogan, applying it to a
Jim Zeigler ready to champion updates to public record laws after continued ALDOT inaction
It’s a very familiar story on Alabama Today — another week has passed and still, the Alabama State Auditor has yet to receive a response from the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) Transportation Director John Cooper and ALDOT Chief Counsel William Patty regarding further information about an $87 million state-funded bridge project in Baldwin County. Now, State Auditor Jim Zeigler has grown impatient with the lack of answers and tells Alabama Today he is ready to champion updating the state’s public record laws, which have left him at a loss for how to proceed. ALDOT’s history of inaction It all began in April, when Zeigler made a request for public documents. At the time, he requested the following documents from the ALDOT: Copies of any and all studies that demonstrated a need for a bridge over the Intercoastal waterway Any and all documents that show a change in the need for the Intercoastal bridge since the determination in 2016 that the bridge was unnecessary Any and all analyses to support spending $30-$87 million in state funds in light of the pressing infrastructure needs throughout the state Any and all documents that resulted in the range of costs projected ($30 to $87 million) Documents that show cost overruns on current and recent ALDOT projects According to the court filing from the bridge company, they agreed to widen their bridge at no additional cost to Please provide any and all documents that address why the option of widening the original bridge is not being utilized. But after three months, the State Auditor, who filed the request as an everyday Alabama citizen, had not received any update from the ALDOT, so he filed a second follow-up request July 12, 2018 giving ALDOT’s Cooper and Patty a deadline to respond: August 17. Now, nearly a full month past the deadline, Zeigler facing a dilemma many Alabamians truth-seekers face: what’s he supposed to do next? With no clear answers written in law, Zeigler’s taken the next logical step on his fact-finding mission: write a letter to the Legislative Services Agency at the Alabama State House in hopes that they will provide him with the necessary information of what the legal next step he can take is. “In looking over the applicable law, I could not find any legal deadline for compliance by an agency of official. Also, I am uncertain about the remedy a citizen would have for non-compliance,” Zeigler wrote in his letter addressed specifically to Othni Lathram, the director of the Legislative Services Agency. An unworkable law Frustrated by the entire situation, Zeigler is ready to champion updating the state’s public record laws, which he calls “unworkable”. “This has been frustrating. To have a public records law that lacks any deadline is unworkable and unacceptable,” Zeigler told Alabama Today. “I am considering taking the lead for a bill in the March 2019 regular legislative session that would add a deadline for providing public records and specific remedies when agencies do not comply.” “If I as an elected state official cannot obtain public records, imagine the normal citizen,” Zeigler added. Zeigler asked Lathram two questions: What is the legal deadline for compliance with a proper request for public documents? What are the remedies available to the requester in the event of failure to provide? Zeigler’s not alone Zeigler’s not alone in running into issues trying to get public information from state officials. In May, AL.com‘s Kyle Whitmire ran into problems when requesting information from Attorney General Steve Marshall‘s office. He was told his request was not public information. Alabama Today has repeatedly faced similar issues when reaching out to ALDOT ourselves. We first reached out to Tony Harris, spokesman for ALDOT, on May 18 with our own questions about the bridge project. He called back that afternoon and promised a response the following week. Flash-forward to May 25 then again June 12, more empty promises of information that never came. Finally on Aug. 24, after previously asking Alabama Today to avoid submitting an official public records request, he tells us that is what we have to do if we want the information. That there are issues being held up in the courts (by the way, they’ve all been resolved) and he’s unable to answer otherwise. Read Zeigler’s full letter to Lathram below:
How ALDOT and John Cooper are exploiting the weaknesses of the open records law
The Alabama Public Records Law is a series of laws designed to guarantee that the public has access to the records of government bodies at all levels across the state. But just because the law exists, doesn’t mean it’s easy to navigate, or even helpful for that matter. Alabama’s law, which can be found at statutes 36.12.40-41 and 41.13.1 – 41.13.44 of the Code of Alabama, has some glaring weaknesses that agencies have been exploiting, to hide facts from concerned Alabamians and lawmakers. Just this year we’ve seen the law fail both reporters and a state official. AL.com‘s Kyle Whitmire ran into problems when requesting information from Attorney General Steve Marshall‘s office. He was told his request was not public information: “State law provides that any such records as you request are not subject to disclosure,” Marshall’s public information officer, Mike Lewis wrote. “Section 12-21-3.1-3.1(b) of the Code of Alabama states that ‘Law enforcement investigative reports and related investigative material are not public records. Law enforcement investigative reports, records, field notes, witness statements, and other investigative writings or recordings are privileged communications protected from disclosure.’ Ala. Code SS 12-21-3.1(b) (2012).” Meanwhile State Auditor Jim Zeigler has run into this own issues when requesting public information from the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT). In April, Zeigler sent a first letter to ALDOT Transportation Director John Cooper and ALDOT Chief Counsel William Patty requesting further information about an $87 million state-funded bridge projectin Baldwin County — which would be a second bridge to Orange Beach. Despite the fact he was elected to statewide office, his request went altogether ignored. In July, Zeigler doubled-down on his fact-finding efforts ands sent a second letter to Cooper and Patty requesting the information, giving them a deadline to respond of August 17. Yet, as of Sept. 6, Zeigler’s heard only one thing: crickets. Alabama Today has run it its own share of problems in dealing with ALDOT and information requests. We first reached out to Tony Harris, spokesman for ALDOT, on May 18 with our own questions about the bridge project. He called back that afternoon and promised a response the following week. Flash-forward to May 25 then again June 12, more empty promises of information that never came. Finally on Aug. 24, after previously asking Alabama Today to avoid submitting an official public records request, he tells us that is what we have to do if we want the information. That there are issues being held up in the courts (by the way, they’ve all been resolved) and he’s unable to answer otherwise. Which has left us scratching our heads — Alabama officials are clearly exploiting holes in the Public Records Law and giving Alabamians the run-around as they see fit. Defining public records The Code of Alabama takes the time to define what public records are: As used in this article, the term “public records” shall include all written, typed or printed books, papers, letters, documents and maps made or received in pursuance of law by the public officers of the state, counties, municipalities and other subdivisions of government in the transactions of public business and shall also include any record authorized to be made by any law of this state belonging or pertaining to any court of record or any other public record authorized by law or any paper, pleading, exhibit or other writing filed with, in or by any such court, office or officer. (Ala Code § 41.13.44) Despite a clear definition, the law fails to set specific parameters to make the law work for the good of the people. What the law’s lacking There is no language that states how long the state has to respond to a public records request. Fees are not stipulated by law. One department may charge one fee, while another may charge something entirely different. The Department of Corrections, for example, requires a flat $25 fee for them to begin to process a request. Meanwhile the Secretary of State’s office requires $1.00 per copied page, rather than a flat fee. Not all agencies have a clear employee in charge of requests, thus making tracking down the correct person difficult. There is no defined appeals process when a requestor does not get what they were asking for. This is the first in a series of stories about this issue. Check back frequently for more information.
Kay Ivey issues State of Emergency ahead of Tropical Storm Gordon
In anticipation of the arrival of Tropical Storm Gordon, which the National Weather Service (NWS) says will soon be upgraded to a hurricane, Gov. Kay Ivey has declared a State of Emergency for several Alabama counties. Baldwin, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe and Washington Counties are all included, effective at 7:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 4. “I’ve issued a State of Emergency for #TSGordon directing essential state agencies to be on the ready should they be needed over the next couple of days. All coastal Alabama residents need to prepare now ahead of tonight’s potential landfall,” tweeted Ivey. I’ve issued a State of Emergency for #TSGordon directing essential state agencies to be on the ready should they be needed over the next couple of days. All coastal Alabama residents need to prepare now ahead of tonight’s potential landfall. Read–> https://t.co/aAzNF5G7ry pic.twitter.com/ythMpWwHAO — Governor Kay Ivey (@GovernorKayIvey) September 4, 2018 “All coastal Alabama residents need to prepare now ahead of tonight’s potential landfall near Alabama. I have directed essential state agencies to be on the ready should they be needed over the next couple of days,” said Ivey. “As with any tropical weather event, being prepared is of utmost importance. Everyone should take the necessary precautions now and stay informed of the latest weather conditions for their area. This State of Emergency will ensure that all available state resources are ready when they are needed.” Gordon is expected to bring increased rain activity and storm surge, with the threat of flooding and isolated tornadoes, the risk of which is expected to dramatically increase over the next 12 to 36 hours. “Gordon is a tight, fast moving tropical storm. Alabama is postured for a coastal wind and water event, but the key will be the preparation of our citizens,” Alabama Emergency Management Agency Director Brian E. Hastings said. “If you live in the coastal counties, especially in surge and flood prone areas, it is imperative that you get to a safe place by early afternoon and stay there through Wednesday morning. With tropical storm force winds forecasted, we expect power outages concentrated in the coastal counties; so, make sure you have a 72-hour emergency kit ready.” Regardless of the final track and intensity of Gordon, it will produce heavy rainfall and flash flooding in several counties, and Ivey is encouraging Alabamians to prepare now. By declaring a State of Emergency, Ivey is directing the appropriate state agencies to exercise their statutory authority to assist the communities and entities impacted by Tropical Storm Gordon. For real-time road conditions, the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) is encouraging people to visit https://algotraffic.com/.
