Martha Roby: Prayers for Wetumpka during this time of recovery
On the afternoon of Saturday, January 19, a powerful tornado hit the City of Wetumpka in Elmore County, ripping through the beautiful downtown area and inflicting heartbreaking and significant damage. By the grace of God, no lives were lost, and only minor injuries have been reported. Still, the destruction is extreme, and the road to recovery is long. The Monday following the tornado, I joined Governor Kay Ivey and other local officials to spend time on the ground with those impacted. I had the opportunity to see the devastation firsthand, and it was heartbreaking, to say the least. The beautiful, historic First Presbyterian Church was destroyed, and First Baptist Church of Wetumpka sustained terrible damage. The Wetumpka Police Station, senior citizens center, and recreation center were also lost in the tornado. More than 35 homes and dozens of businesses were damaged or destroyed. Wetumpka and its residents are in the midst of determining the extent of damages and planning for what needs to be rebuilt, and we must do our very best to help however possible. I am deeply grateful to the local leaders and first responders who immediately jumped to action to begin securing the area and putting the pieces back together for the people who have lost so much. During this very challenging time, it has also been encouraging to see the community come together and begin the rebuilding process like a family. Mere hours after the storm, the Elmore County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) heard from more than 1,000 individuals who signed up to volunteer their time and resources to the clean-up efforts. If you are local and personally interested in helping out with clean-up in downtown Wetumpka or in Elmore County, please contact the Elmore County EMA by calling (334) 567-6451. The Elmore County Commission and City of Wetumpka are tremendously appreciative of volunteers who are willing to assist, but they ask that volunteers please call ahead and follow instructions to ensure proper coordination in order to maximize recovery efforts and resources. If you are a resident of Wetumpka or Elmore County and need non-emergency assistance related to the tornado, please call 211 until further notice. Any emergency calls should still be directed to 911. Call the Elmore County EMA with any damage reports. I would like to take this opportunity to directly address the people impacted by this tornado: My office stands ready to assist in whatever ways we are able. My staff and I work for you, and we want to be a resource for you during this challenging time. The rebuilding process won’t be easy, but if we continue to work together and help each other out whenever possible, we will get through this. In the meantime, my family and I will continue to pray for all those impacted by this devastating event. • • • Martha Roby represents Alabama’s Second Congressional District. She lives in Montgomery, Alabama, with her husband Riley and their two children.
Understanding Elmore County special referendum: repealing the Limited Self-Governance Act
When Alabamians get to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 6, voters in some counties will see local amendments and special referendums on the ballot. Here’s a look at what some residents of Elmore County will need to know about a special referendum they’ll see on the ballot: On the ballot: SPECIAL REFERENDUM ELECTION “Shall the powers previously authorized to the Elmore County Commission under Chapter 11-3A-1 et seq., of the Code of Alabama, 1975, also known as “The Alabama Limited Self-Governance Act,” be repealed in Elmore County? The powers authorized the County Commission to provide for its property and affairs; and for the public welfare, health and safety of its citizens throughout unincorporated areas of the county by excercising certain powers for protection of the county and public property under its control, except as otherwise prohibited and/or defined by law. The authorized powers include: (1) Abatement of weeds as a public nuisance; (2) Control of animals and animal nuisances; (3) Control of litter or rubbish; (4) Control of junkyards which create a public nuisance because of an accumulation of items; and (5) Abatement of noise, unsanitary sewage, or pollution Vote: Yes/No What it means: If passed, the referendum would repeal the “Limited Self Governance Act” in Elmore County. Passed in 2014, the act gave additional power to the commission to enact or strengthen laws dealing with issues such as weed and animal control, litter and junkyards in unincorporated areas of the county. County leaders say the law was written too broadly to be effective and that many locals did not understand it when they first approved it. Sample ballot Click out the Elmore County sample ballot: Front side | Back side Don’t live in Elmore County? Find your county’s sample ballot here.
Fmr. Elmore Co. Commissioner Joe Faulk convicted of felony ethics law violation
Attorney General Luther Strange announced the conviction of former Elmore County Commissioner Joe Faulk for a felony ethics law violation on Thursday. Faulk was charged October 25 and pleaded guilty Thursday afternoon in Elmore County Circuit Court to intentionally using his office for personal gain. According to a plea agreement, he agreed to resign from his office, to plead guilty to the felony ethics violation, and to cooperate with the State in its ongoing criminal investigation into related matters. His charge stems from 2011 during his time as County Commissioner when he entered into a contract with Coast2Coast, a company which distributes pharmacy discount cards. Faulk was tasked with acquiring marketing contracts with county commissions across Alabama, in return for a commission each time a customer used the card to fill a prescription. He subsequently promoted the program to other county commissions without disclosing his personal financial interest Faulk received commissions from his Coast2Coast contract totaling $63,651 between October 2011 and July 2016. The contract has since been terminated. “The facts are clear that this defendant abused his public trust by using his position as an Elmore County Commissioner for his own financial gain,” said Attorney General Strange. “As a public servant, he betrayed his obligation to honor the best interests of citizens and not to use his office for personal enrichment.” A date for sentencing has yet to be set, but the punishment for the Class B felony is two to 20 years in prison. Governor Robert Bentley is expected to appoint a someone to serve the remainder of Faulk’s term in the near future.
