Rauf Bolden: Many questions remain on Mayor Tony Kennons’s “work” boat outing
Rauf Bolden thinks the mayor of Orange Beach exposed the city to an unnecessary liability and violated ethics laws in the process.
Coronavirus rekindles oil spill memories along Gulf Coast
Like this spring, days of uncertainty turned into months of worry and red ink for businesses and residents in 2010.
Alabama closes beaches, day cares and on-site dining
The order mandates sweeping closures through April 5.
Rauf Bolden: Repeal the Baldwin County lodging tax district in Orange Beach
Rauf Bolden discusses the lodging tax district in Baldwin County.
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.
Rauf Bolden: Mayor Tony Kennon must address underpaid first responders
Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon has often said, he will evaluate raises on a case-by-case basis. In this case Orange Beach’s First Responders lag behind the state’s average and the national average, according to a report on Zip Recruiter. Our First Responders deserve better than below average pay, training constantly, dedicated to our community, responding to any emergency within three minutes. I raise this voice, hoping someone will hear. There is no plan in place to correct responder’s compensation imbalance, having reviewed Council’s online minutes for several years. Should the city reward First Responders for exceptional public service? “My husband was chronically ill before his [liver] transplant and required First Responders to come to our house often. We had numerous obstacles they would have to work around. Our house is an older house with two small steps coming up through the door. My husband was often incapacitated and the gurney would not fit around the corner into the bedroom and with his excessive weight it was never easy getting him to the gurney. But they never failed us and they always did their job in the most professional manner. We have nothing but praise for them,” said Jeannetta Bell a Bear Point resident in a text. “There have been several occasions that Orange Beach Emergency personnel have been called to my home for medical emergencies. Their response time was always very quick. I cannot say enough about their kindness and concern for me and my husband. Orange Beach is very fortunate to have such competent first responders,” said Sherry Brandler a Marina Road resident in a text. “On my way home from work one evening, an extremely large, and therefore very old turtle decided to cross Canal Road. Fearful of his fate during the crossing, I could only think of one way to preserve his life. I called 911. My call was taken most seriously. [The] officer captured him, and relocated him deep within the state park,” said Patsy Rose, retired Children’s Librarian, having lived her entire life in Orange Beach. The city’s business is keeping the resident and visitor populations safe. I see no rational objection to paying our First Responders a better-than-average wage, enabling the departments to recruit and retain the best people. “The First Responders in Orange Beach have provided excellent professional service during times of trouble,” said Sarah DeLazzer Property Manager at Sea Chase Condominiums in a text. “Recently, one of my friend’s home caught fire [in Orange Beach]. The fire department worked hard to put out the fire. That is their job and they did it well. But they went beyond doing their expected job. They all stayed and helped console the family and start the cleanup. They helped drain the water and salvage what they could for the family. These men and women don’t just do what’s expected. They care about our community and citizens. Their guiding force is service. These dedicated men and women deserve to be well paid and have solid benefits. They risked their lives to help save this family’s home and then gave them the gift of being there to help them start to pick the pieces. They gave this family a bit of hope when they were down. That’s what they do every single day without hesitation. It is simply a part of who they are and we are blessed to have them in our City,” said Kim and Jared Byrd, part-time residents of Orange Beach in a text. ”ALEA [Alabama Law Enforcement Agency]: Driver killed when crashing into Orange Beach police vehicles,” according to a report on Fox10News. I argue, all First Responders are dedicated to our community in ways that are priceless. Mayor Tony Kennon may not agree, probably thinking an underpaid paramedic or officer is replaceable. This logic works until someone has a stint failure, bad car accident at the turn around, or needs resuscitating in the Gulf, raising questions about going cheap. Orange Beach is a wealthy community, taking in $15 Million annually above expenses. Paying Firefighters and Police Officers a salary that reflects the city’s standing as the premier beach resort in Alabama is the right decision. 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.
Rauf Bolden: Overtourism in Orange Beach
Overtourism is like water, proportionately increasing with the lanes you give it. The impact of overtourism’s traffic in Orange Beach was never anticipated. Is it too much to ask City Council, Community Development, and the Planning Commission to publish their 2030 Plan for growth, replacing the old Horizon 2020 Plan? “In short, overtourism occurs when there are too many visitors to a particular destination. ‘Too many’ is a subjective term, of course, but it is defined in each destination by local residents, hosts, business owners and tourists. When rent prices push out local tenants to make way for vacation rentals, that is overtourism. When narrow roads become jammed with tourist vehicles – these are all signs of overtourism,” according to a report in Responsible Travel. Where is the off ramp for Orange Beach? Continually hiding behind the rhetoric, “They can build [condos] by right,” arguing we cannot stop the growth, because Orange Beach will face litigation. This is the city’s defensive shield, blaming the debilitating traffic from construction-driven growth and unplanned infrastructure on zoning rights. Archaic zoning laws, passed decades ago, place Orange Beach in legal jeopardy if they restrict zoning on grandfathered properties, enabling overtourism to thrive in a booming economy. In 2008 the Taxable Lodging Rentals were $4,268,949 versus the Taxable Lodging Rentals of $23,091,793 in 2018, according to a report from the Citizen and Visitors Bureau in an email. This is an impressive increase in lodging rentals of 540 percent over ten years, obviously generating substantial tax revenues for the city. I do not expect to see a revolt in Orange Beach with protesters shouting, “Tourist go home,” as happened on the streets of Barcelona, Venice and Dubrovnik. We need a bipartisan community plan for sustainable tourism, not a knee jerk reaction where local officials increase lodging taxes, and initiate road widening in a desperate attempt to quell tourist traffic. Does Orange Beach need a comprehensive plan, looking forward to 2030, defining paths for community wellness, infrastructure, schools, churches, businesses, tourism, and the environment? “The old plan [for 2020] was done during [Mayor] Russo’s era [2006]. Should be revisited,” said Lucy Hazebrook, a resident of Orange Beach in an email. “The whole county needs a comprehensive plan for growth. Both Orange Beach and Gulf Shores desperately need a plan for growth. Robert Craft I trust. Terrible Tony [Kennon]? No,” said Brenda Hancock, a resident of Baldwin County since 1961 in an email. The travel industry dictates growth, thinking less about the impact. Is this a key issue? Orange Beach is not a tourist destination in the classical sense of visiting museums, seeing historic artifacts, or wandering through a medieval castle. We are a family destination with a beach, and our primary product is family safety. Keeping visitors safe whether in the water, on the beach, or dining out is the city’s anthem. In today’s world where gun violence litters every news cycle, safety is a primary concern for parents choosing a destination for their families. Yet we still have problems with overtourism. City officials want to address the situation through infrastructure spending, like building a span across the Intracoastal Waterway to County Road 20 without limiting the number of beds for people to sleep in. Mayor Tony Kennon told Fox10 News, “You can’t stop the growth. It’s coming whether you like it or not,” watch here. As if growth cannot be managed, like is an apocalypse. The Orange Beach City Council is poised to allow 677 new housing units (condos) on the Beach Road, underlining the premise of construction by zoning right, according to a report by John Mullen in the OBA Community website. Let’s do the math. If 677 new multi-bedroom units house eight people each, calculated out means 5,416 additional souls wandering the beach on any given day. That’s 1,354 additional vehicles, assuming each family unit only brings two cars. I ask my fellow residents, “Is this what you elected Mayor Tony Kennon to do?” I propose this solution. A 270-day moratorium on all commercial building permits, allowing city officials time to hire planning professionals from multiple universities for policy studies on overtourism, assessing the impact of growth on our beach environment, and the wellness of our residential community. ENDS. 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: helpdesk@raufbolden.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.
Rauf Bolden: Breaking promises in Orange Beach
A politician once told me, “The bigger the smile, the sharper the knife.” So, it is in Orange Beach. In 2008, Mayor Tony Kennon came to power on rhetoric espousing the Republican ideal of smaller government. “Small government is a term generally used by political conservatives to describe a government with minimal involvement in public policy or the private sector,” according to a report in Wikipedia. Political conservatism has similar goals, “lower taxes, free market capitalism, free enterprise, deregulation and restrictions on labor unions,” according to a report in Wikipedia. After winning the election, Tony Kennon took the oath of office, proceeded to cut employee benefits, appropriations, vehicles, and staff, reducing Police to 35 people (Charts 1 & 2). His Council Class of 2008 was proud. Today the late Councilman Ed Carroll would not recognize the ideology he shared with Tony Kennon back in 2008. Orange Beach’s government has grown by 69.5%, yet the local population has stagnated around 5,700, according to a Edward VIII on City Data. Chart 1: Employee Comparison for City Departments 2009 and 2019 CITY DEPARTMENT- NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES 2009 NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES 2019 POLICE 35 62 FIRE 41 59 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 13 16 FINANCE 8 10 LIBRARY 9 8 SEWER 19 22 PUBLIC WORKS 46 71 PARKS AND RECREATION 19 20 ADMIN 6 14 TOTAL EMPLOYEES 196 282 Republican orthodoxy is woven into the fabric of Orange Beach residents. Baldwin County overwhelmingly voted for the Christian Theologian Judge Roy Moore (61.7%) in the special senatorial election in 2017 , confirming residents’ belief in small government as a conservative value. Yet somehow the Mayor of Orange Beach is not on the same page. Pre-2008, Mayor Steve Russo provided voting residents with amenities: Recreation Center, Tennis Center, Aquatic Center, Library, Senior Center, and Sportsplex. When the city’s purse was full, he gave back to the community. Post-2008, Mayor Tony Kennon’s regime generates $15 million above expenses each year, and has over $40 million in reserves. While the city’s purse is bulging, residents are given increased fees on sewer, restricted vacation rentals, and higher lodging taxes. Looking back to the pre-Kennon era resident memberships at the Recreation Center, including Pool and Tennis were $20 per year. Today the cost is approximately 400% more. It is easy to say things have changed from pro-resident to pro-money, but the analogies smack more of business fundamentals trumping our quality of life. The head scratching continues. Has government grown to service the needs of the voting residents, or has government grown to service the needs of the revenue generating tourist industry? Tony Kennon has successfully inflated the bureaucracy, completely overlooked cuts on property tax in an era of prosperity (4 mils). Residents and businesses could use a little love. Orange Beach does not have a caucus of conservative minds, canvasing for better leadership. We see a Facebook Group against the Flyover Bridge west of the Foley Beach Express and a Facebook Group against the proposed Wolf Bay Bridge near Doc’s. These do not ensure change. Transformation needs a plan, and a political voice. Conservatism “favors tradition in the face of external forces for change,” according to a report on Philosophy Basics. Encouraging more financial prospectors to make speculative investments in Orange Beach is truly an “external force for change”. Our leaders are content, moving the goal posts, accommodating real estate developments with setback variances. The mask is off the long-term plan. The size of government is directly proportional to the number of developments. As proof, subdivision planning has become more aggressive. “A main point of concern raised [by Council] about the subdivision [Broken Sound PUD, Lauder Lane and Pelican Place] itself was in reference to the small setbacks proposed for the development [40 lots]. For RS zoning [residential], front setbacks are a minimum of 30 feet, rear setbacks at least 20 feet and side setbacks require 10 feet. For Broken Sound, the setbacks are set at 18 feet in the front, 8 feet in the rear and 5 feet on the sides,” according to a report by Crystal Cole/ Islander Editor in Gulf Coast News Today. Short-term rentals will not be allowed in this subdivision. “A condition of the Broken Sound PUD approval was that house rentals shall not be less than six months,” according to a report by the City Clerk’s Office in an email. Mayor Kennon explained his thinking, approving this housing project (See Image 1), “They’re going to have to have X number of units to financially make that work, and it’s going to have to be close. In my opinion, even though these are extremely small setbacks and we all [Council Members] have our problems with that, the alternative project of apartments or more townhomes to me was a greater evil,” according to a report by Crystal Cole/ Islander Editor in Gulf Coast News Today. Tony’s logic is business centric, speaking volumes. I argue, we will wake up one morning, wondering how we missed the setback apocalypse. Image 1: Broken Sound Subdivision (PUD) with 5 ft. side setbacks Some are in opposition to stripping away city planning standards, but there is fear of mayoral retribution. Having bones of contention is an unspoken violation. Last cycle, one council member had a vision for better governance, breaking ranks, declaring a much-anticipated candidacy for Tony’s job. The candidate was immediately uninvited from the council’s internal meetings and discussions, according to sources familiar with the events. Such retribution, “is used to discourage future behavior,” according to people who spoke on the condition of anonymity. I assume Mayor Kennon has already found someone to challenge this malcontent in the 2020 election cycle. Not everyone complains about Kennon’s brand of real-estate conservatism. To his credit Mayor Kennon purchased and renovated the Event Center, painted to look like the hotel next door, appearing from the bridge to be part of the same brand-name entity, making it easier to rent out. He also rebuilt the crumbling Art Center from the ruins of the old Orange
Rauf Bolden: Abusing eminent domain in Orange Beach
Confiscating properties through eminent domain to build bridges and roads in Orange Beach is abusive. It rails against conservative ideals. Nothing says socialism quite like seizing private lands, getting what the government wants at all cost. “Eminent domain is a necessary evil,” said Mayor Tony Kennon, according to a report in The Islander (April 25, 2018, page 29). His empathy speaks volumes, justifying governmental property seizures, referring to three families who will lose their home-based businesses on land needed for the Flyover Bridge west of the Foley Beach Express. He might as well have told those families, “Too bad!” The Tom Thumb and its associated businesses in the convenience store’s mall, located at the corner of Canal Road and Hwy 161 are also scheduled for seizure under eminent domain, being demolished and replaced by a double turn lane, enabling better traffic flow for vacationers. It’s troubling not knowing what other economic disenfranchisement plans local government has in mind for business owners and families in Orange Beach. How did we get here? The need to increase condominium building on the beach for tax revenues spurred traffic growth. Years ago the zoning laws were not amended, and now it is too late to stop development. Realizing this Mayor Kennon requested help from the state, asking them to widen the arterial roads, countering the traffic problem. One thing led to another, and we now find ourselves in the predicament of having to confiscate private lands to build additional infrastructure, accommodating more tourist traffic, because growth is in an upward spiral. Orange Beach has come a long way since it was a sleepy fishing village on the Alabama Gulf Coast. It is property rights abuses, associated with confiscating private land that bothers me. Where does the power of eminent domain come from? “The Fifth Amendment to the Constitution [U.S.] says ‘nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.’ This is a tacit recognition of a preexisting power to take private property for public use, rather than a grant of new power.” Eminent domain “appertains to every independent government. It requires no constitutional recognition; it is an attribute of sovereignty [federal and state],” according to a report on Justia. Power derived from “no constitutional recognition” is subjective, and prone to misapplication. This is what I am arguing here. Slow traffic is not a life and death situation, requiring immediate action like flooding. It is simply a time wasting inconvenience. In my opinion, this does not justify confiscating an individual’s property through eminent domain. Some would say the traffic situation is the result poor planning, related to over development, but we are not going to go there. Municipal employees work very hard with the limited resources at their disposal, trying to satiate the political voices, crying for more tax revenue through increased expansion. Can the government’s plan use strong-arm tactics, forcing landowners to sell? The Alabama Constitution (AL Code § 18-1A-22 (2016)) defines the rules of engagement, “In order to compel an agreement on the price to be paid for the property, a condemnor may not arbitrarily advance the time of condemnation, arbitrarily defer negotiations or condemnation, nor take any other action coercive in nature.” On the face of it you do not have to sell if you do not want to, but government has other tools in its arsenal like ruling your property uninhabitable, offering you an assessed value in exchange for taking it off your hands. Receiving a low ball figure for your property won’t make you feel any better, since your plot has other intrinsic value like memories of your children playing under the oak tree that are priceless to you. These intangibles do not fit into the payment equation. “‘Prior to the adoption of the Fourteenth Amendment,’ the power of eminent domain of state governments ‘was unrestrained by any federal authority’ [Green v. Frazier, 253 U.S. 233, 238 (1920)]. The Just Compensation Clause of the Fifth Amendment did not apply to the states [Barron v. Baltimore, 32 U.S. (7 Pet.) 243 (1833)], but it does now. How can we square the circle of fairness? Well-defined property rights are important because they increase economic activity, bolstering standards of living, quality-of-life, and a strong tax base that is inextricably linked to property rights. Having the specter of property confiscations hanging over your head is contrary to the DNA that is baked into Alabamians – no government interference. I guess the days of personal freedom, relating to private property are over, at least in Orange Beach. “In a new study released by the Cato Institute — a libertarian think tank dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace — Alabama was ranked 49th in personal freedom,” according to a report by Elizabeth Patton on Alabama Today. Unless Mayor Kennon wants to step up, guaranteeing elevated prices for seized properties, I see no fair solution or happy ending. Property confiscation is a reflection of personal freedom, because government holds all the cards. It is important to argue the seller should get more money than the assessed value of the property, adding a certain “sweetener” for familial memories lost while being forced to vacate his or her land under eminent domain. In a monetary way, better prices increase personal freedom. Mayor Kennon will counter that confiscations for infrastructure improvements in Orange Beach are not the work of the city, but the state. I argue the city is complicit, colluding with the state, ensuring specific infrastructure improvements happen regardless of which family gets hurt. The instincts to confiscate private lands, ostensibly for the greater good is the thin end of the wedge. Local government must be very careful, using this tool, because irreversible damage can occur, affecting the fabric of the community. Mayor Kennon’s motives are honorable, wanting to accommodate the tourists, easing the amount of traffic on the roads during the summer season. I question the methodology of confiscating property to achieve his ends. Would Mayor Tony
Rauf Bolden: Is the new school in Orange Beach leading to another split?
It may seem obvious to those who look. Orange Beach is perfectly positioned to have an independent school system, divorced from the constraints of the Baldwin County Board of Education (BCBE). In a stroke of negotiated genius, Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon closed a deal with BCBE, ensuring they take on millions of dollars worth of construction debt, providing a new High School/Middle School for students in Orange Beach with no increase in local-property taxes. The city did transfer land to BCBE, giving them clear title to the property the school will sit on. This new campus is the final catalyst for a school split in Orange Beach. As with all politicians, there is a hidden cost to partnering with the City of Orange Beach. The Baldwin County Board of Education is expected to make administrative concession, accommodating Mayor Kennon’s vision. He will be disappointed, leading to a split of irreconcilable differences. Kennon said, “I expect to be treated differently, I expect them [Baldwin County Board of Education] to listen to our community [me]. The school [Middle School/High School] that we’re building is a gem for them to show off,” according to a report by John Mullen on the OBA Website. BCBE is not going to let Orange Beach tell them how to do their job, providing the excuse for Orange Beach to file for separation, severing ties with Baldwin County, and forming an independent school system. Orange Beach tried twice before to found a school system. Once in 2007 and once in 2014, but both failed massively. This time the initiative will succeed. Mayor Kennon will have more influence over the school board in an independent school system, finally getting what council has always wanted for Orange Beach, tattooing their guidance on the lives of future generations through a finely tuned curriculum of academics, sports and after-school programs. This will take the worry off the shoulders of working parents, because their kids will be in supervised care from sunup to sundown. Prayer and The Pledge in standalone after-school programs are elements local parents will not oppose; having independent after-school programs is the only way this works. “Organized prayer in the public school setting, whether in the classroom or at a school-sponsored event, is unconstitutional. The only type of prayer that is constitutionally permissible is private, voluntary student prayer that does not interfere with the school’s educational mission,” according to adl.org. By example Gulf Shores City Schools will show how effective independent-minded programs can be, allowing Orange Beach parents to see how they can improve alternative education. Administrative differences will be pointed out, underlining the idea for independence. Perhaps more home-schooled children will come back, because of Orange Beach’s after-school model. Orange Beach must first demonstrate the short comings of the Baldwin County Schools, pointing again to how well an independent school system like Gulf Shores targets the unique needs of local children in a way generic, county-wide education never can, like marine biology, oceanography, or religious studies. Political interests will start to align, pointing out the discrepancies, and shortcomings of the county system. A groundswell of concern will rise, pleading for help, leading to discussions, therapy and divorce. “I would hope Gulf Shores would go ahead and help us [Orange Beach] move forward so both city and county schools can move forward,” said Mayor Tony Kennon. “We [BCBE] need to hire administrators, coaches, and … it’s frustrating and unfair to the parents who are in limbo.” according to a report in al.com (https://www.al.com/news/2018/12/orange-beach-families-to-state-where-are-we-going-to-school-next-year.html). The Baldwin County Board of Education and the Gulf Shores City School Board could not find common ground, negotiating the school separation, requiring the Alabama State Superintendent of Education to step in, settling the dispute. “Gulf Shores High School students living outside of the city going into grades 11 and 12 will remain at the school. Next year’s 10th graders will have the choice to stay at Gulf Shores High School or to attend class in Orange Beach,” said Dr. Eric Mackey, Alabama’s State Superintendent of Education. The possibility exists that students attending Gulf Shores City Schools from Orange Beach and Ono Island will be required to pay tuition, “Gulf Shores City Schools shall retain the right to formulate an Out of District Policy at their discretion,” said Mackey, according to a report in mynbc15.com. This Out of District Policy ruling is leverage for Gulf Shores City Schools. Precedent already exists for student applications, vetting, and tuition payments in Satsuma, an independent school system, according to a report on Satsuma City Schools web site. Kennon will be very disappointed if Orange Beach is saddled with a large tuition bill for its students, but you cannot expect Gulf Shores’ taxpayers to foot the bill for Orange Beach’s students. The Orange Beach City Council could volunteer to subsidize tuition, providing financial assistance to local parents, during the transition period. The Orange Beach separation whispers have already begun, based on the premise that we can do it better. “I am not comparing Orange Beach schools to the county,” Kennon said. “I’m comparing Orange Beach schools to the best in the state. If we can’t be the best in the state, then we have underachieved. We have the ability, the financial wherewithal to be the best in the state. No one can hold us back. We have to as a community expect excellence, hold our kids to it and hold other parents to it. If we don’t demand excellence, if we don’t demand that we are the best in the state then we’re not going to get it.” Obviously Mayor Kennon wants to put his stamp on the way things are done. This will be impossible with the reins of power in the hands of the Baldwin County Board of Education. Sooner rather than later Kennon will announce Orange Beach is going their own way. Orange Beach can afford to go it alone. In 2017 the city generated $41.8 million in revenue, having $25.1 million in expenses, leaving $16.7
Rauf Bolden: How to run for Mayor and Council in Orange Beach
Getting elected Mayor or to the City Council in 2020 is simple. Campaign on a platform to eliminate the 4-mil property tax, giving residents a real return for putting up with the traffic, and propose we pay for the tax cut with sin taxes on tobacco products, alcohol, and sugary drinks, offsetting the money lost on the tax cut. This oversimplification sounds easy, but it’s not. Orange Beach has competent council members, being skilled politicians, representing their community on an at-large basis, not districts. Jeff Silvers and Joni Blalock have served the longest since 2004; Jerry Johnson and Jeff Boyd have served since 2012; Annette Mitchell was appointed to serve out the term of the late Al Bradley, being elected to her first term in 2016. Mayor Tony Kennon started out as a Councilman, being first elected on August 24, 2004, but resigned on June 7, 2005. Three years later, on August 26, 2008 he was elected Mayor, presently serving his third consecutive term, ending in 2020. To qualify for the ballot you have to meet a few minimum requirements. The candidate “must be 18 years old; must be a resident of the city for 90 days prior to the election [rent or own]; must be a US citizen for one day; and must be a registered voter,” according to the Alabama Secretary of State’s website. Planning your run for the 2020 election cycle takes time and hard work, beginning in 2019. Start building up a war chest of donor lists, appropriate technology and talented volunteers. How do you go about getting elected to public office? Here are a few pointers. Know your electorate: talk with people across the entire economic spectrum, finding out what matters to them; connect with bellwethers, getting the right people backing you; kick off fundraising by contacting past candidates; build your team, knowing volunteers will do the bulk of the work; design campaign material, concentrating on poster and yard sign design, newsletters, and social media. Raise candidate’s profile, reaching out to voters through common acquaintances. Create a campaign plan for messaging and build a dedicated voter database, tracking communication through websites, social media and telephone calls, according to a report on CallHub, a political website (https://callhub.io/run-local-political-campaign/). Offending one person with your campaign style in a small town may mean offending their entire voting family. Note that council members are sometimes elected with as little as 400 votes. In 2008, Kennon had around 1,200 votes, being elected mayor in a town of 5,000 people. The margin for offending is large, but the margin for winning is small, adding to that, the responsibility for winning is enormous, putting you on-call 24/7 for a low-paying job. “I know when my Dad [Councilman Jerry Davidson] was on council [2000-2004] he spent an enormous amount time in many many more meetings [council planning] than the public meetings held and people took any and all opportunities anytime he was anywhere to discuss their thoughts,” said Kristy Doggett a twenty-year resident in an email. Some people cannot be bothered with public service, saying it is too much trouble, putting up with all the politics for a beggar’s wage: $13,401.18 per year for each council member; $16,557.36 per year for the Mayor Pro-Tem (vice-mayor); and $42,000.00 per year for Mayor. Then there is the question of getting along with Mayor Kennon (if re-elected), having a very unique style of coordinating policy. Potential candidates muse about the fringe benefit of being embarrassed and humiliated in the Council Chambers for disagreeing with him. Baldwin County District Representative Daniel Catlin, who was standing in for Congressman Bradley Byrne at his congressional town hall, watched as Kennon attempted to demean, disgrace and shame Congressman Byrne’s supporters in the Council Chambers. “They [residents] are ignorant by choice,” said Kennon, as evidenced in this video report from Cliff McCollum of Gulf Coast News Today. The video speaks volumes. We need a hefty selection of good candidates in 2020, offering a salary commensurate with the job’s responsibilities, specifically large enough to compensate professionals for managing a $40 million budget. I suggest $160,000 per year for Mayor, and $50,000 per year for each of the five council members, as outlined in my previous op-ed. People in Orange Beach can do better than having their Mayor and City Council stand unopposed for municipal elections because of the low pay. Let’s improve the compensation package for our elected officials, simultaneously attracting a large pool of candidates, showing the world democracy, and competitive elections have a strong tradition in Orange Beach. ••• 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.
Rauf Bolden: Reflecting upon the midterm results in Orange Beach
Midterm reflects the election cycle. The middle of Mayor Tony Kennon’s term (2016-2018) saw one-third of the Orange Beach City Council try to leave, seeking higher office. Councilman Jeff Boyd ran for Alabama State Senate, and Councilman Jerry Johnson ran for Baldwin County Commissioner. Both failed by a wide margin. Their campaigns were underfunded and untested, returning to the Council Chambers in Orange Beach richer for their experience, perhaps launching a retry in 2022, or mounting a run for Mayor in 2020. Some people feel Orange Beach’s Ordinance banning short-term rentals (Ordinance 2018-1282) cost the council members’ their election bid, seeing the ban as stepping on a person’s property rights, limiting what a family can do with their home, making houses in residential areas harder to sell. “BCAR [Baldwin County Association of Realtors] represents over 2,000 REALTORS® across Baldwin and Mobile counties, and advocates for homeownership, private property rights, and vibrant communities. BCAR supports candidates who share the vision of the association,” according to a report on the BCAR website. Obviously the ban is an infringement on property rights, for not minimizing government’s role in the local economy, for not restoring liberty from government interference, essentially abandoning pre-eminent conservative ideals in Republican Alabama. Espousing conservatism, the Council’s legislative calendar from 2016-2018 saw no cuts in property taxes for residents; big increases in deductibles for city employees’ health care; and a short term rental ban on residential properties. The proposed projects over the next two years (2018-2020) are more ambitious, bolstering economic stimulus, including a new Middle School/High School on Canal Road (Diagram 1); widening of Canal Road (Diagram 2); and starting the Wolf Bay Bridge (Diagram 3). These are economic-stimulus projects costing tens of million of dollars, creating jobs, and helping the local economy prior to the next election cycle. Council started the revenue ball rolling in the first two years of this term (2016-2018), generating additional revenue with a 2% increase in lodging tax from 11 percent to 13 percent, supposedly underwriting the cost of the Wolf Bay Bridge. The rest of the infrastructure money is coming from tax revenue saved up over Mayor Kennon’s previous two terms. Spending these monies on infrastructure is a good idea, because moving traffic keeps the tourists happy and a happy tourist is the city’s cash cow. They provide a revenue stream, paying sales taxes on groceries, fueling their boats, buying water toys and so on. Another possibility for more revenue exists as the city approved 65 liquor licenses, including special events, in the two years prior to the midterm, according to an email from Renee Eberly, City Clerk in Orange Beach. Perhaps a sin tax on alcohol, tobacco products, and sugary drinks, generating extra cash, helping pay for infrastructure projects or school amenities is an alternative source of funding. “[A new] High School is a great idea. There are new families coming to the area and they are going to need a good school. The only problem is the traffic. It is already bad enough. I don’t know how they are going to fix it,” said Margie Soto a 24-year resident of the island. “I would like to see Canal Road [Hwy 180] widened, and I would like to see the Wolf Bay Bridge built,” said Steve Russo an Orange Beach resident of 38 years. Keeping City Council in step is the key issue if Mayor Kennon wants to push his post-midterm agenda forward. Orange Beach’s Elected Officials serve at-large not by districts. They represent all the constituents at once. Even though the elected officials represent all the registered voters, Council members voted with Mayor Kennon 99 percent of the time, showing Kennon’s iron-grip on the process. Joe Emerson commented on the gravity of his experience in the Council Chambers at City Hall, making inquiries about how the Flyover Bridge (diagram below) west of the Foley Beach Express was funded. ”I would like to say that I took Mayor Kennon’s advice and went to two City Council meetings ‘to get the facts’ [about the flyover bridge]. Not once, but twice I was denied access to public information about the project (after being assured that my request for the white papers was approved). Not once but twice, my character was attacked because I refuse to just go with the flow [bend the knee]. Not once but twice, I left the Orange Beach City Council Chambers with more incentive to get to the bottom of this [flyover bridge funding],” Emerson wrote in a Facebook post. A State Official is also seeking answers. “ALDOT has managed to side-step Jim Zeigler’s [State Auditor’s] requests [about funding] for well over six months, and thus, for the third time, Zeigler is asking for further information [from ALDOT] about an $87 million state-funded bridge [flyover bridge] project in Baldwin County [Orange Beach],” reported Alabama Today. “I learned there’s no logical and reasonable opposition [to this flyover bridge],” Kennon told Yellowhammer News, during ALDOT’s Public Hearing in Gulf Shores on Nov. 15. Some residents fear City Council may float a neck-snapping bond issue never seen before in Baldwin County, financing the Wolf Bay Bridge, hiring a bond issuer, perhaps negotiating reimbursements for expenses. The worry is what it will cost to pay down this debt, and how many years the residents are indebted, probably long after the present council retires. Opponents of the Wolf Bay Bridge are motivated, campaigning vigorously against more infrastructures (indebtedness), demanding a Referendum, letting the constituents vote before spending $50 million on the Wolf Bay Bridge. “We are very concerned about the economic risk involved in building of this 1.2 mile bridge [Wolf Bay Bridge]. In addition to the astronomical expense for the taxpayers, there is the safety and liability risk of toxic spills [benzene] from barge accidents on extremely busy interstate waterway. The intention to build up the north shore to bring more traffic to Orange Beach seems irrational at this point,” wrote Lucy Hazebrook in an email. Lucy is a 28-year resident of
