SILVER HILL AL
JULY 15 2007
Silverhill Police Chief Al Coggins has resigned, leaving the town with only one police officer. Coggins, a four-year veteran with the department, says he's resigned for medical reasons. The chief's departure has some people in Silverhill wondering if one cop is enough.
"I'm concerned with the news out there that we don't have a police chief and only one officer, we could be a target for crime," says Dalton Head. Head owns an antique shop on Highway 104. "We have a lot of speeders in town, especially in the morning. And with no officers on duty in the mornings, we could have some problems."
The responsibility of protecting and patrolling Silverhill now falls in the hands of Baldwin County Sheriff Hoss Mack. As chief law enforcement officer of Baldwin County, Mack says he will provide law enforcement protection and services to Silverhill residents.
"Our department is stretched thin," says Mack. "Now that we're providing services in Foley and Summerdale's police jurisdictions, this is just one more challenge. But we're going to approach the county commission and ask for additional resources."
Coggins says his last day on-duty will be July 26th.
ALABAMA GULF COAST NEWS
HOT BREAKING NEWS HERE..........
Sunday, July 15, 2007
JUDGE REVERSES HIS OWN RULING by:Rick McCann www.privateofficer.com
GULF SHORES ALA.
JULY 15 2007
A Baldwin County judge Tuesday reversed his earlier decision to try the Fort Morgan annexation battle between Gulf Shores and residents of the unincorporated part of the peninsula before a jury and will instead decide the case himself.
In a separate order Tuesday, Circuit Judge J. Langford Floyd rescheduled the trial, pushing it back from September to Oct. 23 after Andy Rutens, a lawyer for Gulf Shores, said he had scheduling conflicts with the earlier date.
The trial will be held at the Fairhope Satellite Courthouse, according to Floyd's order.
In a short hearing early Tuesday, attended only by Rutens and the Fort Morgan Civic Association's lawyer, Stephen Clements, Floyd granted the city's motion to reconsider the March directive, which called for the 4-year-old case to be decided by a jury.
Floyd said that aside from matters of procedure raised by Rutens, he preferred to hear the case himself so that he could freely discuss the complex dispute with lawyers as evidence was presented.
"I don't want to inadvertently influence (jurors)," the judge said.
In April 2003, the Gulf Shores City Council voted to annex the 19.3-mile-long Alabama 180 right of way that bisects the Fort Morgan peninsula.
Shortly afterward, the Fort Morgan Civic Association sued the city, seeking to reverse the move, which the city used to establish a border with and thus gain the ability to annex private property along the peninsula.
The civic association and three co-plaintiffs -- residents Ralph Gilges, Sarah DeMellier and former County Commissioner Charles Browdy -- argued in the suit that the city's move was an illegal form of annexation and would lead to over development of the ecologically fragile
In a separate order Tuesday, Circuit Judge J. Langford Floyd rescheduled the trial, pushing it back from September to Oct. 23 after Andy Rutens, a lawyer for Gulf Shores, said he had scheduling conflicts with the earlier date.
The trial will be held at the Fairhope Satellite Courthouse, according to Floyd's order.
In a short hearing early Tuesday, attended only by Rutens and the Fort Morgan Civic Association's lawyer, Stephen Clements, Floyd granted the city's motion to reconsider the March directive, which called for the 4-year-old case to be decided by a jury.
Floyd said that aside from matters of procedure raised by Rutens, he preferred to hear the case himself so that he could freely discuss the complex dispute with lawyers as evidence was presented.
"I don't want to inadvertently influence (jurors)," the judge said.
In April 2003, the Gulf Shores City Council voted to annex the 19.3-mile-long Alabama 180 right of way that bisects the Fort Morgan peninsula.
Shortly afterward, the Fort Morgan Civic Association sued the city, seeking to reverse the move, which the city used to establish a border with and thus gain the ability to annex private property along the peninsula.
The civic association and three co-plaintiffs -- residents Ralph Gilges, Sarah DeMellier and former County Commissioner Charles Browdy -- argued in the suit that the city's move was an illegal form of annexation and would lead to over development of the ecologically fragile
Since then, Gulf Shores has annexed more than 80 parcels along the peninsula and introduced new zoning rules there that limit resort developments to about half the height and density allowed elsewhere in the city.
In court, Floyd has twice rejected the civic association's requests for him to overturn the right-of-way annexation and the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals has declined to take up issues in the case.
Efforts to mediate the dispute have also failed so far, though both sides said in March that they were optimistic the case could be settled before reaching trial.
Floyd appointed a new mediator -- Mobile attorney Bill Wasden -- last month to replace Edward McDermott, who was unable to continue his role because he started serving as a Mobile County Circuit Court judge, according to court filings.
Clements said after Tuesday's hearing that he hoped depositions he has scheduled for Friday would provide his side the information it needed to revive mediation talks.
According to court records, Clements has subpoenaed developer David Head Sr., whose company built the Beach Club, a large Fort Morgan resort, and Ed Hand Sr. with the engineering firm Volkert & Associates for questioning Friday morning.
Though it's unclear what Clements intends to ask, the subpoenas request that both men bring all records and correspondence regarding the annexation as well as evidence of campaign contributions made to or business relationships with elected city officials in the current and former administrations.
In a February court filing, the city, though noting that the idea of annexing the state property "was raised multiple times over the past several years," described a meeting between then-
Mayor David Bodenhamer, Hand, Head and Head's lawyer, Sam Irby.
"Mr. Head brought up the issue of the city annexing the state property and the possibility he may want to have property he owned annexed at some future date," the city wrote, adding that "some time after this meeting" Bodenhamer approached state officials about bringing the property into the city.
Gulf Shores also wrote in the filing that a trio of others in the real estate business contacted City Hall before the annexation about bringing their Fort Morgan property into the city: Realtor Larry Powell, Kiva Dunes developer Jimmy Edgeman and Ron Owen, developer of the proposed Gulf Highlands condo project.
Hand acknowledged Tuesday that he had been subpoenaed and had prepared documents to bring to the Friday questioning, but said he didn't see what he could provide to help settle the case: "I don't have any idea what the questions are."
Head could not be reached for comment Tuesday afternoon.
In court, Floyd has twice rejected the civic association's requests for him to overturn the right-of-way annexation and the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals has declined to take up issues in the case.
Efforts to mediate the dispute have also failed so far, though both sides said in March that they were optimistic the case could be settled before reaching trial.
Floyd appointed a new mediator -- Mobile attorney Bill Wasden -- last month to replace Edward McDermott, who was unable to continue his role because he started serving as a Mobile County Circuit Court judge, according to court filings.
Clements said after Tuesday's hearing that he hoped depositions he has scheduled for Friday would provide his side the information it needed to revive mediation talks.
According to court records, Clements has subpoenaed developer David Head Sr., whose company built the Beach Club, a large Fort Morgan resort, and Ed Hand Sr. with the engineering firm Volkert & Associates for questioning Friday morning.
Though it's unclear what Clements intends to ask, the subpoenas request that both men bring all records and correspondence regarding the annexation as well as evidence of campaign contributions made to or business relationships with elected city officials in the current and former administrations.
In a February court filing, the city, though noting that the idea of annexing the state property "was raised multiple times over the past several years," described a meeting between then-
Mayor David Bodenhamer, Hand, Head and Head's lawyer, Sam Irby.
"Mr. Head brought up the issue of the city annexing the state property and the possibility he may want to have property he owned annexed at some future date," the city wrote, adding that "some time after this meeting" Bodenhamer approached state officials about bringing the property into the city.
Gulf Shores also wrote in the filing that a trio of others in the real estate business contacted City Hall before the annexation about bringing their Fort Morgan property into the city: Realtor Larry Powell, Kiva Dunes developer Jimmy Edgeman and Ron Owen, developer of the proposed Gulf Highlands condo project.
Hand acknowledged Tuesday that he had been subpoenaed and had prepared documents to bring to the Friday questioning, but said he didn't see what he could provide to help settle the case: "I don't have any idea what the questions are."
Head could not be reached for comment Tuesday afternoon.
GOVERNOR TELLS EASTERN SHORES TO UNIFY www.privateofficer.com
SPANISH FORT -- Gov. Bob Riley said the Eastern Shore faces a problem unlike those faced by any other area in Alabama.
Riley told an audience of about 150 business and city leaders that their cities will grow in spite of what they do. Economic development will occur, he said.
The problem, Riley said, is not attracting new business, but maintaining the quality of life that makes the Eastern Shore attractive.
Be highly selective in who your new neighbors are," Riley said. "Don't ever give up in what makes you so unique."
Riley was the keynote speaker at the first luncheon for the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce's Economic Development Council. Joe Bullock, a former vice chairman of the council, said plans are to have the event twice a year, to inform businesses and the public on the progress of the Chamber of Commerce.
At the center of the chamber's plans for growth is its "Blueprint for Tomorrow," a strategic plan for the Eastern Shore developed in 2005. Some of the goals are to create a technology and research park, as well as a business academy, in the area. Traffic flow and tourism promotion are also priorities of the blueprint.
David Clark, chairman for the chamber, who also serves as general manager at the Grand Hotel, said the Blueprint for Tomorrow is the group's way to plan for the future.
Riley said the chamber must go beyond that. He urged local business and city leaders to unify in their efforts to handle booming growth. The development of the Eastern Shore, he said, is key in promoting the economic growth for the rest of the state.
"Alabama is on the cusp of magnificence," Riley said. "That magnificence starts on the Eastern Shore."
Riley said that officials in each city along the Eastern Shore -- Daphne, Fairhope and Spanish Fort -- must work to integrate their services.
"Especially on infrastructure," Riley said, "we don't have enough money to spend on redundant systems."
Furthermore, Riley hopes leaders can go beyond the Eastern Shore and think of themselves as part of a Gulf Coast region.
Challenges faced south of Interstate 10, such as condominium development and an unstable insurance market, are not happening in the rest of the state the governor said.
Riley told an audience of about 150 business and city leaders that their cities will grow in spite of what they do. Economic development will occur, he said.
The problem, Riley said, is not attracting new business, but maintaining the quality of life that makes the Eastern Shore attractive.
Be highly selective in who your new neighbors are," Riley said. "Don't ever give up in what makes you so unique."
Riley was the keynote speaker at the first luncheon for the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce's Economic Development Council. Joe Bullock, a former vice chairman of the council, said plans are to have the event twice a year, to inform businesses and the public on the progress of the Chamber of Commerce.
At the center of the chamber's plans for growth is its "Blueprint for Tomorrow," a strategic plan for the Eastern Shore developed in 2005. Some of the goals are to create a technology and research park, as well as a business academy, in the area. Traffic flow and tourism promotion are also priorities of the blueprint.
David Clark, chairman for the chamber, who also serves as general manager at the Grand Hotel, said the Blueprint for Tomorrow is the group's way to plan for the future.
Riley said the chamber must go beyond that. He urged local business and city leaders to unify in their efforts to handle booming growth. The development of the Eastern Shore, he said, is key in promoting the economic growth for the rest of the state.
"Alabama is on the cusp of magnificence," Riley said. "That magnificence starts on the Eastern Shore."
Riley said that officials in each city along the Eastern Shore -- Daphne, Fairhope and Spanish Fort -- must work to integrate their services.
"Especially on infrastructure," Riley said, "we don't have enough money to spend on redundant systems."
Furthermore, Riley hopes leaders can go beyond the Eastern Shore and think of themselves as part of a Gulf Coast region.
Challenges faced south of Interstate 10, such as condominium development and an unstable insurance market, are not happening in the rest of the state the governor said.
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