Fairhope Council Seeks Legal Options on Oct. 2 Referendum
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OUT AND ABOUT: Baldwin County Fair, PAGE 22-23 Scrumptious sweet potatoes PAGE 5 High school football The Courier PAGE 14 INSIDE SEPTEMBER 26, 2018 | GulfCoastNewsToday.com | 75¢ Fairhope World Affairs Daphne Roundtable celebrating Fairhope council seeks legal 10 years residents The tenth year of World options on Oct. 2 referendum fight Affairs Roundtable fall series begins on Oct. 3. The rezoning in roundtable is a program Injunction could be sought to delay change of government vote that promotes “thoughtful, Olde Towne respectful, open and facili- By CLIFF MCCOLLUM tions that would likely lead to representation for the city’s tated discussions on con- [email protected] the filing of an injunction in council members of if districts Daphne temporary topics.” The fall circuit court that could delay would have to be created, and, After recent action taken by the Oct. 2 referendum, a move if districts are to be created, series will have facilitators the Fairhope City Council in a the council members said what the process for creating By CLIFF MCCOLLUM leading discussions about special called meeting, the tim- was necessary in order to get those districts would be. [email protected] NASA and Global Space Re- ing of the upcoming Oct. 2 vote clarification on what exactly The city council voted in lationships and The Future to possibly change the city’s Fairhope residents might be August to ask for an attorney It was standing room of US Global Trade. Free, form of government could pos- voting on in the election. general’s opinion regarding only at the Sept. 17 and open to the public, the sibly be postponed. What was at issue is whether that question, and a prelimi- Daphne City Council programs are held at the The council voted unani- the upcoming election also meeting, as residents Fairhope public library in mously to look at its legal op- mandates a move from at-large SEE FAIRHOPE, PAGE 17 from across the city the Giddens Conference turned out in opposi- Center. For more informa- tion to a proposed de- tion, head to Page 19. velopment near Olde Towne Daphne. The development in Spanish Fort opens Integrity Park question, a collection of townhouses called Jacob’s Well, has been met with heavy criti- cism for months from neighboring property members and other res- Blakeley offers first Fall idents from throughout the city who question Sunset Cruise Sept. 28 how the potential de- Historic Blakeley State velopment could add Park invites you to kick off additional traffic to the first official weekend of Daphne’s Main Street autumn by joining us for area. one of our popular sunset “What are we try- cruises! On Friday, Sept. 28, ing to do? Squeeze Birmingham into we take a relaxing excur- Daphne?” resident sion down the waterways Dorothy Williams said. of the lower Mobile-Tensaw “Progress is necessary Delta and enjoy the stun- PHOTO COURTESY OF THE EASTERN SHORE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE for a community to ning views of the setting thrive and grow, but at sun and the cool bay breeze By CLIFF MCCOLLUM This first phase of develop- room area. what cost? Why do we before returning upriver. [email protected] ment provides three fields to Mayor Mike McMillan said have to take on so many Find out more on Page 18. host football and youth soccer he was proud that the city projects and put them Last week, the City of Span- starting in Spring 2019 and was able to build a park like on small properties just ish Fort held the grand open- the park boasts to be the first this for its residents. to make money? We DEATHS PAGE 12 ing and dedication for its new complex in the area to be lit “Quality of life is certainly love our community Integrity Park, and celebrated with LED lighting. important to us and our resi- and we want it to stay Myra Sue McLain Craft the event by having the first Also included in the first dents, so having a brand new that way.” Christopher Curtis Hall youth football games being phase construction is a new Many residents cited Joanne Kay Miller played on the fields there. concession stand and rest- SEE PARK, PAGE 20 Daphne’s requirements Harold Robert Parker for the allowance of planned unit develop- Donald Keith Sims ments, like the pro- posed Jacob’s Well, and The Jubilee Festival of Arts celebrates 30th Anniversary that any development INDEX seeking to become a DAPHNE — The Jubilee To mark the milestone, ning to attend, entertainment PUD had to be “supe- BALDWIN LIVING, 5 Festival of Arts continues to they've rolled out a new look schedules, a festival map and rior to existing zoning.” CLASSIFIED, 26 grow as the Eastern Shore and website: www.thejubilee- even suggestions on where to “This is not supe- HEALTH, 21 Chamber of Commerce and festival.com. stay, eat and play. rior,” resident Bill Rob- City of Daphne celebrate the The new festival logo mim- Your favorite artisans will inson said. “What has LEGALS, 28 event's 30th anniversary. The ics the waves seen from our be set up beneath the canopy been presented to this OPINION, 3 30th Annual festival will be local shores and the website of oaks with original paint- council and this mayor held Sept. 29 – 30 on Main makes it a lot easier for both ings, one-of-a-kind pottery, is inaccurate. And this OUT & ABOUT, 22 Street in Olde Towne Daphne guests and locals to navigate handcrafted jewelry and is not a backyard op- PUZZLES, 4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admis- the festival. On the site, you'll sion is free. find a listing of artists plan- SEE JUBILEE, PAGE 2 SEE DAPHNE, PAGE 2 SPORTS, 14 TV LISTINGS, 8 Gulf WHAT Coast YOU IN Media STORE VOLUME 125 • ISSUE 9 IS NOW 1 SECTION • 36 PAGES ONLINE! • Freshest Quality All Departments • Hand Selected by Our Personal Shoppers • Delivery or FREE Same Day Curbside Pickup • Beer & Wine NOW Online! Order & Pay In Store! GREERS.COM/SHOP 2• The Courier • September 26, 2018 • Gulf Coast Media Spanish Fort council discusses budget increases for fire department By CLIFF MCCOLLUM going up 25 percent at an additional $125,000 in route and start the ac- station and budgeting 25 city is growing. This is [email protected] one time,” Councilman with insurance and cost tion while everyone else percent more than last not a one-time this year. J.R. Smith said. “Look- of living adjustments is assembling” Few said. year, I think it’s time to This is a reality that During the Sept. 17 ing at the balance sheet included. Spanish Fort city lead- stop feeding the horse every year will increase, Spanish Fort City Coun- from the fire depart- “The thought process ers had commissioned a over the fence and all and this is probably cil work session, council ment, it looks like they with this is to take it to study from the Univer- come on the same side going to be the baseline.” members discussed the purchased two new a 24 hour, seven day a sity of South Alabama of the fence together,” McMillan said the city passage of the upcoming vehicles last year and week man power sta- to determine the best op- Smith said. has been talking to the fiscal year budget, but were $100,000 in the hole tion,” McMillan said. tion for the fire depart- Councilman Curt legislature questioning had questions about the on that. With the discus- Spanish Fort Fire/Res- ment’s future, including Smith said he felt the some of the service area allotted increase for the sions we’ve been having cue Department Chief the city absorbing the budget increase was just allotted to the depart- city’s volunteer fire/res- about them becoming a Roger Few told the coun- volunteer department a side effect of the city’s ment in Loxley and other cue department. part of the city, I have cil that optimum staffing into a full city depart- continued growth. parts of the county. Several council mem- a problem with that in- for a fire truck is three ment. SFFR leaders have “The reality is this is “I think it’s wrong for bers raised questions crease.” or four people, but that not yet seen the results going to get bigger and the city to foot the bill about the proposed Mayor Mike McMillan the city could get by with of that study. bigger even we’re just in those areas, but at budget increase for the said the increase would two if the staffing addi- “I do think we need donating to a volunteer our table, we have got to department. allow three additional tions were approved. to have more people on fire department,” Curt be responsible for our “I have a problem with full-time firefighters “With two, they could staff, but if we’re work- Smith said. “We have to citizens within the city,” that budget number that would cost the city at least get the first truck ing at building a new expect this to grow as the McMillan said. DAPHNE been listened to and had space between the two said he also had ques- “I feel like there is their concerns. I think “pushed this property components that once tions about the proposed more to this than I can we need to work within CONTINUED FROM 1 into a pretty cool devel- we do it the developer development, asking even understand,” Hay- the current zoning and opment.” will tear it out, but that whether the proposed good said.