Town Continues Search for Chief, Considers Adding Part-Time Officer Biel
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Serving the greater NORTH, CENTRAL AND SOUTH BALDWIN communities Fairhope Arts & Crafts Festival PAGE 7-8 Shorinji Kempo The Onlooker PAGE 22 MARCH 14, 2018 | GulfCoastNewsToday.com | 75¢ Town continues search for chief, considers adding part-time officer Biel By JOHN UNDERWOOD “There have simply been a part-time officer, who could time officer who can only work [email protected] times that we don’t have any- fill in when other officers were weekends,” Taylor said. “We First one to cover a shift,” said Sgt. sick, on vacation or had to at- need someone who can fill in at SILVERHILL — The Town Michael Taylor, who has been tend required training. any time.” Magnolia of Silverhill is continuing its named interim chief for the Several of the town’s officers When asked if he had some- search for a new police chief, department until a new police addressed council members one in mind that the town could Springs but the Silverhill Town Coun- chief can be found. at the March 5 meeting with a hire, Taylor said that he did. cil said at its meeting Monday, Taylor and other members of prevailing theme, “We are doing The town currently has three March 5 that it would consider the department again addressed everything we can to serve the fulltime and one part-time of- clerk Karen adding a part-time officer to concerns with council members town, but we are at the point of ficer. Taylor has been serving as help alleviate overtime con- about excessive overtime in the exhaustion.” Biel retiring cerns. department and the need to hire “We currently have a part- SEE CHIEF, PAGE 3 By JESSICA VAUGHN [email protected] MAGNOLIA SPRINGS — After 11 years of serv- Rodeo time! ing the town of Magnolia Springs as town clerk, The Robertsdale Rotary Karen Biel has retired. Foundation hosted its 19th An- Prior to Magnolia Springs, nual PCA Championship Rodeo Biel worked in the town of Friday and Saturday, March 9 Elberta as assistant town and 10 at the Baldwin County clerk for 11 years, meaning Fairgrounds Arena in Roberts- she is retiring after 22 years dale. The annual event is part of working within munici- of the RAM Rodeo series and is palities. produced by Bo Campbell Pro- “When we first decided duction. Cowboys and cowgirls to become a town and went from across the country partici- through the process of pated in calf roping, breakaway incorporation and the elec- roping, team roping, steer wres- tion of officers, we were tling, saddle and bareback bronc like the dog chasing the riding, barrel racing and every- car,” said Mayor Bob Holk. one’s favorite, bull riding. For “We didn’t know what to the third straight year, halftime do!” entertainment was provided by JOHN UNDERWOOD / STAFF PHOTOS During Magnolia Springs The Rawhide and Dusty Show. earliest days as a town, past The Robertsdale Rotary Club Daphne city clerk Rebecca meets at noon every Tuesday Hayes attended some of the at Mama Lou’s Restaurant and is part of Rotary International SEE BIEL, PAGE 2 whose motto is “Service Above Self.” Through the Rotary Club Foundation, the organization DEATHS PAGE 20 has donated thousands to char- ity and civic organizations, Fred H. Kichler both local and internationally. Steve Bohus Malec Proceeds from this year’s Rodeo benefit the William F. Green Vet- erans Home. INDEX BALDWIN LIVING, 7 CLASSIFIED, 5 HEALTH, 22 LEGALS, 25 OPINION, 11 OUT & ABOUT, 23 PUZZLES, 10 SPORTS, 13 TV LISTINGS, 16 Gulf Coast Media VOLUME 110 • ISSUE 9 1 SECTION • 40 PAGES 2• The Onlooker • March 14, 2018 • Gulf Coast Media Budget surpluses lead to increased pay hike for city employees By JOHN UNDERWOOD increases in revenue, said been an overall reduction bond. A representative tion for the city to be of Municipalities Con- [email protected] Robertsdale’s Chief Finan- in the number of city em- from Frazier-Lanier told named a Bee City USA vention with Mayor cial Officer Ann Simpson. ployees over the last year, council members March through the Baldwin Charles Murphy as first ROBERTSDALE — Rob- Simpson told Council all contributing to the city 5 that refinancing could County Beekeepers As- alternate and Brent ertsdale’s city employees members at the Monday being able to increase its reduce the city’s interest sociation, which meets Kendrick as second al- will have a little more meeting that the city has budgeted raise. rate on the loan from 5 to once a month in Roberts- ternate. money in their pockets had increases in sales tax, “I just feel like it has 3 percent. dale. • Authorized the city’s following a vote of the business license and utility been a while since we have • Authorized city engineer • Authorized the city to police department to Robertsdale City Council fees beyond what has been been able to do something Greg Smith to solicit host a First Responders direct traffic during at its meeting on Monday, budgeted for the 2018-fiscal special for our city employ- bids for culvert replace- Parade in Robertsdale St. Patrick School and March 5. year. ees,” said Mayor Charles ment on McAuliffe on May 12. The parade Church’s Leprechaun The council approved a The city was also over- Murphy. “They deserve it.” Drive. would follow the same Chase March 17. Park- cost of living adjustment charged nearly $500,000 In other business Mon- • Authorized the city’s route as the city’s an- ing would be available for city employees of 3.5 from Alabama Power, day, the council: public works depart- nual Christmas Parade. at the school and foot percent, higher than the 2 which has been reim- • Authorized Frazier- ment to surplus miscel- • Approved Ruthie Camp- traffic would need to be percent budgeted because bursed over the last few Lanier to research laneous items. bell as a voting delegate directed across Alabama of nearly across-the-board months, and there has refinancing of a 2009 • Authorized the applica- for the Alabama League 59 to the church BIEL said. “We were operating clerk, Biel states that the out of the Fire Depart- town has mostly stayed CONTINUED FROM 1 ment’s office, so when the same, which is exactly I say Karen started the how the citizens wanted it. first meetings to help get town, she literally started “It’s a nice, quiet com- the town organized, and the town.” munity,” Biel said. “Noth- she as well as Skip Gruber Long hours and hard ing has really changed. knew just the person to work went into shaping They didn’t want it to suggest for a permanent an incorporated Magnolia change when they incor- position. Springs, something that porated, they wanted it to When asked if she was Biel considers to be one of stay just the way it was.” interested in becoming her greatest accomplish- Now that she’s retiring, town clerk of Magnolia ments during her time as Biel plans to spend more Springs, Biel thought of town clerk. Shaping the time with her family, espe- what an honor it would be town hasn’t slowed things cially her grandchildren to become a town’s very down though. who are always growing first clerk. “I’ve learned that it’s too fast. She’s very grate- “I was lucky enough to very hard to be a one- ful to be able to retire be in on the ground floor woman show,” said Biel. without worrying about of a new municipality,” “One employee in this what she’s leaving behind, said Biel. “That was great, office that runs the whole as the Magnolia Springs and a learning experience, thing, that is a big chal- council has appointed even for me. I worked lenge. You’d be surprised Jenny Opal White as her JESSICA VAUGHN /STAFF PHOTO for Elberta for 11 years, at how busy this munici- replacement. cerns was leaving the job somebody in my place,” to the council as they’ve and everything was in pality is, being as small as “One of my biggest con- and that there wouldn’t be said Biel. “I’m grateful hired someone who has place, then I came here it is!” made this an easy tran- and there was nothing in Elections are one of the sition. Jenny has been place, so that was a big hardest parts of a town doing an amazingly good challenge.” clerk’s job, Biel states. job, she’s going to be a Biel was ready to tackle “Elections are a lot of great replacement, so I it, and took the position work, but you learn a have no worries when I and made it her own, even lot,” Biel said. “It’s a lot leave.” if it was difficult at times. of work on the clerks … White officially started “She came to work with Remember the clerk runs her position as Magno- no office, no desk, no the election and testifying lia Springs town clerk chair, I mean she didn’t in court is no party!” on March 5, and Biel is even have a pencil,” Holk During her time as town thankful to the council and the community for making her retirement The Onlooker easier. Even still, Biel will be greatly missed by the 901 N. McKenzie St., Foley, AL 36535-3546 town and its officials. “Over the years we’ve PHONE: (251) 943-2151 | FAX: (251) 943-3441 really depended on Kar- [email protected] en’s expertise, her knowl- edge of town government, Cliff McCollum Retail Advertising her relationships with Managing Editor Central & South public officials, and her [email protected] Jeniece Bouzan [email protected] relationship with other John Underwood town clerks,” said Holk.