2 | LAGNIAPPE | August 28, 2014 - September 3, 2014 LAGNIAPPE ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• WEEKLY August 28, 2014 – September 3, 2014 | www.lagniappemobile.com Ashley Trice BAY BRIEFS Co-publisher/Editor Hundreds of county employees filed a [email protected] grievance over high insurance costs. Rob Holbert Co-publisher/Managing Editor 4 [email protected] COMMENTARY Steve Hall Marketing/Sales Director Gubernatorial candidates trade barbs as a [email protected] challenger once again invokes a lottery. Gabriel Tynes Assistant Managing Editor 11 [email protected] CUISINE Dale Liesch Reporter The chicken at Mobile’s [email protected] Colonel Dixie may rival Jason Johnson that of Colonel Sanders, Reporter [email protected] but the hot dogs have serious competition. Alyson Stokes Web & Social Media Manager/Reporter [email protected] Kevin Lee CONTENTS Associate Editor/Arts Editor [email protected] Andy MacDonald 16 Cuisine Editor [email protected] BUSINESS Stephen Centanni Music Editor Threaded Fasteners, Inc., a downtown [email protected] industrial staple, has moved to a new J. Mark Bryant headquarters in Crichton. Sports Writer 20 [email protected] Daniel Anderson COVER Chief Photographer [email protected] Militarization or Laura Rasmussen modernization? Local Art Director police forces defend their www.laurarasmussen.com acquisition of equipment Brooke Wilder Advertising Sales Executive more commonly seen on [email protected] the battlefield. Leigh Wright Advertising Sales Executive [email protected] Beth Williams Advertising Sales Executive 22 [email protected] Beth McKee ARTS Advertising Sales Executive Mayor Sandy Stimpson’s proposed [email protected] cuts to arts organizations paint a Melissa Schwarz bleak picture of the city’s priorities. Editorial Assistant 24 [email protected] Contributors: Asia Frey • Brian Holbert MUSIC Jeff Poor • Ken Robinson Marc Broussard, who Ron Sivak • Susan Larsson will headline this On the Cover: Armored personnel carrier by weekend’s SeaGrass Dan Anderson Concert Series in LAGNIAPPE (USPS 20) is published weekly, 52 issues a year, Volume 12, Issue 28, every Thurs- Dauphin Island, shows day by Something, Extra Publishing, Inc. Entered at the Mobile Post Office, 250 St. Joseph St, the dark side of Bayou Mobile, AL, 36601. Soul on his latest album Periodicals postage paid at Mobile Post Office, 250 St Joseph St., Mobile, AL 36601 “A Life Worth Living.” and other locations. 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Corp. while Media General holds on Individuals may take one copy of the paper free of charge from area businesses, to ratings leader WKRG. racks or boxes. After that, papers are $3 per is- 36 sue. Removal of more than one copy from these points constitutes theft. Viola- tors are subject to prosecution. SPORTS Help support Lagniappe Weekly by becoming a “Friend with Benefits.” Paddling is an adventurous way to Scan this code for more info: 38 explore the vast Mobile-Tensaw delta. STYLE 42 Ice bucket challenges gone wild. LAGNIAPPE | August 28, 2014 - September 3, 2014 | 3 Correction: A story in the July 21 edition of Lagniappe reported that a woman was sexually assaulted at the Midnight Rodeo nightclub in Mobile. The report was based on preliminary information provided by the Mobile Police Department. As of Aug. 26, MPD spokesman officer Terence Perkins said there is not enough evidence to sub- stantiate the assault took place and the investigation is pending cooperation from the victim. BAY BRIEFS BB 600 employees file grievance with county over high insurance costs BY JASON JOHNSON/REPORTER | [email protected] grievance addressing problems with to the members of press at the Aug. 21 meet- new health insurance policies was ing. The email called the employees’ issue filed with the Mobile County Com- with the new insurance plan “not grievable.” mission Aug. 21 on behalf of 600 “It has come to my attention that there is Aemployees. a fax being circulated that asks for all Mobile In response to faxes and emails circulat- County employees to attend a meeting tomor- ing through multiple departments, a handful row at the Personnel Board office,” Howard’s of employees gathered at the Mobile County email reads. “Please explain (to anyone Personnel Office, some of whom spoke di- attending) that the filing of a grievance by a rectly with Personnel Director Donald Dees. county employee is to be performed on their “We’ve met with the Personnel Board, own time. In that regard, our advice shall be and Mr. Dees has put us on the right track that they not attend this meeting. However, to where we can resolve this issue with the if they do choose to attend they need to take County Commission,” Lt. Richard Cayton their own personal time to do so.” with the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office said. Cayton suggested that such a “threat” “We’re forging ahead on this decision to file a violates the personnel board’s own poli- grievance against the county.” cies – specifically a rule which states, “In the Cayton, one of several MCSO employees presentation of grievances, grievants are as- to attend the impromptu meeting, said the sured of freedom from restraint, interference, Commissioners say, “they hear us clear and discrimination or reprisal.” loud, but no one is speaking back.” Following the meeting, some of the He added that the meeting with the person- employees traveled together to Government nel board was necessary to make sure the Plaza to officially present the grievance to the employees took the correct steps required to county’s administration. However, the com- file a grievance against the county. missioners and County Administrator John Many of Cayton’s fellow employees at Pafenbach were out of the office for an As- the MCSO, including Sheriff Sam Cochran, sociation of County Commissions of Alabama voiced opposition to the new insurance plan (ACCA) conference in Gulf Shores. at a meeting hosted by the County Commis- The grievance was given to a member of sion last month. The new insurance plan took the human resources department instead. effect in April. District 3 Commissioner Jerry Carl said The majority of employee concerns dealt the Commission was already “doing its best” with the rising costs of prescription medi- to address the issue. cines, especially for retired employees of “Whatever the employees did today, Mobile County. I’m sure they did it in good conscience, but “The retirees are effected heavily,” MCSO it’s not going to affect what we do in one Lt. Paul Burch said. “Just their insurance pre- way or another,” Carl said. “We’ve still got miums are almost $800 dollars a month. Then everyone’s future in mind, and we’re putting you tack on the medications – which when together a package everyone will be happy you’re older you have a lot of medications – with. Once we get through the budget process, and that’s almost their entire check.” I truly believe everyone is going to be pleased Burch said the new model isn’t sustain- with the outcome.” able, and added the medical co-pay for county Carl did say budget preparations were far retirees used to be minimal. Burch also specu- from finished. During a recent commission lated as to why the costs for employees have meeting, he and commission President Connie increased under the new plan. Hudson both stated that salary increases for “What we feel like they’re trying to do is county employees were a “top priority” in this to keep you employed until such a time when year’s budget process. you can go on Medicare,” he said. “That way As the employees were leaving the per- they’re not paying insurance for retirees.” sonnel board, Burch was quick to say that Other employees were expected to attend employees are committed to fixing the issue. the impromptu meeting at the personnel “This isn’t going away,” he said. “If we board, but depending on who you ask, were don’t get any relief, we’ll keep going to the either “threatened” or “advised” not to. next step until we get what we’re looking Lagniappe received reports of similar for.” emails circulating through the county Public Commission President Connie Hudson Works Department earlier in the week. said the county is hoping to unveil a solution However, none of the department’s employees to the point of sale costs this week, though were at the meeting with the personnel board. she noted it wouldn’t involve changes to the An Aug. 20 email sent to employees from insurance policy. Engineering Manager Neal Howard was given 4 | LAGNIAPPE | August 28, 2014 - September 3, 2014 LAGNIAPPE | August 28, 2014 - September 3, 2014 | 5 BAY BRIEFS BB Council hears from retirees, discusses continuation of penny sales tax increase BY DALE LIESCH/REPORTER | [email protected] lthough the Mobile City Council agreed “I ask you to really think about increasing, to delay by two weeks a vote on it, or not giving retirees health coverage,” Daniels Mayor Sandy Stimpson’s proposed said.