Spanish Fort Council Meeting: August 16th 2010

Four months ago the residents of TimberCreek packed out the Meeting Place in Spanish Fort to review what we knew about the proposed service road (now officially relegated to lower case) and to discuss the strategy we would adopt to prevent it being built.

Monday, August 16^th produced a few more empty seats than that particular evening but given the rumors surrounding Spanish Fort’s continued support for road it was almost as important.

Unlike Daphne, the City of Spanish Fort Council meeting is a little more informal as the Mayor and Council members shook hands and greeted residents when they arrived and the proceedings got under way 10 minutes later than the advertised 6pm start.

The first 6 items on the agenda were rattled off in a few minutes before we got to my favorite part – Public Participation. 

I’m sure the members of Daphne City Council and the Daphne Planning Commission dread seeing me by now, but I was unknown to the Spanish Fort Councilors and I was welcomed to the microphone with a couple of smiles and no doubt a few curious glances at this person who didn’t offer his pledge of allegiance.  Sorry guys, I’m not American and I don’t know the words; maybe in a year or two when I get my full Green Card and start to get some representation for all these taxes I’m paying!

As an ‘out of towner’ I was only allowed three minutes so I cut straight to the chase and asked Mayor Jo Bonner directly: “Is Spanish Fort being approached to revive the service road project?”

Mayor Bonner told me that the City of Spanish Fort had always been in favor of the service road but that since the project had been cancelled they had not received any approach from TimberCreek Land Co.”

Councilman Mike McMillan added that only the Bass Pro development area is within the Spanish Fort City limits and that section is already paved so they would have no influence on the building of any road connecting Woodrow Lane with the proposed I-10/CR13 interchange.

So, better news, but, (there’s always a but) we still need to keep a very close eye on proceedings in Daphne, Spanish Fort and Baldwin County.  I urge all residents to attend planning and council meetings whenever they can so that we do not get blindsided again.

On a lighter note, to end the meeting Mayor Bonner lead the council members and public in singing Happy Birthday  to the 89 years young Joe Thomas.  A seventeen year veteran of the Spanish Fort Council he was rewarded with a Certificate of Appreciation signed by Governor Bob Riley.

The meeting adjourned a little before 6.30 and it was straight home for Red beans and Rice – it was Monday after all…