It wasn't unanimous this time but the Daphne City Council still voted to continue their opposition to the Road and not to provide any funding despite the open check book begging letter from the County.

Ron Scott was the loan voice in opposition.  He tried to table the resolution but failed due to a lack of a second and then read in to the records a carefully prepared statement about how wonderful the road would be, including the fact that the road would help in a hurricane evacuation.  Really, how? - by getting everyone off I-10 and diverting them through the McDonalds drive-thru?

Mr. Scott's list, which was remarkably similar to the reasons presented by Commissioner James last week, also mentioned that the conservation easement for Magnolia 9 was an integral part of the project, and in fact the road depended on the easement being in place?   Again, really?  When did the affairs of a private landowner become such an important part of a County road project?  I guess about the same time that the County decided it would spend tax payers money to dredge a privately owned lake.

The road issue will probably disappear from the front pages for a while as the bid process could take three or four months even to get the adverts published but it is important that we do not forget it.

There is still the law suit that TimberCreek Land Co filed against Daphne over the illegal sub-division and sale of the Pines & Dogwood courses so we need to keep a careful eye on planning Commission meetings.
 
Finally, I know it doesn't matter in the overall scheme of things because this was a victory for the team, but my own presentation last night was awful.  Not through any fault of my own I hasten to add. 

I had spent hours over the weekend walking around the Jubilee Square, talking to business owners (the few that I could find that were still solvent).  I then spent a couple of sleepless nights compiling sales tax figures and carefully researching the economic history to try and figure out if there were any truth to the comments that the road would bring economic prosperity to the area.  My presentation was timed down to the last second of the 3 minutes I would be allowed...

And then the City Clerk didn't have my presentation -  even though I had emailed it to him earlier that day and even spoke to him before the meeting to make sure he had it ready. 

In the confusion, my time was ticking and I got to say less than half of what I had prepared.

There are no 3 minute warning bells on this blog, so here in all its glory and for no particular reason other than my own self-satisfaction, is my presentation...

Road to boost economy (not)