Save TimberCreek: Recent Comments

Comment on Commissioners Play Dirty Pool

2010-12-06T00:45:45Z

I will be at the Dec 7 meeting & will signup to speak on this & other items.This tactic is by the same group that said "PALUMBO DR" inclusion in there road item was "A CLERICAL ERROR" Yea right !!!

A BIG thank you to Dr Steadman for sharing professional information. I personally believe that if the silt was a good idea, John would have said so, but it is not. PLUS, does anyone have a copy of that traffic study? We must continue to ask questions & let these people continue to show how "abuse of power and unethical conduct" is sadly done.

Comment on Commissioners Play Dirty Pool

2010-12-04T20:36:57Z

It just kind of burns me up that no less than public officials would question an accepted University mission of being a public service. To question the public service mission as a conflict of interest is deeply at odds with the investment that taxpayers have made in public universities and colleges.

To verify that Dr. Steadman's actions were on solid ground and of ethical nature I referred to the "University of South Alabama Long-Range Planning Goals and Objectives (2008-2013)". Goal 4 is to "Enhance the public image of the University". Specifically in support of Dr. Steadman's request are Objective 4.2 (Increase USA participation and visibility in community service and environmental projects), Objective 4.4 (Continue to foster relationships with civic, government, and business leaders), and Objective 4.6 (Enhance USA's image in a broader geographic area). The entire USA document can be read at http://www.southalabama.edu/goalsandobjectives.pdf .

Further the "University of South Alabama Conflict of Commitment Financial Conflict of Interest Policy" basically says that "there are many avenues for Employees ... to participate with external entities in .... professional activities ..... professional associations serve the academic, research and public service missions of the University." "The existence of potential Financial Conflict of Interest and/or Conflict of Commitment in and of themselves is not automatically detrimental; in fact, their presence indicates a robust professional and research environment. But these potential conflicts must be actively identified, monitored and managed to ensure that the University's endeavors remain, above all, objective and free from bias.

The university is an institution of public trust and must maintain levels of public support to carry out its mission." This USA policy is consistent with Alabama State Ethics Law. Since Dr. Steadman is receiving no financial interest and is only providing an engineering opinion from established civil engineering practice, his public service participation should be well within the bounds of acceptable ethics.

The complete USA ethics policy can be read at http://www.southalabama.edu/researchcompliance/pdf/fcoipolicy.pdf .

Comment on Commissioners Play Dirty Pool

2010-12-04T16:51:18Z

It's unbelievable that Baldwin County's Commission would take such a vindictive action against Dr. Steadman. Hell, if he shows up at in person at a Commission meeting the Chair may just have the sheriff deputy shoot him on the spot. Gosh dog, I feel lucky, and I bet Tom O'Hara does too. Commissioner Burt just threatened to stick the sheriff on both of us when we spoke against the proposed I-10 service road during a recent Commission meeting. Revenge is what this is all about. It seems to me that Commissioner Burt has a lots of scores to settle and he is using the two new Commissioners in his endeavors. Former president Ronald Regan referred to Iran, North Korea and the former Soviet Union as a being the "Axis of Evil". I think we now have another sort of axis of evil in Baldwin County based on the way our Commission is acting. When one closely analyzes the proposed I-10 service road and its multitude of dismal economic problems, and then considers that two companies stand to benefit most from the road, taxpayers must be aghast!!! And after analyzing again how the Commission hopes to punish Dr. Steadman, he must have really stepped on their toes mighty hard. What a sad state of affairs that our Baldwin County Commission has stooped to a new low.

Comment on Civic Group Opposes County Fee Suspensions & I-10 Service Road

2010-12-03T13:35:06Z

Citizens For Responsible Government is living up to its name and goals. Their opposition to the proposed I-10 service road and elimination of subdivision and construction fees is a positive move. Hopefully other groups of citizens across Baldwin County will follow their lead and stand up to some of the not logical decisions being made by our Commissioners. I believe other groups will take a stand after they recover from the shock of some of the Commissioner's recent decisions. Opposing more tax is a good thing but if people don't oppose stupid use of existing tax dollars,what have you gained. Use of tax dollars for purely politically motivated projects like the I-10 service road is stupid. STUPID.

Comment on Grassroots Round-Up

2010-11-29T17:25:36Z

Unfortunately this is the legal and political environment in which we exist and in our blissful ignorance - tolerate.
I repeat; until the democratic system is changed that limits the voter to be allowed to vote ONLY for the representative from his or her district, this practice will continue to thrive and the voters will gleefully support "the change" until the true facts are revealed. But by then it is too late!

Comment on Road for Sale; 3 Careless owners

2010-11-23T21:44:16Z

Ian: Your article hit the nail on the head. You tell it like it is. And you are not one to hide under the cover and peek out hoping someone will save you from the bad guys. Like you, I realize that if we don't stand our ground the bad guys will win unchallenged. This almost happened when Hitler marched across Europe before the USA would become involved. We must recognize that there are risk and costs to action.But they are far less than the long-range risk of comfortable inaction. It appears to me that three of our Commissioners are out to serve the minority - the minority being developers and developer associates. I sincerely hope they prove me wrong. The taxpayer funded I-10 "private" service road will be the litmus test. If the three Commissioners build the road, they fail the test and will be known as "servers of the minority".

Comment on Daphne 6 Baldwin 1

2010-11-19T22:11:51Z

Did you know that Larry Chason is Ron Scott's son in law? Also, we are searching but do not think Chason even lives in Daphne. I live in Lake Forest and think they are trying to make us have the bowling alley absolutely backed up to our homes, with no regard for our opinions. They are simply running over us.

Comment on Daphne 6 Baldwin 1

2010-11-16T14:38:32Z

Ian -
Very good presentation - too bad it didn't get the 'air time' it deserved. Your tenacity through this endeavour serves the residents of TimberCreek (and the citizens of Baldwin County) well. We do appreciate all you do to Save TimberCreek.

Comment on Economy Boost? Yeah baby...!

2010-11-12T17:02:00Z

Ian:
Economic benefits? Yes, to 2 or 3 wealthy landowners who own all the land along the proposed I-10 service road. Otherwise why would these wealthy folks donate $3 million (plus some hefty campaign contributions to the right politicians) of their private funds to build the service road. If the road is built it will essentially be a private road. And Baldwin County citizens will be called on for $7 million of their tax dollars to add to the $3 million private donations to pay for the road. Talking about the middle class subsidizing the rich!!!
And for more on the economic benefits, Timber Creek home owners located adjacent to the service road will suffer serious dollar declines in the value of their property and the quality of their lives will degrade.
Well, Ian, hopefully Timber Creek residents will wake up and get more involved in their community. If they can't see how their absence at the polls affected their lives, then I don't guess hitting them between the eyes would do any good either.
Thanks for attempting to keep us informed.

Comment on Wake Up Baldwin County!

2010-11-10T03:22:50Z

FOX10tv News Story:
"Baldwin Co. road project back on agenda"

http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/local_news/baldwin_county/baldwin-co.-road-project-back-on-agenda