The City Council approved a $42,000 disbursement, with stipulations, to control aquatic nuisance species around private boat docks.
Tonight a joint session was held, first a work session then a regular council meeting.>
1) Name change of Island Drive on Goosepond Island to Goose Pond Island Drive, approved. 2) Surplus Property declaration at Street Department, 2 John Deer Tractors, approved. 3) Resolution with State Department of Transportation concerning access road north of Deals on Wheels, approved. 4) Road block request from Shriner's for the period of April 5 for the area of County Park Rd. and Hwy 72. 5) Bid opening for Animal Shelter kennels and runs for $95K and some change, tabled awaiting county Commission input. 6) Approval for transfer of $300,000 into Street Department Paving Account. 7) Additional funds for Planning Department approved in the amount of $7500. This money will be utilized for the hiring of a City Engineer. (Mr. Curtis Davis, City Planner, last day at work was last Wednesday.) 8) Surplus property declaration for Planning Department. 9) Pharmacy Card Program approved for the citizens of Scottsboro allowing for 20% off prescriptions for all citizens who do not have insurance. This is a no cost program for the tax payers. This program was brought home from the League of Municipalities meeting in Washington last week. 10) A Cost of Living Increase was approved at 2% for City Employees effective April 1. 11) Roseberry Rescue Group requested $42,500 from the City of Scottsboro for the cleanup of aquatic weeds around their private boat docks. The Council approved this request with the stipulation that other sources must equally fund this project. The County Commission did not fund the requested $42,000. It was reported by the group the Jackson County Legislative Delegation will receive a request for this project. The Roseberry Group and the council stated that most citizens support the city utilizing taxpayer money to clean up aquatic weeds around private boat owners docks. That is not a true statement. I have discovered that the City Council did not consult with any State Department of Conservation Biologist or Fisheries Specialist prior to approving this project. The City Council President was given information concerning the Alabama Aquatic Nuisance Task Force and other information concerning Aquatic Nuisance Species, http://www.outdooralabama.com/education/generalinfo/ans/plan/AlANSPlan200812.pdf other council members indicated to me they have never heard of the Alabama Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force.
Story from Huntsville Times on Roseberry Rescue Group. http://blog.al.com/breaking/2009/03/roseberry_scottsboro_roseberry.html
2 comments:
"Garry" states..."The Roseberry Group and the council stated that most citizens support the city utilizing taxpayer money to clean up aquatic weeds around private boat owners docks. "
I attended the council meeting.
That is not true and no such statement was made by either party.
All citizens benefit from the lake - County Park is not accessbile in Spring or Summer. City Park is choked off too. The lake area inside Scottsboro City limits (Roseberry Creek) is close to unusable since TVA changed plans and now adbandoned plans to control weed growth.
This group is attempting to help all citizens with its actions where the TVA's best efforts and recent abadndonment of their responsibility for public safety has failed miserabally.
You are telling an intentional bold face lie in the attempt to discredit me. This is typical of the faceless cowards of the local political scene who find convenience in telling lies and deceiving citizens of Scottsboro. It is also typical of deception and mismanagement that plagues this issue. This issue also reflects the political history of Scottsboro and Jackson County. Elitist public policy for the few privileged citizens with money and power.
Yes Mr. Anonymous, both parties, the City Council and the Roseberry Rescue Group both stated that most citizens support utilizing taxpayer money to clean up aquatic weeds, that statement given by Mr. Smith and Mr. Bivens. I do not think that to be the case as I do not think the majority of citizens support the cleaning up of aquatic weeds around private boat docks at taxpayer expense.
Mr. Smith later stated that the calls he received reflected a 50% citizen support of the issue. Mr. Smith also related the story of how the Bass Fishing Group contacted him to say they would never return if the City passes this request for money. The Roseberry spokesman stated that once Bass Fisherman were explained the details of the water treatment they are in agreement with the groups plan, so he says. The other council members had no comment.
You make other exaggerations or intentionally false statements. "County Park is not accessible in Spring or Summer. City Park is choked off too...This group is attempting to help all citizens with its actions..." These statements from you are not true. The group is attempting to help themselves by duping the City Council into paying for the riddance of aquatic weeds around their private boat docks. County and City Park are both accessible at this time and were accessible last year.
I understand that the Roseberry Rescue Group was "run off" from County Park in their attempts of acquiring money from that public entity. That is a statement from one of the Park Board members.
The only public entity that the Rescue Group has duped is the City of Scottsboro. It is unfortunate you will not state your name, I would like to know the identity of the purveyor of propaganda and untruths. You ashamed of your statements as you know the deceit involved in your statements?
I can think of many, many good uses of $42,000, not one of them includes removing aquatic weeds around private boat docks.
I'll tell you some of my other thoughts about this situation. I have far more respect for Keith Smith on this issue than I do others on the Council. I know where Keith stands, although I may not agree with his position at least he makes himself clear. I am very disappointed in Mr. Hodges, particularly after the information that was presented to Mr. Hodges on this issue. The only Council Member I remember seeing at Roseberry's meetings was Mr. Smith, didn't see any others. Then to find out other Council Members were not given the information from The Alabama Aquatic Nuisance Task Force is even more disappointing.
Essentially all the citizens of Scottsboro are paying for a few citizens private property privilege. If folks want a boat dock let them maintain it to include keeping it cleared of weeds. It is not my responsibility to pay for their problem. It is the express policy of a specific government agency, the TVA, to be responsible for the lakes management. Now steps in the City of Scottsboro and interferes in that responsibility after being duped by a small group of influential citizens.
TVA's Official policy on this issue, "TVA will assume the leadership responsibility for resolving problems with, and disputes over, aquatic plants within the Tennessee River system." http://www.tva.gov/rrsc/readingroom/aquaplantrec.htm The link listed outlines jurisdictional responsibility over this problem.
Go up to Knoxville and bug the crap out of Tom Kilgore, TVA CEO, instead of falsely calling me a liar. It is Mr. Kilgore that is the source of your problems.
At the last TVA Board meeting a letter was read from Jeff McLaughlin concerning the Aquatic Nuisance Species in Guntersville Lake. However, not one of you illustrious citizens cared enough to discuss the matter before the TVA Board. You took the easy road and duped the City Council.
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