Scottsboro City Council Meeting

Last weeks Regular Council Meeting was continued till August 17, 2009, current council meeting. Old Business: Scottsboro Financial Management Policy approved.

>

New Business: Budget Amendment for Rec Com. Replace broken hot water heater with tank less hot water heater. Budget amendment in not to exceed $11,000.

>

Work Session: 1) Allen Everitt of Scottsboro Tri-Sports made presentation concerning bicycle safety on city streets. Share the Road Safety Campaign program was presented. The purpose of this program is to save lives thru safety awareness. There is a safe travel space for bicycles that was described as 2-3 feet into the travel lane not on the shoulder. Bicycles in the travel lane generally have no debris and are more visible than on the shoulder. Discussion concerning the use of signage indicating bicycle travel on roadway. Huntsville Times article on this subject along with my commentary on "al.com Scottsboro Forum:" http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/local.ssf?/base/news/1250586956198860.xml&coll=1 Drivers must share the road with bicyclists. Safety of bicyclists is a serious concern due to inattentive drivers. If I had a child still at home I would not allow them to ride their bikes on any major, highly traveled street in Scottsboro. I have witnessed many inattentive/distracted drivers who fail to adhere to the rules of the road. Riding bicycles on any local major roadway in Scottsboro is a hazard which could result in death or serious injury.

>

2) Discussion concerning updating of Zoning Ordinance for Scottsboro. KTS Group of Birmingham made presentation. A public hearing will take place if their are to be any zoning changes. The changes in the zoning will take some period of time.

>

3) Public Discussion on Commercial Development Authority. Ron Baily and I, Garry Morgan, made presentation. Huntsville Times article on this subject: http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/local.ssf?/base/news/1250586919198860.xml&coll=1

Daily Sentinel article: http://thedailysentinel.com/story.lasso?ewcd=30ff0206bfee3cc9

In reference to this issue, it is important to point out once a Commercial Development Authority (CDA) is formed the board will have the full power of any governmental corporate entity of Alabama. To include hiring of employees and borrowing money to purchase property in behalf of the corporation. The government entity may invest in property, sell property make mortgages and institute leases. This is an expansion of government whose purpose will stress existing business. It infringes on existing business and requires existing business, by taxation, to support competition to their business. If formed the CDA will support the concept of government socialism not an open market capitalistic economy of the Republic applying marketing concepts to attract business and industry instead of concepts and ideology of socialistic government.

>

4) Mayor's report on property appraisal for old Police Department building and 6.5 ac. of property located behind the old building on John T. Reid Parkway.

>

5) The Mayor reports the Animal Control Shelter is coming along. The Department of Corrections who constructed the building will return to correct a few problems. The Kennels are in the process of being installed. It was stated it will be about 4 weeks prior to final completion of the new facility.

>>>

POLL IN RIGHT COLUMN: Do you support a Scottsboro Commercial Development Authority?

Poll Results: 67% voted No, 33% voted yes, 3%+ or- margin of error.

>

Other Daily Sentinel Articles on subject: http://thedailysentinel.com/story.lasso?ewcd=82bad09861dc83e3 "A History Lesson" http://thedailysentinel.com/story.lasso?ewcd=e911a4398e505a36

Scottsboro Trails Poll

In the right column you will find a poll concerning the proposed Scottsboro Trails Program. The question, "Do you support the "Scottsboro Trails" plan submitted to the city council by Mr. Olyneic?" Please feel free to comment on this plan. The Daily Sentinel article on the trails program. http://thedailysentinel.com/story.lasso?ewcd=028453eab00115b9

Mayor Potter and Council President Matthew Hodges have both stated they support the project which is estimated to cost $5 million dollars. Mr. Olyneic has stated the city will have to pay 20% of the total cost. 80% will be acquired from state and federal grants according to Mr. Olyneic.

My apologies, there will be no report for the City Council Work Session last night as I was out of town.

UPDATE- Aug. 10, 2009: Poll results 57% voted yes, 43% voted no. There was a 5% margin of error due to repetitive IP address visits. However, the majority favors a Scottsboro Trail.

Poll on Aquatic Nuisance Weeds/Poll Results

It has been a while since I have ran a poll. It seems now is a good time since there is an important issue before the Scottsboro City Council.

>

Do you think the Scottsboro City Council should issue tax payer money to a private, non-profit group for the elimination of aquatic nuisance weeds in Guntersville Reservoir's Dry Creek and Roseberry Creek area? POLL RESULTS: 44 total votes over a 5 day period. There were 20 yes votes, 45%; there were 24 no votes, 55% which were no votes or votes that stated the lakeside homeowners should cleanup around their own boat docks.

>>

Please feel free to make comments on this issue.

New Poll--Who Would You Vote for as President?

The 3 choices for President are, Mr. John McCain, Mr. Barrack Obama and the third Choice, Mr. Terry Thomas, Scottsboro City Council Member.

Result of Mayors Poll

MELTON POTTER--77%; MAYOR DAN DEASON--17.5%; NONE OF THE ABOVE--5.5%

>

Mr. Melton Potter is on the right next to speakers podium, Mayor Dan Deason is on the left. Mr. Potter has won this pole by greater than a 5 to 1 margin.

Tuesday August 26, 2008 is election day, elections will be held at the Rec Com on South Houston Street.

Rezoning Poll Results

At tonights city council work session Mr. Bobby Chandler of North Island Development announced that they would withdraw their current rezoning application which requests that the old Scottsboro aluminum Plant be rezoned from R1 to M2, Heavy Manufacturing. Mr. Chandler stated that he would withdraw the M2 zoning request and resubmit the application to request the old manufacturing area be zoned M1, light manufacturing.

>

Poll Results: Do you favor zoning of the old aluminum Plant site from R1, Residential to M2, Heavy Manufacturing? Yes-53--60 1/4%; No-26--29 1/2%; favor M1 zoning-9--10 1/4%; total votes 88. New poll initiated, R1 or M1.