Eco-tours to be offered in Orange Beach

Eco-tours to be offered in Orange Beach - Baldwin County NOW - A Gulf Coast Information Source for South Alabama: "ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — With the opening of the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail, Orange Beach is taking the steps to tap in to the nature tourism industry."

“Nature-based tourism is the fastest growing segment of the industry,” coastal resources manager Phillip West said. “What we have is the ability to explore relatively new and, we believe, fertile ground in the nature tourism segment.”

While West said the plan of the trail was never to capitalize on eco-tourism, the venture is demanding exploration.

“We’re going to be behind the curve of our competitors that realize that if we don’t start taking advantage of opportunities like promoting the Backcountry Trail,” West said.

To kick off promotions, the idea of eco-tours have developed into the newest project.

A two-hour guided trip of the trail is in the works, and the city is hoping it will debut at the end of February.

Larry Ellis, natural resources manager, said surveys left by trail visitors are asking for deeper information of the trail.

Final Orange Beach City Council Work Session (COW)

December 24, 2008- The final 2008 City of Orange Beach Council Work Session will take place on Tuesday, December 30th in the Council Chambers at the Orange Beach City Hall Complex. The agenda for this meeting has been published on the on The Orange Beach Community Website. Links to online video of the Orange Beach Regular Session Council Meetings since November 18th are also available at the link below.

Click to view the Orange Beach City Council Index.

Former OB City Attorney Larry Sutley strikes plea deal

Former Orange Beach City Attorney Larry Sutley has cut a deal with state prosecutors that will allow him to serve time for two misdemeanors concurrently with the 27-month federal sentence he received for his role in the bribery of the beach town's former mayor, Steve Russo, by real estate developers.

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Orange Beach City Marina on hold

Cash-strapped city not eager to start $17.2M project
Friday, December 12, 2008
By RYAN DEZEMBER
Staff Reporter

ORANGE BEACH — Municipal employees aren't the only casualties of the city's budget crunch: Plans for a public marina that have been on the drawing board for more than three years are also poised to be indefinitely postponed.

Conceived as a home of last resort for Alabama's 301-boat charter fishing fleet, Orange Beach paid about $9.6 million for a storm-battered boatyard on Terry Cove in early 2005 and has since designed a municipal marina complex there.

With the low bid to build the project coming in last month at $17.2 million, elected officials said they can't imagine starting work anytime soon.

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New Rec Center rates are proposed

ORANGE BEACH — In an ongoing effort to raise revenue, the City Council is contemplating a new rate plan at the Recreation Center.

Since the facility opened in early 2003, Orange Beach has charged residents only $20 a year for membership. A comparable annual membership to the city-owned David L. Bodenhamer Center in Gulf Shores costs $240.

Under a plan proposed this week by Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon, the city would charge $50 for the single annual membership and charge a flat fee of $100 for a family no matter how large. Kennon has also proposed new, reduced monthly rates geared toward part-time residents and memberships for people who work in or live near Orange Beach.

Council members Jeff Silvers and Joni Blalock said that while they didn't have much problem with the $30 increase, they were concerned the council wasn't giving residents enough notice. As such a public hearing has been scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in advance of the 6 p.m. council meeting at which the proposal could be considered.

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Council delays 2009 budget vote until Dec. 16

Thursday, December 04, 2008
By RYAN DEZEMBER
Staff Reporter

ORANGE BEACH — The City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a severance pay package for 23 municipal employees who were laid off last month.

Originally elected officials had proposed paying the laid-off employees 25 percent of the sick time they've accrued up to 80 hours. The city's personnel plan wouldn't allow for that kind of severance but does contain provisions for laid-off employees to receive set amounts of administrative leave pay, said City Attorney Wanda Cochran.

Because council members had said they were comfortable spending $10,600 on severance under the sick leave compensation plan, Cochran said that number was used to calculate the amount of administrative leave each former employee would get paid: 24 hours worth.

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Orange Beach Budget Cuts for 2009

Expenses large and small are cut in anticipation of steep drop in revenues
Sunday, November 30, 2008
By RYAN DEZEMBER
Staff Reporter

ORANGE BEACH — The penny-pinching that began this summer in City Hall with a hiring freeze, reductions in overtime and employee travel and culminated this month with the layoffs that saw 23 workers lose their jobs will continue in 2009, the city's proposed budget shows.

The plan, which anticipates a $5 million drop in revenue next year, includes detailed plans for a year of frugality from the elimination of take-home vehicles for employees to a mandate to print two-sided documents, and only in black and white.

There will be no capital purchases of more than $7,500, according to the 29-page spending plan. There will be no new employee uniforms.

Employee travel, training and tuition reimbursement are out. Vehicle logs, ride sharing, e-mail and orders to unplug office equipment when it's not in use are in.

Faced with a $3.3 million shortfall to end this year, municipal officials have spent the past few months trying to figure out ways to operate cheaper in 2009, which they believe will see revenues drop lower than they were in 2008.

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Orange Beach City Meeting Details City's Layoffs

From WKRG-TV5...

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Oversight committees need citizen involvement

Administration plans to align newly formed panels with various municipal departments
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
By RYAN DEZEMBER, Staff Reporter

ORANGE BEACH — If you've ever wanted to participate in municipal governance but didn't feel like mounting a city council campaign or haven't been able to pledge several years of service for a planning commission seat, City Hall might have an opening for you.

As part of Mayor Tony Kennon's campaign pledge to bring more taxpayers into the fray at City Hall, applications are being made available for a series of citizen oversight committees the new mayor wants to align with several municipal departments.

Kennon said the panels' roles will be three-fold. They'll provide a layer of "transparency and accountability," act as a liaison between municipal officials and the public, and utilize the expertise of Orange Beach citizens, he said.

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Orange Beach makes employee cuts

From Fox-10 News...

23 Orange Beach city workers to be laid-off

Friday, November 21, 2008
By RYAN DEZEMBER, Staff Reporter

ORANGE BEACH — This morning, 23 municipal employees will lose their jobs and many others in the weeks to come will see their pay slashed as city officials scramble to make up a $3 million budget shortfall.

Specifics of the firings won't be released until after Mayor Tony Kennon tells affected employees, but they amount to a little more than 8 percent of the city's current 275-person workforce. Overall, Orange Beach is cutting more than 13 percent of its jobs via the layoffs and the elimination of 15 positions that have been vacant since summer.

Over the last decade Orange Beach has thrived as one of the wealthiest cities in Alabama. City officials spent feverishly to add park land, build roads, provide amenities and generally get ready for a forecast population boom.

But sky-rocketing property insurance rates and tightening credit markets conspired to slow the area's booming real estate market and the onrush never came. Developers of more than 4,200 high-end condo units and hotel rooms that were approved in recent years never applied for building permits and construction of at least 3,400 more have been permitted but not started, city records show.

"We're cleaning up the mess from someone else's party," said Kennon, who took office earlier this month. "It's not a fun thing to do, but I've committed to run this city like a business and that's what we're going to do."

Kennon's counterpart in neighboring Gulf Shores, Mayor Robert Craft, said his city will also probably have to part with some of its nearly 300 employees. Gulf Shores isn't facing the immediate shortfall that Orange Beach is, but Craft said that city financial planners are anticipating that tax revenue will be about $3 million, or 10 percent, less than it was in 2008.

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Orange Beach taps into reserve

$3.45 million used to pay off land purchase, will be repaid in bond issue
Sunday, August 03, 2008
By RYAN DEZEMBER
Staff Reporter

ORANGE BEACH — With revenues running well below projections this year, city officials have taken numerous penny-pinching steps, from curtailing spending, foregoing new hires and reducing its sponsorship of local events.

The latest move to save money came Thursday when the City Council dipped into its $6.8 million disaster fund to enable the refinancing of a 2007 loan used to buy about 2cm HALF acres on Wolf Bay.

The council voted 5-1 to withdraw $3.45 million from the fund to pay off the land purchase and to replenish the emergency money later this month with proceeds from a pending bond issue. The move could save the city around $10,000 in interest on its original loan over the next three weeks and at least $75 a day once the amount is repaid, city officials said last week.

Continued - Mobile Press-Register

Orange Beach garbage rates rise

Hike to fund recycling pickup, cover fuel costs
Thursday, July 17, 2008
By RYAN DEZEMBER, Staff Reporter

ORANGE BEACH — To cover rising fuel costs and fund a new curbside recycling program, the City Council voted Tuesday to raise the monthly residential garbage bill to $15 from $12.

Next month's billings will likely reflect the change, city officials said.

Tuesday's vote was 4-0 with one abstention.

Councilman Ed Carroll said he abstained because he was torn between supporting recycling and raising bills for residents.

Councilwoman Joni Blalock was absent from the meeting.

For most households the $15 will cover twice-weekly garbage pickup. Condos will continue to see seven-day-a-week collections during the summer and six days a week throughout the rest of the year.

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Curbside recycling coming to city

Council will likely OK $3 monthly rate hike to pay for recycling, fuel costs
Friday, July 11, 2008
By RYAN DEZEMBER
Staff Reporter

ORANGE BEACH — Monthly garbage rates will likely go up $3 to accommodate a new curbside recycling program and rising fuel costs, city officials said this week .

On Monday afternoon, the city's Solid Waste Authority approved a contract with Orange Beach's garbage hauler, Allied Waste Industries, that includes concessions for higher labor and fuel costs as well as the addition of recycling service, Mayor Pete Blalock said.

Because the Solid Waste Authority is made up of the City Council and a few other municipal officials, the subsequent rate hike needed to fund the new contract is likely to pass when the council meets at 5 pm on Tuesday.

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No hiring Touart, at least for now

Ousted Escambia County, Fla., administrator was called best of 70 candidates, but mayor says decision will be left to city leaders elected in August
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
By CRAIG MYERS
Staff Reporter

ORANGE BEACH — Mayor Pete Blalock said Monday he has suspended an effort to hire ousted Escambia County, Fla., administrator George Touart as the city's next administrator and will leave that decision to the municipal leadership elected in August.

Several City Council members and Blalock said Monday that Touart, of Pensacola, was the most qualified of nearly 70 candidates to replace Jeff Moon, who left the position in April.

Blalock said he and the city's attorney were negotiating the details of a contract with Touart that would have been brought back to the council for a vote. But the process has ended, he said.

Mobile Press Register Article

Pensapedia- About George Touart

Ethridge to run for Orange Beach mayor

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Staff Report

Former Orange Beach City Councilwoman Iris Gay Ethridge has announced her candidacy for mayor in the Aug. 26 municipal elections.

Ethridge, 71, was first elected to the Place 5 council seat in 1996 and retained it in 2000. She was defeated by Joni Blalock in her 2004 re-election bid.

The mayor's position is now held by Pete Blalock, who has not said whether he will run again. Former Councilman Tony Kennon has said he will also seek the part-time job, which carries a yearly salary of $27,562.63 plus 5 percent annual raises.

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Beach cities search for administrators

Orange Beach expects to interview next week, Gulf Shores' consultant culling candidates
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
By RYAN DEZEMBER
Staff Reporter

More than 50 people have applied to become Orange Beach's next city administrator, and Mayor Pete Blalock said elected officials hope to begin interviewing the top applicants as early as next week.

Meanwhile, in Gulf Shores, Mayor G.W. "Billy" Duke III said city officials are waiting on a consultant they've hired to bring them a docket of qualified candidates to vet for that city's administrator job.

On Monday evening, the Orange Beach City Council met in executive session to discuss some of the more promising prospects to replace Jeff Moon, who left last month to take a city manager's position in the Atlanta suburb of Woodstock.

Moon was hired by Orange Beach in 2001 after holding ad ministrative posts in Riverdale, Ga., and Daleville, which is near Dothan.

Blalock said the council was still whittling down the field of applicants and would probably choose five or six to interview.

The Orange Beach mayor said the City Council may hire someone before the Aug. 26 municipal elections, if the right person is available. But, Blalock said, if elected officials complete the interview process and no one stands out, they may turn to a headhunting firm, as neighboring Gulf Shores has, to cull candidates.

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Orange Beach rethinks spending in troubled economy

Sunday, May 11, 2008
By RYAN DEZEMBER
Staff Reporter

ORANGE BEACH Over the past decade, it seemed that this resort city, flush with the spoils of a booming real estate market and a lucrative tourism trade, could buy just about anything it wanted.

In 2004, Orange Beach paid

$4.3 million for Robinson Island, an oblong 12cm HALF acres in Terry Cove that is populated by great blue herons. The next fall, the city shelled out $6 million for a nine-hole golf course and driving range, partly to relieve nearby residents of flooding they thought would worsen if the property were developed, partly to add discount golfing to Orange Beach's recreational offerings.

The city bought a warehouse on 2 acres, miles north of the city limits, for almost $343,000 in August. And in March, the City Council agreed to pay $380,000 for two small lots near the Community Center.

But last week, with a deal on the table to land a relatively Lilliputian parcel that would link the two lots it bought in March and enable the city to build a new office for its Parks and Recreation Department, the council balked. The asking price: $120,400.

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Holk makes bid for return to Orange Beach City Council

Former Orange Beach City Councilman Brett Holk said he will seek a return to the panel in this summer's municipal elections.

Holk, 48, was first elected to the Place 4 seat in 2000. After four years in that spot he ran for mayor, eventually losing to then-incumbent Steve Russo in August 2004.

Holk said he is running for Place 2 on the council, members of which are elected at large. The job pays $11,576.30 a year with annual 5-percent cost-of-living raises.

"My vision for Orange Beach is for the city to be recognized for its commitment to shaping growth," Holk wrote in a news release. "It should be a place of natural beauty that values the quality of life for its families.

"Maintaining the character of the Orange Beach community can only be achieved through careful planning with public input from local resi dents. Orange Beach isn't just a destination, it's our home," Holk said. "If we make it a great place to live, it will be a great place to visit for the long term."

Holk said he would make diversifying the local economy a top priority if elected.

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Carranza tosses hat in ring for Orange Beach council

Pattisue Carranza, a pharmacist and small-business owner, has announced her candidacy for the Orange Beach City Council.

Carranza, 45, will vie for Place 3. The incumbent in that spot is Larry Alexander, who was appointed to the place in February when Pete Blalock gave up the position to take over for then-Mayor Steve Russo, who resigned. Carranza is the first to declare intentions to run for the position.

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State: No chumming for sharks near beach

Law would prohibit bloodbaiting within 300 feet of shoreline
Saturday, May 03, 2008
By RYAN DEZEMBER
Staff Reporter

Aiming to protect beachgoers, state regulators say they expect by the middle of this month to enact a ban on chumming for sharks and other within 300 feet of the beach.

The law, which was drafted by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural resources with input from Orange Beach officials, generally prohibits anyone from targeting sharks by chumming or bloodbaiting, whether it's with fish parts or synthetic attractant.

Doing so would be a misdemeanor game violation that could carry a fine of up to $500, said Conservation Department Commissioner Barnett Lawley.

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Shark Fishing Banned in Ornage Beach

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Maritime project approved by council

Developers seek to preserve 60 percent of forested tract
Thursday, April 17, 2008
By RYAN DEZEMBER
Staff Reporter

ORANGE BEACH -- Praising designs that will leave more than 100 acres of forest and wetlands intact, the City Council on Tuesday approved plans for Maritime, a mixed-use project planned for 182 acres between Canal Road and Gulf State Park.

The developers, Pat Martin and Paul Monroe, plan to build 325 residential units -- a mix of 211 houses, 55 townhomes and 59 condos -- and nearly 210,000 square feet of retail, restaurant and office space.

"This is probably one of the most well-thought-out (planned unit developments) that's ever come before the city," said Mayor Pete Blalock. "I think it's great. I don't know what else we could ask for."

The council voted unanimously in favor of the plans, though Councilwoman Tracy Holiday abstained because her husband, Tim McCrory, was once a partner with the developers on the property.

Click here to read the full article from the Mobile Press-Register.

City signs new deal with SEC

Women's soccer tournament will be played at Sportsplex through 2010
Monday, April 07, 2008
By RYAN DEZEMBER
Staff Reporter

ORANGE BEACH -- City officials have finalized a deal with the Southeastern Conference that will keep the athletic league's women's soccer tournament coming to south Baldwin County through 2010.

"Obviously it's a plum for the city to have an SEC championship event," said Mayor Pete Blalock. "What it shows is the SEC believes in what we're doing and how we're putting the tournament on, and that they're very pleased with the outcome."

The city first hosted the event in 2003. Some 1,700 attended the championship match between the University of Tennessee and the University of Florida and a television audience across the Southeast saw the nailbiter, which ended when the Lady Volunteers won 7-6 in a penalty-kick shootout, on Fox Sports Net South.

Impact fee income increasing in new year

Commercial projects have bolstered Orange Beach's take in recent months
Sunday, April 06, 2008
By RYAN DEZEMBER, Staff Reporter

ORANGE BEACH -- When developers of the new 54,000-square-foot Publix grocery store on Perdido Beach Boulevard applied for building permits in December, they paid $130,913.50 for what stands as the largest impact fee the city's collected to date.

That mark will surely be shattered as soon as construction starts on the next Gulf-front high-rise, but the first 17 months Orange Beach has collected impact fees has coincided with a halt in the resort real estate market.

That said, Orange Beach has taken in nearly $692,000 since the fees on new construction were enacted in November 2006, city records show.

After a slow start -- $12,072 was collected on three houses in late 2006 -- the city collected more than $383,117.15 in 2007, municipal records show.

"In reality that's not bad for a down year," Mayor Pete Blalock said Friday.

City financial planners had expected to bring in about $500,000 in impact fees last year and Orange Beach was on pace to badly miss that mark until the grocery store developers started construction. That group has also paid substantial fees for four other commercial buildings it's constructing at the intersection of Alabama 161 and the beach highway, a project called Palm Pointe.

Click here to read the full article from the Mobile Press-Register.

Turquoise Place benefits being renegotiated

Keen on fire station being built, officials propose dropping other public amenities

Friday, March 28, 2008
By RYAN DEZEMBER
Staff Reporter

ORANGE BEACH -- City officials are negotiating with Turquoise Place developer Larry Wireman to restructure the package of park land and capital improvements that will be given to the public when his pair of condo towers is complete.

Wireman received approval to build four Gulf-front towers, but amid the condo market downturn has decided to only construct two. As such, the public benefits package he offered as part of his full plans will be reduced.

At the time Wireman's designs were approved, municipal law required developers to provide public benefits -- things like sidewalks, beach access, parks, street lights -- to justify projects that strayed from city zoning ordinances. The towers of Turquoise Place far exceeded what was then Orange Beach's building height limit.

For the first two towers Wireman agreed to give the city a 90-foot-wide public beach access with rest rooms, dune walkovers and parking spaces along with about 6 acres on Cotton Bayou on which he would build bathrooms and a fishing pier. He also pledged up to $300,000 toward a fire station on the Cotton Bayou property, which sits across Alabama 182 from his high-rises.

Click here to read the full article from the Mobile Press-Register.

Orange Beach signs sewer deal

Orange Beach will lease lines beyond its limits to private firm; bills to rise $5

Thursday, March 20, 2008

By RYAN DEZEMBER

Staff Reporter

ORANGE BEACH -- Within six months, a private company will begin treating wastewater generated by about 800 Orange Beach sewer customers who live outside the city limits.

The City Council -- minus Tracy Holiday, who was absent -- voted unanimously Tuesday to lease most of its lines north of the Intracoastal Waterway to Alabama Utility Services.

The Pell City company is building a treatment plant north of Lillian and the effluent from the Orange Beach customers will be the first that the facility handles, said David Whetstone, a lawyer for the sewer company.

Click here to read the full story from the Mobile Press-Register.

City of Orange Beach Blog- March 14th Edition

Click here to read the March 14, 2008 edition of the City of Orange Beach Blog by Ken Grimes.

Other than Kennon, mayor field unclear

Sunday, March 16, 2008

So far Tony Kennon, 51, is the only person to announce his candidacy to become Orange Beach's next mayor.

The current mayor, Pete Blalock, said he hasn't decided yet whether he'll seek re-election.

Blalock was appointed in January 2006 by his peers on the City Council to take over the office when Steve Russo stepped down amid state and federal corruption indictments.

Click here to read the full article from the Mobile Press-Register.

Why did Tony Kennon quit?

Sunday, March 16, 2008

by Ryan Dezember, Staff Reporter

ORANGE BEACH -- During the summer of 2004, Tony Kennon, then a 47-year-old owner of a fitness center chain, campaigned door to door for a City Council spot. Eight months into his term, he quit, saying a new business venture needed his attention.

"I believe I won't be able to serve the citizens of Orange Beach in a way they should be served," Kennon said upon resigning.

Now, Kennon is a candidate for mayor, and he provides a different account of why he left office, suggesting that then-Mayor Steve Russo and City Attorney Larry Sutley, both later convicted on federal corruption charges, had threatened him.

Click here to read the full article from the Mobile Press-Register.

City buys lots near community center

Orange Beach council says yes to Wharf negotiations

Thursday, March 06, 2008

By RYAN DEZEMBER

Staff Reporter

ORANGE BEACH -- With eyes toward relocating its Parks and Recreation Department closer to the Canal Road facilities it oversees, the City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to buy two Walker Road lots.

The council will pay $140,000 for a 100-square-foot parcel featuring a small building and $240,000 for a larger lot upon which sits a building housing Hart's All Service Inc. Robert and Jayne Hart own the business and are selling the property, city records show.

The smaller lot is immediately north of the parcel where the city's Fire Station No. 2 used to sit. A slender lot then separates the 1,000-square-foot property from the larger tract.

Click here to read the full story from the Mobile Press-Register.

Second public partnership sought by AIG Baker

Developers want rebate for each out-of-towner they bring to proposed meeting facility

Monday, March 03, 2008

By RYAN DEZEMBER

Staff Reporter

ORANGE BEACH -- Already engaged with the city in a 15-year revenue-sharing deal, developers of The Wharf seek a secondary partnership with the public, this time to build a 25,000-square-foot meeting facility.

The City Council will consider a resolution Tuesday that would kick start negotiations between the city and the Birmingham-based mall builder AIG Baker. Though the details are far from finalized, the developers have presented a sketch of what they seek from the city.

Essentially they want Orange Beach to rebate to them $1.20 for each day that each out-of-towner using the facility is in the city, according to a letter to city officials from AIG Baker's John Hogue Jr.

Click here to read the full article from the Mobile Press-Register.

City Marina project contemplated

Officials want to know how much income facility can generate before they build it

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

By RYAN DEZEMBER, Staff Reporter

ORANGE BEACH -- Before deciding whether to move forward with construction of a $18.5 million municipal marina on Terry Cove, city officials said they'd likely hire a consultant in the coming weeks to show them what sort of income it could generate.

To finance construction of the facility, which would replace Walker Marina that was destroyed by 2004's

Hurricane Ivan, Orange Beach would sell bonds. So city officials said they want to know how close the marina -- which will include a five-story parking deck, a 3,500-square-foot banquet hall, space for four retailers, 58 boat slips and a large restaurant -- can come to paying for itself.

Click here to read the full article from the Mobile Press-Register.

Click here for a Birds-eye-view of the location of the proposed City Marina.

Woodstock picks new city manager from Orange Beach

By KAREN ROSEN
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 02/26/08

Woodstock chose a new city manager who already has experience in metro Atlanta. The City Council approved a contract for Jeff Moon, the former Riverdale city manager, who has been the city administrator for Orange Beach, Ala., the past seven years.

He is expected to start April 15 at a salary of $125,000. Moon was one of three finalists for the job.

"They all had similar qualifications educationally and experience-wise, but we felt like Jeff Moon's personality would fit in more so than anyone else," said Woodstock Mayor Donnie Henriques.

Click here to read the full article from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Click here to view a map of Woodstock, GA.

Orange Beach joins Repton in fight against landfill

Town finds ally in battle against landfill proposal

Saturday, February 23, 2008

By RYAN DEZEMBER

Staff Reporter

ORANGE BEACH -- Forgive one for thinking that this resort's sister city might be neighboring Gulf Shores. Though there's a bit of sibling rivalry between Baldwin County's two surfside cities, Orange Beach's official sister city, since Tuesday, is Repton.

A square-mile speck of a town along U.S. 84 in Conecuh County, Repton has little in common with Orange Beach. The former, a rail town, was nearly wiped off the map by advances in transit. The latter, fueled by post-baby boom prosperity, boasts some of the most posh addresses in Alabama.

Repton's leaders are fighting developers who propose a 1,500-acre landfill on some 5,100 acres just south of the town's jurisdiction. Mayor Terri Carter said they've mounted a campaign to oppose the Conecuh Woods Municipal Solid Waste Facility, enlisting nearby cities, neighboring counties and now the political heft and expertise of Orange Beach.

Orange Beach, forecasting a lean year, approved a $42 million budget for 2008. Though it delayed some multimillion-dollar capital projects with the real estate market at a standstill, Orange Beach will pay its lobbyists in Washington and Montgomery $118,000 this year without a second thought.

Click here to read the full article from the Mobile Press-Register.

Click here to view a map showing Repton, AL.

Click here to view a Google Search for Conecuh Woods Landfill.

3 finalists for Woodstock city manager

By KAREN ROSEN
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 02/21/08

Woodstock has narrowed its search for a new city manager to three candidates. The city will announce its choice on Monday and hopes to have the new manager on the job by the end of March.

The finalists are:

• Angel L. Jones, city manager pro tem of Eugene, Ore., since July 2007.

• Jeffrey S. Moon, city administrator for Orange Beach, Ala., since February 2001 and a former city manager of Riverdale.

• Steven T. Thompson, former city manager of Deltona, Fla. Thompson left his job in January after an election changed the makeup of the Deltona city council.

"All three have what we're looking for as far as experience is concerned," Woodstock Mayor Donnie Henriques said. "They all are well-versed in all facets of city management."

Henriques and Woodstock's six council members will make the final decision.

"It comes down to a question of chemistry," Henriques said, "and how we think one of these three will fit in with the staff we already have and the residents and the stakeholders."

Henriques said about 80 people applied for the job, which advertised a salary range of $125,000 to $155,000. Six candidates came to Woodstock for interviews.

Click here to read the full story from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

16th Annual Orange Beach Seafood Festival and Car Show draws record crowd

by Ken Grimes, City of Orange Beach Community News

The 16th Annual Orange Beach Seafood Festival was held last Saturday for the Orange Beach Sports Association. Breezy but near perfect weather helped attract what could be a record crowd to the event as just under 1,000 plates were sold and about 90 vintage cars and hot rods showed up.

Proceeds from this one day event benefit the youth baseball and softball programs in the Orange Beach area along with supporting other community needs.

The annual festival is formerly known as the Orange Beach Red Snapper Festival which began many years ago as charter fishermen from Orange Beach would go out and catch the fish in the off season, primarily red snapper back then, to be cooked and sold in support of the youth sports at a time when the City of Orange Beach had few facilities, fewer teams and much smaller population.

A big congrats goes out to Robert Stuart, Bradley Shivers, Shannon McCurdy, Jeff Silvers and the many volunteers that made the Orange Beach Seafood Festival another great success. Fryers, prep workers, grillers, servers and ticket sellers are all just a part along with the silent auction and of course the player registration tent.

Tunes from Brent Burns, Top Hat and Jackie and other locals added to the mix of the day. Oddly enough under the big entertainment tent there were plenty of seats to eat as people backed their chairs out of the shade and into the sun for some warm rays to cool tunes.

The biggest kudos this year in my opinion is to Denny and Debby Busbee who organized the “Big Car Show” at the festival. No doubt the car show has grown for several years but their hard work and planning paid off with plenty of nice rides to look at and tons of prizes for the owners.

Great job and thanks to the many sponsors of the car show and the festival itself. A last observation was the increase in sales compared to 2007 for the Girl Scout cookies sold by the Brownie Troops. If you missed the sale, stop by J&M Tackle and pick up a few boxes anytime.

To see a slideshow of the event log onto www.OrangeBeach.ws and click Seafood Festival Photos thanks to Mr. Ken Cooper.

Even though the Mardi Gras festivities are over for the year, you can still stroll down memory lane with a slideshow of this year’s parades by clicking on www.CityOfOrangeBeach.com then watch the show on the Home Page of the site. Feel free to right click and save the ones you like.

Orange Beach officials blame toll increases, economic slowdown on decreased toll bridge usage

Saturday, February 16, 2008

By RYAN DEZEMBER, Staff Reporter

ORANGE BEACH -- For the first time since the city became a partner in the Foley Beach Express toll bridge, use of the span over the Intracoastal Waterway decreased from the previous year, data show.

Last year's total usage of 2.96 million vehicles was a 14 percent drop from 2006, when 3.38 million vehicles crossed the bridge.

Orange Beach collected royalties in 2007 of nearly $636,000, or 21 cents per car, about half the $1.2 million take of 2006 when it received 36 cents per car.

Click here to read the full story from the Mobile Press-Register.

Three days of activities mark opening of new facility

Submitted by Betty Ingram

The city of Orange Beach will host a weekend of festivities Saturday and Sunday, followed by a ribbon-cutting Monday to open the new Teen Center in the city's Recreation Complex.

"We are very excited about the facility and the programs that we are going to be able to offer our teens," Orange Beach Mayor Pete Blalock said. "It is critical that we keep this age group involved in programs and activities, and we want to thank Sen. Richard Shelby, Sen. Jeff Sessions and Congressman Jo Bonner for their help in securing the grant for us to develop this program."

In September 2006, the City Council accepted a $300,000 Department of Justice grant that paid for half of the cost of the Teen Center and an adjacent skate park, construction of which is slated to begin later this year or in 2009.

Click here to read the full article from the Mobile Press-Register.

Pay hikes not likely for Orange Beach mayor, council

Officials wary of upping salaries with uncertain economic outlook
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
By RYAN DEZEMBER, Staff Reporter

ORANGE BEACH -- Whoever comes into office after this summer's municipal elections, they'll more than likely be on the same pay scale as their predecessors.

A majority of elected officials on Monday said they were against raising the pay for the next administration. Though they will have to vote next week on an ordinance spelling out the next group's pay, they said they will leave salaries as they were set in early 2004 and only, at City Attorney Wanda Cochran's request, tweak verbiage in the law.

In 2004, annual salaries were set at $25,000 for the mayor, $15,000 for the mayor pro tem, and $10,000 for the remaining four City Council members. Also included in that ordinance was a provision that gave elected officials a 5 percent cost of living raise each October.

Click here to read the full article from the Mobile Press-Register.

Cuts in spending planned

With real estate bubble burst, city tightens belt in'08 budget

Friday, December 28, 2007

By RYAN DEZEMBER

Staff Reporter

ORANGE BEACH -- Anticipating a drop in development-related revenue, the City Council has passed a 2008 budget that cuts municipal spending from last year by nearly $9 million.

The drop from about $50.9 million that Orange Beach planned to spend in 2007 to the $42 million slated for 2008 reflects changes in income from state and federal grants, transfers between funds, proceeds from bond issues and other factors. But what City Hall expects to spend on day-to-day operations next year is nearly $1.7 million less than this year.

"We're kind of a mirror of the national economy because building has slowed down and that's what we've tried to take into account for our budget this year," City Administrator Jeff Moon said. "We've tried to, across the board, be proactive in addressing it and account for it on the front end and not the back end."

Click here to view the full article from the Mobile Press-Register.

Deal to sell Perdido Pass lots renewed

City Council votes unanimously to give developer Rick Phillips 60 days to buy three lots for $3.5 million

Sunday, December 23, 2007

By RYAN DEZEMBER

Staff Reporter

ORANGE BEACH -- Extending a deal that has been on the table since May 2005, the City Council voted unanimously Friday to give developer Rick Phillips 60 days to buy three lots on Perdido Pass from the city for $3.5 million.

Sandwiched between the sea wall on the western edge of the pass and private property to the north, the lots -- which add up to less than an acre -- are, for the most part, inaccessible. They were given to Orange Beach in the late 1990s by the Alabama Department of Transportation, which gave the city permission to sell the land to Phillips and his investors in 2005 provided the proceeds were used to buy Robinson Island.

Because the sale of the lots never closed, the city financed its Robinson Island purchase as part of a bond issue. Though Orange Beach could still use the $3.5 million to pay off the Robinson Island debt, it will have to wait about nine years to do so to avoid prepayment penalties, City Administrator Jeff Moon said.

Click here to read the complete article from the Mobile Press-Register.

Red Tide Alert for Orange Beach & Gulf Shores

Water samples collected on Oct. 16 on Alabama beaches indicate the presence of red tide cells, the Alabama Department of Public Health announces. As of Thursday, beaches east of Dauphin Island are affected, but the winds from the south may continue to push the red tide up onto the beaches to include Dauphin Island.

Red tide results from a massive build-up of certain species of microscopic sea organisms known as dinoflagellates. These organisms produce a toxin that affects the central nervous system of fish so they are paralyzed and cannot breathe. At high concentrations, the organisms may produce a discoloration of the water. Red tides are often referred to as “blooms.” The species (Karenia brevis) may produce toxins that also cause skin irritation and respiratory problems in humans.

Health Department officials advise:

• Avoid the area if you are susceptible to respiratory problems such as asthma or emphysema.
• Leave the water if you experience skin irritations while swimming or boating and rinse immediately with fresh water.
• If you experience nose, throat or eye irritation when exposed to the gulf mist, avoid the mist.

The Alabama Department of Public Health will continue to monitor gulf and bay waters for the presence of red tide cells. At this time the oyster reefs are unaffected.

Unfortunately, the presence of red tide cannot be predicted to be at a certain location at a certain time. The effects depend on many variables such as temperature, salinity, direction of the wind, and how concentrated the organisms are at a given location.

Senate Passes Bill that could bring Disaster Funds to Orange Beach

Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions vote for the measure

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Staff Report

WASHINGTON -- A bill that would send $30 million to the University of South Alabama for an engineering and science center has won approval in the full Senate but still needs the agreement of lawmakers in the House.

The bill, which sets spending levels for the U.S. Justice Department, Commerce Department and other agencies for the fiscal year that began this month, passed the Senate 75-19 on Tuesday evening.

Included in the bill is $100,000 for the city of Orange Beach and a fishing mortality education program.

Click here to read the full article from the Mobile Press Register.

Letter to the Editor: Proposed Orange Beach Boat Launch

Following is a letter to the editor written by Gene Meyers of Paradise Marine in Gulf Shores.

SHOULD A VOCAL MINORITY WITH POLITICAL CLOUT BE ABLE TO HALT A PUBLIC PROJECT THAT WILL BENEFIT ALL OF ALABAMA’S CITIZENS?

Click here to view the ad that appeared in the Mobile Press-Register.

Why YOUR support is needed, and YOUR voice must be heard in Montgomery!

If you are a boater, or concerned citizen, you need to read this information, as the consequences will impact your boating enjoyment, and your rights as an Alabamian. The proposed 5 acre Boat Launch Facility would be located on Old River between the Caribe Resort and Ono Island Bridge. The property was to be provided by the State of Alabama and leased to the City of Orange Beach, who would fund and build the project. For the boating public and our community this project is long overdue. Public access to our state’s waterways is shrinking at an alarming rate. Developers have purchased marinas, boat yards and waterfront property and converted these properties to condominium projects. State and local municipalities must be pro-active and take bold steps to address this alarming decline. Without proper access, the average working man and his family is limited in their ability to boat, fish, and play on these waters.

The project opponents, mostly Ono Island residents and members of the Perdido Key Coalition claim that our area boat ramps are under-utilized. Nothing is farther from the truth as any local boater can tell you. (See for Yourself) The lack of parking at these facilities is the most pressing issue and getting worse all the time. On a busy summer weekend hundreds of trailers and tow vehicles park illegally on the side of the roads around the Cotton Bayou boat launch. This causes major public safety concerns for the City of Orange Beach who walk a fine line between both public safety and tourist relations. There are many unfortunate instances when vehicles get towed. These kinds of conflicts do not bode well for a tourist community that depends on a constant flow of satisfied visitors.

In Baldwin County boat registrations are growing at a rate of 2.6%. Baldwin County’s population is also growing at an astronomical rate and many of these citizens have been drawn here by the lure of our inshore and offshore waters. These water access shortcomings can only be addressed by a consistent commitment from the Conservation Department. They must maximize the diminishing opportunities they have to provide fair and equal water access as our state's population grows and our tourism stream increases.

We all know that the City of Orange Beach's foundation and heritage is tightly intertwined with recreational boating and fishing. They understand this and have eagerly provided the initiative, resources and most importantly the foresight, to address the issue. The City has done some impressive work in the design stages of this facility proposal. It is a showpiece to be proud of! It is cutting edge in its visual appeal, physical layout, and proposed operational procedures.

One argument we have heard regularly from project opponents revolves around the impact this project will have in what they claim to be one of the most environmentally sensitive areas in the area. We all can agree that this is a beautiful piece of natural property; there is no doubt in our mind. On the other hand by "offering" this parcel to the public good you will allow many more citizens the ability to enjoy, and utilize an even bigger resource, our state’s countless square miles of recreational waterways.

The same people who mask their opposition to this project by cloaking themselves behind the "environmental flag" cannot have it both ways. At one time Ono Island was also a precious and pristine resource until progress and demand allowed it to be heavily built upon and intersected with a network of man-made, environmentally unfriendly canals. Many of these opponents have their piece of paradise, living adjacent to the water. Ono Island residents who oppose this project also have their own private boat ramp facility. They have no boating access problem. Shouldn’t they understand that everyone must have the same privilege to utilize the resource without having to own expensive waterfront property?

Here is an interesting paradox that surfaces regarding this issue. The current entrance and bridge to Ono Island is located on what was also once pristine state property. Years ago when the state offered this parcel, it opened the island up for use by private individuals and developers, not the public. Without that easement grant, Ono Island would not be what it is today, a private gated Island community. The Conservation Department now has the same opportunity to offer a nearby parcel for the benefit of the entire state, not just a few citizens. Wouldn’t this provide a much better return on public investment? After all isn’t it the responsibility of the state to provide for the maximum benefit of the majority of its citizens?

Most of the opponents of the Boat Launch Facility are residents of Ono Island, but not all Ono residents oppose it. Those that do are a very vocal minority and they wield a considerable amount of political clout. They are making their opposition known and getting the ear of state officials. Our voices of SUPPORT must be heard if we are to continue to have convenient access to Alabama’s waterways. If you are a boater, fisherman, or concerned citizen, this issue affects YOU! YOUR support is vital. We urge YOU to write, email, and phone your SUPPORT for this project to Governor Bob Riley, Commissioner M. Barnett Lawley, and the officials of the City of Orange Beach.

* Visit our Government Officials Page for email addresses, mailing addresses, and phone numbers to voice your SUPPORT.

If state officials make the decision to proceed based on the public benefit and consider investment versus the return we have a good chance to get the boat launching facility we so badly need. To have a handful of people thwart this much needed, well planned, and environmentally friendly project would be a travesty. All Alabamians have the right to equal access opportunities to all of Alabama's outdoor resources, not just a privileged few.

We are very passionate about this issue. We stand firm in our belief that every citizen has the right to access our State's natural resources, we also stand firm in our belief that every citizen has the right to be heard. We believe that both sides of every issue should be presented in a fair and accurate manner. Therefore, we are providing a link to our opposition’s web site: www.perdidokeycoalition.com

Orange Beach sued by Ken Wall

Ken Wall, convicted of bribing former mayor, says map error led to overpayment

Saturday, September 29, 2007
By RYAN DEZEMBER, Mobile Press-Register Staff Reporter

ORANGE BEACH -- Ken Wall, a developer serving a yearlong federal jail sentence for bribing former Mayor Steve Russo, has sued the city and its chief planner, claiming he overpaid for a sliver of land at Boggy Point because of an error on the municipal zoning map.

In turn Wachovia Bank, which lent Wall nearly $1.1 million in July 2005 to help him buy the parcel, has foreclosed on the property, bought it in an auction for $880,000 and is suing the developer for the remainder of the loan, or about $244,000.

According to the suit Wall filed in Baldwin County Circuit Court this summer, the 56-year-old said he paid $2 million for slightly less than an acre of wetland-surrounded land, believing, after a visit to City Hall, that it was unzoned property under the jurisdiction of Baldwin County, and not the city.

Click here to read the complete article in the Mobile Press-Register.

City of Orange Beach Fall Public Meetings

Submitted by Ken Grimes, Special Projects Coordinator

Communicating current information on key projects underway in the City of Orange Beach led to the planning of the Fall Public Meeting Schedule which is underway.

On September 18 a crowd of nearly one hundred gathered to hear the facts and proposal regarding the proposed Old River Boat Ramp on the north side of Highway 182 east of the Caribe development. Mayor Pete Blalock and members of the city council answered questions following a presentation by Phillip West, Coastal Resources Manager, for the City of Orange Beach. Feedback in the session was overwhelmingly in favor of the proposed amenities with comments like “every person has the right to access the public waterways and we commend the city on planning such a first class facility with every detail in place to minimally impact the environment of the area” adds Gene Myers.

Next in the series of Fall meetings is the Monday, September 24th “Wolf Bay Bridge Meeting” at 6pm in the Orange Beach Community Center. Third is the Tuesday, October 2nd “Medical Services Update” meeting at 7pm in the Orange Beach Community Center. The final scheduled event is the Thursday, October 18th “Town Hall Meeting” at 6pm in the Orange Beach Community Center.

The Town Hall meeting is slated to be a general discussion of issues facing the city and updates on other activities. “The attendance at our first meeting on the proposed Old River Boat Ramp was strong and we encourage residents to attend these meetings on key projects for Orange Beach. Our goal is to communicate as much fact as we can while providing opportunities for input on each critical project” adds Jeff Moon, City Administrator for the City of Orange Beach. Moon adds “as a reminder for our citizens, the regular City Council meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 5pm at City Hall and are open to the public.”

For more information be sure to check out www.cityoforangebeach.com or call the City’s InfoLine at 980-INFO for upcoming events and notices. Be sure to tell a neighbor about these important meetings on projects affecting Orange Beach for many years to come.