COMMUNITY CALENDAR: Ongoing and Upcoming Events, PAGE 4
Fairhope Christian Church provides service to community
The Courier
INSIDE
AUGUST 2, 2017 | GulfCoastNewsToday.com |
PAGE 33
75¢
Tension over debris removal contract hits Fairhope council By CLIFF McCOLLUM cliff@gulfcoastmedia.com
Eastern Shore Art Center announces new director Bryant Galloway Whelan will join the Eastern Shore Art Center as Executive Director, on September 18, 2017, succeeding Kate Fisher, who is retiring after a seven-year tenure. For more, see page 34.
Fairhope OB/GYN Dr. Richard Roh Celebrates 40 Years in Practice On August 3, Dr. Richard Roh will celebrate 40 years of delivering babies and practicing in Fairhope. For more, see page 34.
Daphne Beautification Committee presents award to Sugar Kettle Cafe The Daphne Beautification Committee, the Daphne Planning Department and the City of Daphne are pleased to announce the winner of the 3rd Quarter Award for Most Attractive Restaurant to The Sugar Kettle Cafe. To find out more, see page 32.
DEATHS
PAGE 19
Shirley Barrett Burrows Morley Jr. Norene Dean White Clara Arlene Wichterman
More tension mounted between Fairhope Mayor Karin Wilson and City Council President Jack Burrell during the July 24 council meeting after a dispute over the city’s conditional disaster debris removal and disposal contract. The contract had previously been held by Pittman Tractor, a local company owned by current State Senator and U.S. Senate candidate Trip Pittman, since 2012. Pittman’s contract with the city contained the ability to maintain a three-year extension, and while one year was left within that extension period, Wilson chose to have the city rebid the contract. Pittman told The Courier he was not contacted by the city as he had been in previous years to extend the contract and he decided he would not rebid. During the council meeting, Burrell raised the issue that rebidding the contract, which would be awarded to D&J Enterprises Inc. of Auburn, would cost the city slightly less than $1.8 million - $115,000 more than an extension of Pittman’s contract could have cost the city.
“I am not happy we were not told that we had one year left on the current contract,” Burrell said. “What really bothers me is that the extension that we had was $115,000 less than what we just awarded and it bothers me this was not brought to the council’s attention.” Wilson defended her decision by saying she had the authority to make a change with the contract. “I’ve talked to Trip and he chose not to bid, but he didn’t send a letter to negotiate the extension either,” Wilson explained. “Regardless, if I’m going to ask for something to be rebid, because I want fresh eyes and new opportunity for all because I’m a new mayor, there’s nothing wrong with that.” Wilson and Burrell then began arguing over one another, with Wilson saying Burrell’s comments were “out of line.” Wilson: There’s a lot more that goes into this. I spent a lot of unnecessary time doing it because it came in so late. Burrell: You did spend some unnecessary time on it, that’s for certain. In the end, the council voted unanimously to award the new contract to D&J Enterprises.
Pencils and Glue for BINGO and Brew Baldwin County Board of Education member Cecil Christenberry gets into his role as a celebrity caller at the 3rd annual Pencils and Glue for BINGO and Brew event last week. To see more photos from this event, turn to Page 2.
More evidence surfaces Fairhope mayor directed investigation into former employees Wilson originally claimed she found out about investigation after the fact By CLIFF McCOLLUM
Exciting events coming soon to Blakeley State Park SUBMITTED On Saturday, Aug. 5, Blakeley State Park offers a two-hour narrated tour of the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta aboard its 50-passenger pontoon boat, the Delta Explorer leaving its Tensaw River dock at 9:30 a.m. Tickets are $25 for adults, $15 for children 6-12 and can be purchased by calling 251-626-5581 and paying in advance with credit cards or are available at boarding time on a first come-first serve basis. On Saturday, Aug. 12, the state park inaugurates a late afternoon cruise of the lower Mobile-Tensaw River Delta
to the head of Mobile Bay aboard its 50-passenger Delta Explorer highlighting stunning views of the setting sun while fanned by cool bay breezes. Departing the Blakeley Park dock on the Tensaw River at 6:30 p.m. the narrated excursion heads down river through the Delta as passengers experience panoramic views and complimentary snacks and drinks before a twilight return to dock by 8:30 p.m. Blakeley Park has been expanding its Delta Explorer boat tour program over the past months working toward the Aug. 12 inauguration of the new
sunset cruise which will be available to individuals and charter groups. Ticket costs for the Aug. 12 sunset cruise are $29 for adults, $19 for children 6-12. Reservations are available by calling 251-626-5581 (????or 626-0798?) and paying with credit cards. The Delta Explorer is a U.S. Coast Guard inspected vessel operated by Blakeley State Park crew of an experienced, licensed pilot and park ranger crew members. All proceeds go toward the operation of the historic and nature park located on State Hwy. 225 about five miles north of Spanish Fort.
cliff@gulfcoastmedia.com
A copy of an email from Fairhope Mayor Karin Wilson to the city’s IT director seems to also contradict Wilson’s statement she was not directly involved in the search of city equipment used by two former city employees. Wilson’s statements had previously been contradicted by Elias Technologies, the company used to perform the equipment searches. Wilson fired former Community Affairs Director Sherry Sullivan and former Public Works Director Jennifer Fidler on Feb. 24 of this year and used a police contract with IT company Elias Technologies to investigate the city equipment used by those employees. In a post on her blog July 14, Wilson wrote Elias was not hired to do such work for the city. “To clear up any confusion, Elias was not hired for purposes of processing the computers or devices used by former employees,” Wilson wrote. “That job is handled by in-house IT professionals working for the City.”
INDE X
Wilson also wrote that she had become aware of the work done after seeing the invoices provided by Elias Technologies to the city. “Elias contracted with the City to perform security services as described in memorandum called ‘scope of work,’” Wilson wrote. “Elias agreed to perform those specific services for a total amount not to exceed $35,000. Unfortunately, Elias performed additional services that were not described in the scope of work, and Elias billed for those services. I did not receive an invoice indicating that this additional work had been performed until well after those services had been performed.” In the email obtained by The Courier, Wilson asked Fairhope IT Director Jeff Montgomery at 4:53 p.m. on Feb. 26 for evidence to help back up her reasons for terminating Fidler and Sullivan. “Please have evidence from either Jennifer Fidler or Sherry Sullivan’s city computer or cell to backup my reasons for termination for meeting noon tomorSEE EVIDENCE, PAGE
Gulf Coast Media
BALDWIN LIVING, 5-7
OPINION, 10-11
CLASSIFIED, 8-9
OUT & ABOUT, 23
HEALTH, 20-22
SPORTS, 12-14
VOLUME 124 • ISSUE 1
LEGALS, 24-31
TV LISTINGS, 15-18
1 SECTION • 36 PAGES
2