COMMUNITY CALENDAR: Ongoing and Upcoming Events, PAGE 4
A Foley man’s aspirations take him around the world
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AUGUST 16, 2017 | GulfCoastNewsToday.com |
Columbia Southern Education Group and partners help transitioning military Columbia Southern Education Group (CSEG) and the Soldier for Life Transition Assistance Program recently commemorated the grand opening of the Career Resource Center (CRC) in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. For more, see page 36.
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Off-season brings infrastructure improvements in Gulf Shores BY JOHN MULLEN Islander Contributor
GULF SHORES – As the busy summer season comes to a close, Gulf Shores is looking at what will be a rather busy off season as well with major projects planned for the city’s main thoroughfares.
Infrastructure projects during the fall and winter will improve two miles of beach road, including a new coat of Asphalt. Alabama 59 will also be resurfaced and the revitalization of the Gulf Place public beach access will continue. “The next year or so we’re going to have a lot of ac-
Gulf Shores looks at business rezoning By CRYSTAL COLE crystal@gulfcoastmedia.com
tivity down here,” Public Works Director Mark Acreman said. “But once it’s all complete it will completely change the look and functionality of the roadway SEE IMPROVEMENTS, PAGE
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Gulf Shores Utilities celebrates 50 years of operation By CRYSTAL COLE crystal@gulfcoastmedia.com
Fall markets on the calendar for GCAA Gulf Coast Arts Alliance kicks off its fall art market season Saturday, Sept. 9, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Waterway Village. Local and regional artists will feature their original works of art, including paintings, pottery, jewelry, carved wood, metal and textiles. For more, see page 38.
DEATHS
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John Hadley Bidney Mary Mae Farrow Helen Mosley Kelly Jane Ann McPherson Wallace W. Milham William E. Prescott IV Leonard Allen Sanneman Marbeth J. Shay
Gulf Shores Utilities is celebrating its golden anniversary serving the citizens of the island this week. Starting out as the Waterworks Board in Gulf Shores in 1967, the board initially had 840 customers and one 50,000 gallon elevated tank. In August of 1989, the city merged with the Government Utility Service Corporation (GUS) to provide water and sewer service under one company which became Gulf Shores Utili-
ties Board. Today, the board provides water for more than 13,000 residents and sewer to more than 7,000 residents with five elevated tanks, two ground tanks and a four million gallon waste water treatment plant. Clifford Johnson, General Manager of Gulf Shores Utilities, said that is just the company’s base operations and that it does much more. “Our water resources are very key to the community,” Johnson said. “About nine years ago, we started a program where we have 12
observation wells located around our area that we monitor. It helps insure the water we’re pumping out of the system is not having an adverse effect on it so we can prepare for the future.” The board is also in the midst of finalizing upgrades to its waste water plant, something they pay for themselves. “We are completely selfsufficient,” Johnson said. “We are independent from the city. We were incorporated as what’s known as a quasi-government agency. SEE 50 YEARS, PAGE
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Pedestrian struck and killed by drunk driver COURTESY OF ORANGE BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT Orange Beach Police were called to a vehicle accident involving the death of a pedestrian at approximately 6:41 p.m. Sunday August 13. The accident occurred in the 24000 block of Perdido Beach Blvd. The driver of the vehicle,
David B Waters, 51 of Monroeville, was charged with DUI, manslaughter and reckless driving. The victim in the accident was a female, 67 visiting from Tennessee. The accident remains under investigation. Waters is currently in the Orange Beach Municipal Jail and will be transferred to Baldwin County Corrections today.
The City of Gulf Shores is considering a rezoning request that would put current businesses in compliance with the city’s zoning ordinance. The applicant seeks to rezone 4.22 acres located on the north side of Ft. Morgan Road, 4 miles west of the Highway 59 intersection, between Twin Pines Circle and Hardwood Drive from neighborhood business to general business. The property was legislatively annexed into the City limits in 2011 and automatically placed in the R-1-4 Single Family Zoning District. Shortly after annexation the subject property was rezoned to Neighborhood Business to reflect the business development of these parcels. Councilman Jason Dyken asked why the businesses, which were already in existence when the original zoning took place, were put into a zone where they were non-conforming. “It was automatically zoned into the single-family zoning district,” said Andy Bauer, Director of Planning and Zoning. “Then, because we went back in and rezoned multiple areas of business, I guess staff felt at that time the most appropriate zoning district was neighborhood business which is the most-restrictive zoning district.” The property is currently developed with a Dollar General, Chevron Station, four-unit commercial building, a plumbing business and a portion of the 4.22 acres is vacant. As it stands now if the businesses were lost in a fire or natural disaster, the owner would not be allowed to rebuild them due to zoning restrictions. Mayor Robert Craft said the city was putting conditions on the proposed rezoning. “We are trying to limit the more noxious areas of that which might be damaging to the community,” Craft said.
The City also considered: - Approval of the surplus and donation of 22 unclaimed bicycles currently stored at the Police Department. If approved, the bicycles SEE REZONING, PAGE
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Gulf Coast Media
BALDWIN LIVING, 7-9
OUT & ABOUT, 26
CLASSIFIED, 10-11
PUZZLES, 35
HEALTH, 23-25
SPORTS, 14-16
VOLUME 41 • ISSUE 34
LEGALS, 28-34
TV LISTINGS, 17-20
1 SECTION • 40 PAGES
OPINION, 12-13
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