March 16, 2017 Alex City Outlook

Page 1

OPINION: PATIENCE IS KEY TO SURVIVING ROAD WORK, PAGE 4.

THURSDAY

THE COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892

Inside, page 6

March 16, 2017 Vol. 125, No. 53 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢

Sunshine laws often new to elected officials

Jacksons Gap looks into potential

new park Tables possible ‘Gap version of Santuck’ By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer

The Jacksons Gap City Council is looking at using property owned by the town to create the “Gap version of Santuck” and maybe purchasing property to create a new city hall and park. The council also tabled a possible solution to overtime in the police department at Tuesday’s meeting. “I have just been thinking about expanding the town,” Council member Dana Ford said. “We need to think about getting something bigger.” Mayor Jeff Walker said the council had been looking at the old radio station last year. Council member Heather Glenn said she had toured the property and saw potential in it. “We could do some stuff with that 11 acres,” Glenn said. “We could have a park for the community. We See JACKSONS GAP • Page 3

FOR SUBSCRIBERS Lake Martin Living inside

Mitch Sneed / The Outlook

City workers make repairs to pipes along Lee Street Wednesday morning in advance of the start of paving on Monday. Residents are encouraged to take alternate routes.

With little training and guidance, leaders must comply with the law By MITCH SNEED Editor

WORKING AHEAD Residents urged to take alternate routes as road work begins

have to disturb the new pavement to make repairs. Alexander City Public Works If you needed proof that there is some Director and City Engineer Gerard Brewer said they have worked extenserious construction ahead for area roads, city crews were busy Wednesday sively to plan ahead and do any repairs on streets scheduled to be paved and doing some underground pipe work warn residents of the impending work. along Lee Street. “Nothing drives people crazy like With a massive rebuild of a good seeing a nice new paving job torn up chunk of Lee Street set to begin for a repair that could have been done Monday, crews wanted to be sure that before the paving started,” Brewer said. once the project is done they wouldn’t See ROAD WORK • Page 3

By MITCH SNEED Editor

Editor’s Note: March 12-16 is Sunshine Week across the county and is a time when newspapers examine transparency in government. This week the Outlook features stories on open local government. Today, we take a look at challenges in complying with the law. Local council members are not full-time employees and in most cases the people who serve hold other jobs and juggle many responsibilities outside of being elected officials. They come from all walks of life. Some are See SUNSHINE • Page 9

Suit filed asking EPA to address Tallapoosa County landfill By KEITH RUSHING Earth Justice

Submitted / The Outlook

A nonprofit group filed a suit asking the federal government to force the EPA to address complaints from residents near a Tallapoosa County landfil.

MONTGOMERY – An Alabama community is taking the Environmental Protection Agency to task for not addressing civilrights complaints related to environmental hazards at a Tallapoosa County landfill. Five nonprofit organizations filed a motion in federal court this week to force the EPA to act on cases involving pollution in communities of color that the groups contend have been neglected for

more than a decade. One is a complaint against the Stone’s Throw Landfill near Tallassee in Tallapoosa County. The Ashurst Bar/Smith Community Organization is among the plaintiffs. Its chair, Ron Smith, said the landfill places an unfair burden on a community where some families have owned land for more than a century. “Here, if you really look at a map, it looks like the county and the state got together and found out where there was a black community that was economically chal-

New fast-food restaurant to open next week

Dadeville council rezones property to build new DHR By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer

The Dadeville City Council rezoned a piece of property to allow the construction of a new building for the Department of Human Resources Tuesday night. “We are looking forward to have a new location for DHR here in Dadeville,” Mayor Wayne Smith said. “We are glad they are going to stay here in Dadeville.” The move came after only one public hearing to hear any opposition. “We waived the second public

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hearing on the zoning change as no one has come out in opposition to the change so we can help expedite the process.” Smith said he was proud of how city employees are helping support the community. “The United Way’s Sharon Fuller and I visited with city employees about the Fair Share program,” Smith said. “I am very proud of our employees. I have to commend them on a job well done.” The council also talked about residents burning in the city limits. “We are reviewing the burn ordinance,” Smith said. “Basically it See DADEVILLE • Page 3

Lake Martin

Lake Levels

487.65 Reported on 3/15/17 @ 8 p.m.

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laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL

lenged, and put a landfill right in the middle of that community,” said Smith. “The land ownership there is probably 85 percent blackowned.” The EPA is supposed to respond to valid complaints within 180 days. Four other plaintiffs in the case are alleging discrimination against lower-income, minority communities in the permitting of two California power plants, a power station in Michigan, an oilrefinery expansion in Texas, and a waste-disposal facility in New See LANDFILL • Page 9

By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer

Cliff Williams / The Outlook

Area diners will have another option for food on the go as Jack’s is set to open its Dadeville location next week.

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Dadeville residents will soon have another dining option – Jack’s. Dadeville Mayor Wayne Smith said the restaurant should open next week. “They are planning a soft opening next week,” Smith said. “At some point they will have a grand opening.” The Homewood-based fast-food chain started construction on a Dadeville location at the intersection of Highway 280 and Broadnax Street in the fall of last year. See JACK’S • Page 9

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