OPINION: THE PEOPLE SHOULD DECIDE, PAGE 4.
THE CHAMBER PULSE! Gears are turning with new leadership. Page 6-7.
TUESDAY
SECOND SEASON Wildcats baseball opens area play at home today. Sports, page 12.
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 March 22, 2016
Vol. 124, No. 58
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AG asked to probe missing golf course money By MITCH SNEED Editor
The criminal investigation into money missing from Alexander City’s Lakewinds Golf Course will likely be handled by the Alabama Attorney General’s Office. Fifth Judicial Circuit District Attorney E. Paul Jones confirmed Monday morning that he is seeking the help of the AG’s Office for multiple reasons, including the
need for a complete forensic audit. Jones said that while the city did commission an audit that confirmed that money was missing, it wasn’t a forensic audit that would give prosecutors the kind of information needed in a criminal prosecution. “There are several reasons why this makes sense,” Jones said. “First of all, there really needs to be a forensic audit
done. If we were to do that, we would have to hire someone. “The AG’s office has people on staff to handle that.” Jones said another factor is timing. Jones is not seeking re-election and there could be considerable turnover as a result of the new administration in January. “I will be leaving, so the chances of this investigation being completed, sent
Lake Martin property owners see no changes with permits
Council votes to terminate contracts for grant services
STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Lake Martin property owners probably will be unaffected by the recent expiration of programmatic general permits (PGPs) that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) has authorized Alabama Power Company to write for shoreline construction/ maintenance, said Alabama Power Company Land Supervisor Billy Edge. The PGPs expired March 9, and Alabama Power and the COE are working toward the issuance of new permits. The permits affect proposed shoreline activities that include construction of piers, boathouses and other structures, as well as the maintenance of existing structures. Bank stabilization, debris removal and minor dredging also fall in the PGP area, but on Lake Martin, Edge said, most of the work property owners plan to do would be covered by nationwide permits, which the power company can issue without COE authorization “We can issue a permit in the nationwide category for up to 500 linear feet. If it’s more than that, they would have to seek approval from the Corps of Engineers,” Edge explained. “We can still issue permits for boat ramps. Piers on Lake Martin will not be affected because Martin is not considered a navigable waterway. The
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Above, children look for Easter eggs as Wind Creek State Park hosted its 10th Annual Egg Hunt Saturday. Bottom left, Cecila Radney, left, 8 of Alexander City and Olivia Booker, 8, run as they look for Easter eggs. (Bottom right) Kallen Hollman, left, Leilani Johns and Khalye Hollman counted their eggs after the egg hunt Saturday.
HIDE & SEEK
Wind Creek State Park hosts Easter egg hunt
See PERMITS • Page 11
Today’s
Weather
67 44 High
Low
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
486.78 Reported on 3/21/16 @ 4 p.m.
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to a grand jury for indictment, much less being tried before I leave are very, very slim,” Jones said. “I feel like it’s important in a case like this to have some continuity and have it handled by someone who will see it through from beginning to end. I feel like they would have the best chance of doing that.” Jones said that he hasn’t gotten written See PROBE • Page 3
An agreement with a company that was hired to administer two block grants to help with the removal of dilapidated structures in the city has been terminated. The Alexander City City Council voted 4-0 Monday night to terminate the two agreements with Monroe and Associates, which date back to January of 2015. Councilman Bob Howard said the response from the company had not been what the city had hoped for. “They were awarded contracts to administer the paperwork under two dilapidated structure grants where old failing structures are razed,” Howard said. “(Community Development Director) Randy Thomas said he has been reaching out to the company and he hasn’t heard from them. He’s ready for the project to move forward and believes it’s in the city’s best interest to go a different direction.” With the vote, the contract was terminated. Howard, Tony Goss, Sherry Ellison-Simpson and Billy Ray Wall voted for the termination. Bobby Tapley and Jim Spann were unable to attend the meeting, as was Mayor Charles Shaw, who Howard said was not feeling well. One other item of note came when the council failed to get unanimous consent to allow a parcel of property on Smith See COUNCIL • Page 3
Effort to ‘Revamp the Hamp’ should begin in late April By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
The first shovel of dirt related to the renovation of Hamp Lyon Stadium should be moved in April, according to Richard Wagoner, director of MainStreet Alexander City, which is working closely with the city, the Alexander City Board of Education and county commissioners Steve Robinson and T.C. Coley on the renovation project. “By the end of April, the high school boys and girls will be through with soccer,” said Wagoner. “We really can’t start until then since both teams practice there.” When the dirt does begin to move, it will be the beginning of a project that will cost an estimated $850,000 in cash and in-kind services combined and will take place in phases, beginning with the repair of the actual field, Wagoner said. “You know, there’s supposed to be a crown on an athletic field, but the field at Hamp Lyon has a recess, if anything,” Wagoner said. “We’ve got to fix that. There is an irrigation system in place that See REVAMP • Page 3
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
This engineering drawing shows the layout of Alexander City’s Hamp Lyon Stadium once the $850,000 renovation is complete. Work should start on demolition of the existing concrete bleachers and the playing field in late April.
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