COMMUNITY COLUMNISTS INSIDE
THE
.5% OF OUR SALES TAX PAVES LOCAL ROADS
WEDNESDAY
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 September 16, 2015 Vol. 123, No. 185 www.alexcityoutlook.com
WILDCATS SEARCH FOR 1ST REGION WIN BRHS takes on Pell City, page B1
Wind Creek could get convention center By David Granger Outlook Staff Writer
Wind Creek State Park could soon be home to a brand new hotel, golf course and convention center if city and county officials and the area’s legislators have their way. The Tallapoosa County Commission, after talks with representatives of the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce, on Monday approved a letter addressed to Sen. Tom Whatley, expressing “strong support for the proposed conference center.”
“The Alexander City Chamber of Commerce has provided us with some information regarding the possible development,” said the letter, signed by Commission Chairman Steve Robinson, who represents District 2, which includes Wind Creek. “In addition to providing jobs and additional revenue for local governments, this project will also widen the tourism offerings available, thus having a significant impact on our local economy.” Ann Rye, president and chief executive officer of the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce, said its interest is in making
the city more attractive to those looking for a conference site and other groups to generate tourism and other revenues. “Here in Alexander City we’ve had to turn down a lot of opportunities to gain tourism dollars and the revenues that come with that because we don’t have the facilities that are appropriate,” said Rye. “Over the last year, we’ve been exploring what our opportunities are, beginning to make partnerships with the state and others. We are in the very early stages of putting all of this together.” When contacted Tuesday, Robinson said there had been discussions of the
proposed development at the state level. “I don’t know all the names of those involved, but I know that (Sen. Tom) Whatley and (Rep. Mark) Tuggle are both in favor of it,” Robinson said. “The discussion (centers around) a Jack Nicklaus-style golf course and a convention center as part of a resort with approximately 250 hotel rooms. That’s all being discussed.” Rye said that discussions with developers have been about a facility with “the appropriate amenities that would be expected at an upscale conference See HOTEL, Page A5
Pay hikes remain a budget concern By Mitch Sneed Outlook Editor
Alexander City’s recent issues with employee pay increases and how they were handled last year was evident as the City Council began the process of reviewing the proposed FY 2016 budget Tuesday afternoon. The council spent a good portion of the work session going through the city’s personnel authorization list, justifying increases requested by various city department heads. Finance Committee Chair Jim Spann said now is the perfect time to get questions answered, working as a team, to be the best possible stewards of taxpayers money. See BUDGET, Page A6
Today’s
Weather
83 65 High
Low
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
488.13 Reported on 9/16/15 @ 3 p.m.
Linda Shaffer, REALTOR® C: 256.794.4641 • W: 256.329.5253 shaffer@lakemartin.net 5295 Highway 280, Alexander City, AL
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54708 90050
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Submitted / The Outlook
This black cat and rabbit appear to have become friends and hang out in the downtown area. Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Above, crews clean drainage ditches and culverts in and around Brown’s Nursing Home Tuesday as drainage issues are addressed to prevent the kind of flooding in that area that occurred in July 2011 below.
City and railroad tackle drainage problem By Corey Arwood
Outlook Editor
Construction began this week on what is projected to be the solution for Brown Nursing Home’s floodwater problems. The project is a joint effort between the city and Norfolk Southern railroad to supply extra drainage measures in order to ensure that the nursing home does not flood like it has multiple times in the past. Gerard Brewer, city engineer and director of public works, said that there have been no problems so far with the project, and that it is expected to continue through Friday. A hydrological report was done a few years See DRAINAGE, Page A6
ADEM says odor is going away Outlook Staff Writer
The battle with Alexander City’s malodorous water continued at the city’s Adams Water Treatment Plant on Tuesday, but the stink is in full retreat, according to officials with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. After hearing back from
his inspector in the field, Dennis Harrison, chief of the Drinking Water Branch of ADEM’s Water Division, said the odor in the water should be completely gone in about a week. “They’ve flushed out the main lines and now they’re flushing out the hydrants on the edges of the system,” Harrison said. “That’s where the complaints are coming
Cat and rabbit are fast friends on city street By Mitch Sneed
Outlook Staff Writer
By David Granger
ANIMAL ODD COUPLE
from now. They’ve taken samples of algae to determine exactly what we’re looking at, but those won’t be back for two weeks. This episode should be over by then.” Harrison said the system began adding copper sulfate preventively on April 15 at a rate of four parts-per-million. The level of copper sulfate See WATER, Page A6
Opposites often attract. That is true among humans as well as in the in the animal kingdom. The Internet is loaded with strange pairings ranging from dogs nursing piglets to a monkey and a lion that have become besties. But Alexander City seems to have it’s own animal odd couple and the strange friendship plays out on the city streets almost every night. A black cat and a black rabbit have been spotted enjoying meals together, playing chase and just hanging out on numerous occasions in and along Green and Wheeler streets. The sightings have always come late at night or in the early morning hours. “I saw it one night and couldn’t believe,” Jessica Sneed said. “I told people and they didn’t believe me. But I go the same way when I leave for work, so when I went the next night there they were again– so I took a picture. I’ve seen See COUPLE, Page A5
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