Mrs. Quinn responded recently to criticisms directed at her regarding some construction funding issues:
A 2008 Fairhope Courier article reported:
FAIRHOPE, ALA. — They’re not as young as they once were, but Billy Michaloupolos and Jared Glattli are hardly over the hill.
And though 40 might still seem ancient to them, as the main leaders who started promoting a city skateboard park more than 10 years ago while students at Fairhope High School, they have become the acknowledged “elders” of the local skateboard community.
“It goes as far back as 1996,” said Michaloupolos, 28. “Jared and I started collecting signatures on petitions and taking them to City Hall when we were still in high school.”
The skateboarders eventually found an official supporter in City Councilwoman Debbie Quinn, who helped organize several meetings and public hearings during the past two years, which further galvanized community support for the idea.
That work paid off Monday night when the city announced that bids would go out this week for construction of the Fairhope Skate Plaza project.
“We’re projecting completion in late spring,” said Eddie Boyette, the city’s director of parks and recreation. “I think these young people should be applauded.”
Boyette showed plans for the project, a 4,000-to 5,000-square-foot triangular-shaped plaza of sidewalks, concrete pads, steps, rails and other skating obstacles, that will wind through the pine trees at Volanta Municipal Park west of Greeno Road. He said the cost of the project would be between $90,000 and $100,000.
The project is funded by a state community development grant of $38,000, to be matched in cash or services by the city, and and an anonymous private donation of $25,000, Boyette said.
* * * * * * *
Some of the "deficiencies in the procurement process" were mentioned in a Aug. 10, 2009 letter from ADECA to Mayor Kant. (According to informed sources, some of the issues mentioned may have subsequently been resolved). Some additions to the park are currently being contemplated as well.
A description of the project and its funding was given at a January 2008 council meeting.
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Quinn made some comments earlier this year as well:
A 2008 Fairhope Courier article reported:
FAIRHOPE, ALA. — They’re not as young as they once were, but Billy Michaloupolos and Jared Glattli are hardly over the hill.
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“It goes as far back as 1996,” said Michaloupolos, 28. “Jared and I started collecting signatures on petitions and taking them to City Hall when we were still in high school.”
The skateboarders eventually found an official supporter in City Councilwoman Debbie Quinn, who helped organize several meetings and public hearings during the past two years, which further galvanized community support for the idea.
That work paid off Monday night when the city announced that bids would go out this week for construction of the Fairhope Skate Plaza project.
“We’re projecting completion in late spring,” said Eddie Boyette, the city’s director of parks and recreation. “I think these young people should be applauded.”
Boyette showed plans for the project, a 4,000-to 5,000-square-foot triangular-shaped plaza of sidewalks, concrete pads, steps, rails and other skating obstacles, that will wind through the pine trees at Volanta Municipal Park west of Greeno Road. He said the cost of the project would be between $90,000 and $100,000.
The project is funded by a state community development grant of $38,000, to be matched in cash or services by the city, and and an anonymous private donation of $25,000, Boyette said.
* * * * * * *
Some of the "deficiencies in the procurement process" were mentioned in a Aug. 10, 2009 letter from ADECA to Mayor Kant. (According to informed sources, some of the issues mentioned may have subsequently been resolved). Some additions to the park are currently being contemplated as well.
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A description of the project and its funding was given at a January 2008 council meeting.
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| click on to enlarge |
Quinn made some comments earlier this year as well:
HURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2010
Skateboard Park May Finally be Completed/ Bridge Deficient/ other issues
At the last Council meeting, Councilmember Quinn said she hoped a new grant application could soon be submitted to ADECA (state)-- and used to finally complete the controversial Volanta Skate Park.
Quinn said administrative errors made by the City administration (on the 2008 grant application) were the reason the grant has yet to be awarded.
Quinn also said a bridge on CR 44 cannot handle heavy trucks (fire trucks), large trucks are soon to be banned from N. Scenic 98, and the council is seeking to study whether having garbage collected by a private company may, or may not be, more cost-effective.
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