Fairhope, Alabama
fairhopetimes@att.net
CONTROVERSY CONTINUES
The mayor and city council will discuss the various options facing them for Knoll Park at the regularly scheduled Strategic Planning Committee meeting this Tuesday, Feb. 11th at 5 PM in the council chamber at city hall.
Citizens from all perspectives are encouraged to attend.
Although the project was begun in 2007 when then council President Gentle appointed the Knoll Park Committee, no written plans for management or maintenance have ever been approved by the city council
(The sign at right was erected recently by the Knoll Park Committee, not the city, possibly prematurely since the council has yet to decide the park's future.)
Some options previously mentioned:
* Continue the long leaf pine forest restoration project as is, with periodic prescribed burns.
* Continue the project and add a hedge along Magnolia Ave. (3 ,7 gallon viburnum and beauty berry)
* Modify the project by omitting the periodic prescribed burns; using other mechanical maintenance
techniques instead
* End the project and maintain the park like every other city park.
* Move the project to the existing long leaf forest on the Triangle property recently purchased by the
city.
* Some combination of the above.
HEDGE PLANTING DELAYED
At the last council meeting work session (Jan 23rd), Public Works Director Fidler said she was planning to proceed with the installation of the perimeter hedge along Magnolia Ave. the following week -- but was asked by the council to hold off until the Tuesday meeting (Feb. 11th). Mayor Kant missed this meeting -- due to illness.
The hedge, designed to make the park look more like the rest of Fairhope, was originally included in the park's maintenance plan -- but was taken out at the last minute by the KPC.
Fidler said the committee decided to take it out of the written plan to "give the city more flexibility," but it was ok with the city planting it anyway.
COMMITTEE'S PLAN FINALLY RELEASED
The week after the Jan 23rd work session (video below), the council finally received the long-awaited Management and Maintenance plans from the KPC (via member Fidler). The plans were voted on and approved by the Knoll Park Committee at a meeting on Dec. 9th; the two representatives from the city were not present.
The Management Plan is a 14 page document prepared by David Dyson (husband of KPC member Peggy Dyson) that outlines the overall objectives of the restoration project; and the Maintenance (work plan) a 5 page document describing specific activities to be undertaken.
(An entire section of the Management Plan (Section 4.4) was deleted by the committee at its December 9th meeting, when the overall plan was voted on and adopted. Members Fidler and Mike Ford were not present. The section refers to adding a hedge along Magnolia Ave. and conforming the trails with the Americans with Disabilities Act: "The committee felt that this section was too specific and might, if adopted, lead to problems in current or future park management ... .")
Both plans prominently highlight the necessity for periodic burning of the property: "Above all, the primary ingredient to successful restoration is the use of frequent prescribed fire ... ."
The work plan divides the park into three compartments (by streets and mulch walking tails) -- and calls for each to be burned off periodically not longer than every 2-3 years.
Besides burning, other maintenance activities mentioned include:
* remove unwanted semi-woody vines and other broad leaf species by hand or using herbicide sprays
* remove dead trees and down woody material (limbs, branches, etc) greater than 2 inches in diameter
* occasional planting of native plants
(The plans do not specify who is to perform the maintenance.)
POINTS OF CONTENTION
Before seeing the plans, Councilman Boone called the park an eyesore and called for a return to regular
city maintenance (citing photographs from the 1960s). Boone said that to him, "natural isn't beautiful."
Councilman Mueller agreed and thought the city's recent purchase of the Dyas Triangle property had changed the equation because of the existing 70+ acres of long leaf pine forest there. He has said the project ought to be re-located to the Triangle.
Citing health-related complaints from neighborhood residents (smoke), Mayor Kant has objected to the periodic burning -- as have Mueller and Boone. Kant also said he receives many complaints about the unkempt appearance of the park.
Councilman Ford has also expressed concerns about the unkempt appearance of the park and said another location may be better (ie. the Colony Nature Park).
Ford told the Times recently he still hasn't made up his mind though.
To date, council members Burrell and Brewer have been non-committal -- but generally have been supportive of continuing the project with their comments. They said they wanted to see the committee's plans, as a first step.
The new plans do not specify who will be responsible for doing maintenance there; but the mayor has already said the city's public works department should be responsible since the city owns the property; Councilman Ford has said the KPC does not want the city to be involved in the maintenance in any fashion.
COMMITTEE'S FOUNDATIONS QUESTIONED
The mayor and other council members have questioned the Knoll Park Committee's legitimacy since no written records exist concerning its formation.
KPC members claim it was formed as a private Single Tax Corporation Committee only -- and is exempt from state laws governing other city committees; but the mayor has said since it was appointed by a former council president in 2007 (Gentle) and has 2 representatives from the city, it should have been operating the same as the other committees (per the state Open Meetings Act).
Council President Burrell at the Jan. 23rd work session: "If its appointed by the council president ... then I think its a city committee ... no way to get around that ... ."
Councilman Mueller: "We own the property ... the committee works for us ... ."
Burrell: "Whether its a city committee, a Single Tax, or whatever it is ... we owe them the courtesy of reviewing their recommendations."
Mueller: "We have options now we didn't have before (Dyas property) ... ."
Burrell: "We'll debate that on the 11th ... ."
The mayor was absent from this meeting due to illness, according to Burrell.
CONTROVERSY CONTINUES
The mayor and city council will discuss the various options facing them for Knoll Park at the regularly scheduled Strategic Planning Committee meeting this Tuesday, Feb. 11th at 5 PM in the council chamber at city hall.
Citizens from all perspectives are encouraged to attend.
Although the project was begun in 2007 when then council President Gentle appointed the Knoll Park Committee, no written plans for management or maintenance have ever been approved by the city council
(The sign at right was erected recently by the Knoll Park Committee, not the city, possibly prematurely since the council has yet to decide the park's future.)
Some options previously mentioned:
* Continue the long leaf pine forest restoration project as is, with periodic prescribed burns.
* Continue the project and add a hedge along Magnolia Ave. (3 ,7 gallon viburnum and beauty berry)
* Modify the project by omitting the periodic prescribed burns; using other mechanical maintenance
techniques instead
* End the project and maintain the park like every other city park.
* Move the project to the existing long leaf forest on the Triangle property recently purchased by the
city.
* Some combination of the above.
HEDGE PLANTING DELAYED
At the last council meeting work session (Jan 23rd), Public Works Director Fidler said she was planning to proceed with the installation of the perimeter hedge along Magnolia Ave. the following week -- but was asked by the council to hold off until the Tuesday meeting (Feb. 11th). Mayor Kant missed this meeting -- due to illness.
The hedge, designed to make the park look more like the rest of Fairhope, was originally included in the park's maintenance plan -- but was taken out at the last minute by the KPC.
Fidler said the committee decided to take it out of the written plan to "give the city more flexibility," but it was ok with the city planting it anyway.
COMMITTEE'S PLAN FINALLY RELEASED
The week after the Jan 23rd work session (video below), the council finally received the long-awaited Management and Maintenance plans from the KPC (via member Fidler). The plans were voted on and approved by the Knoll Park Committee at a meeting on Dec. 9th; the two representatives from the city were not present.
The Management Plan is a 14 page document prepared by David Dyson (husband of KPC member Peggy Dyson) that outlines the overall objectives of the restoration project; and the Maintenance (work plan) a 5 page document describing specific activities to be undertaken.
(An entire section of the Management Plan (Section 4.4) was deleted by the committee at its December 9th meeting, when the overall plan was voted on and adopted. Members Fidler and Mike Ford were not present. The section refers to adding a hedge along Magnolia Ave. and conforming the trails with the Americans with Disabilities Act: "The committee felt that this section was too specific and might, if adopted, lead to problems in current or future park management ... .")
Both plans prominently highlight the necessity for periodic burning of the property: "Above all, the primary ingredient to successful restoration is the use of frequent prescribed fire ... ."
The work plan divides the park into three compartments (by streets and mulch walking tails) -- and calls for each to be burned off periodically not longer than every 2-3 years.
Besides burning, other maintenance activities mentioned include:
* remove unwanted semi-woody vines and other broad leaf species by hand or using herbicide sprays
* remove dead trees and down woody material (limbs, branches, etc) greater than 2 inches in diameter
* occasional planting of native plants
(The plans do not specify who is to perform the maintenance.)
POINTS OF CONTENTION
city maintenance (citing photographs from the 1960s). Boone said that to him, "natural isn't beautiful."
Councilman Mueller agreed and thought the city's recent purchase of the Dyas Triangle property had changed the equation because of the existing 70+ acres of long leaf pine forest there. He has said the project ought to be re-located to the Triangle.
Citing health-related complaints from neighborhood residents (smoke), Mayor Kant has objected to the periodic burning -- as have Mueller and Boone. Kant also said he receives many complaints about the unkempt appearance of the park.
Councilman Ford has also expressed concerns about the unkempt appearance of the park and said another location may be better (ie. the Colony Nature Park).
Ford told the Times recently he still hasn't made up his mind though.
To date, council members Burrell and Brewer have been non-committal -- but generally have been supportive of continuing the project with their comments. They said they wanted to see the committee's plans, as a first step.
The new plans do not specify who will be responsible for doing maintenance there; but the mayor has already said the city's public works department should be responsible since the city owns the property; Councilman Ford has said the KPC does not want the city to be involved in the maintenance in any fashion.
COMMITTEE'S FOUNDATIONS QUESTIONED
The mayor and other council members have questioned the Knoll Park Committee's legitimacy since no written records exist concerning its formation.KPC members claim it was formed as a private Single Tax Corporation Committee only -- and is exempt from state laws governing other city committees; but the mayor has said since it was appointed by a former council president in 2007 (Gentle) and has 2 representatives from the city, it should have been operating the same as the other committees (per the state Open Meetings Act).
Council President Burrell at the Jan. 23rd work session: "If its appointed by the council president ... then I think its a city committee ... no way to get around that ... ."
Councilman Mueller: "We own the property ... the committee works for us ... ."
Burrell: "Whether its a city committee, a Single Tax, or whatever it is ... we owe them the courtesy of reviewing their recommendations."
Mueller: "We have options now we didn't have before (Dyas property) ... ."
Burrell: "We'll debate that on the 11th ... ."
The mayor was absent from this meeting due to illness, according to Burrell.
Comments
Perhaps the city will come up with the same course of action from that controversy---Nothing.
Look at recent news concerning "citizen committees". We're just dealing with all the death of all those stupid endless talking committees created around 2005-2009 to entertain retired former big shots (or wanna be big shots) from elsewhere. They were bored after retiring to good ole FH because the spouse liked the flowers. Most of them have either moved away (after rereading their personal manifesto at every club meeting and civic gathering) or have gotten too old to get out anymore or have realized it was just silly.
The committees were formed recklessly either for spite (I'll show you) of one politician against another, or to just give a complainer something to do. They seldom kept real minutes/notes and were having trouble gathering a quorum by 2010, much less today. That's how we got bike lanes to nowhere, from nowhere and for about three weeks in 2011 plaid streets. JUST FILE THEIR REPORT, SAY THANK YOU AND MOVE ON.