Decision Imminent On Fairhope BP Project Proposals

Fairhope, Alabama

Alabama Recovery Council

ANNOUNCEMENT EXPECTED

A decision by the ten member Alabama Gulf Coast Recovery Council is expected on March 7th about the fate of four projects submitted by the city of Fairhope (out of a total of 330 submitted) to distribute about $160 million in Clean Water Act fines awarded the state resulting from the BP Oil Spill disaster in 2010.

Jo Bonner is the council's chairman and  various area mayors are ex-officio members, including Mayor Wilson.

 Fairhope's proposed projects (totaling over $17 million) are:

* Project # 331 requests $650,000 to "develop a community based comprehensive plan ... that will incorporate all previous planning efforts  ... and create a long-term vision in the planning jurisdiction."

* Project # 332 requests $6.2 million to "provide a working waterfront including public spaces ... contribute to the re-development of the city's clean marina on Fly Creek ... implement recommendations of the Beach Management Plan ... and a comprehensive bluff and shoreline stabilization plan ... and planning and re-development of waterfront park areas."

* Project # 396 requests $10 million for sewer system upgrades including "complete replacement of four main pumping stations .... and rehabilitation of major gravity and clay collection lines."

* Project # 412 requests $1 million to "develop a sanitary sewer overflow prevention plan to ... identify short term needs ... to capture excess flows into the sewer system to provide environmental protection for Mobile Bay."

 
IMPACTS TO CITY BUDGET

How the city will fund the projects if its proposals are rejected by the Recovery Council could have significant impact on city budgets, especially the $10 million upgrade to the sewage collection system and for the working waterfront marina, both are already in the early stages of implementation.


STILL NEEDS FEDERAL APPROVAL

According to the confusing decision-making flow chart, after a 'final state expenditure plan' is approved, it still must be submitted to the Federal Restoration Council for its approval before grants can be made by the US Treasury.

Currently the process appears to be moving through the upper right boxes on the chart.




Comments

Anonymous said…
wouldn't count on getting anything.