Fairhope, Alabama
Update 2: The 4 PM special council meeting has been canceled and rescheduled for tomorrow at noon.
Update 1: Council President Burrell contacted us later and said he "did not know yet" if the special meeting about the K-1 would be canceled.
POSSIBLE HURRICANE APPROACHING
The city council work session called for tomorrow at 4:30 PM by Mayor Wilson has been called off (by the mayor) due to the approaching tropical storm.
She is also asking that a special city council meeting called by the council president for just before (4 PM) concerning the K-1 purchase also be canceled, to allow more time for public input.
It is our understanding that only the city council or presiding officer may cancel a council meeting.
We have reached out to council president Burrell for comment, but have as yet received no reply.
MAYOR'S STATEMENTS
Wilson's statement late Monday afternoon:
"I have communicated with Council President Burrell about the K-1 Center property purchase and taking this opportunity to discuss all property owned by BCBE in our City (Nix Center land, K-1 “Fairhoper’s” Park and the Alternative School).
I expressed to him the importance of transparency with all possibilities for the best use of the K-1 property and how its future use needs to be communicated with all stakeholders. There should also be a feasibility study done. These decisions have long lasting effects on our City and should not be rushed. We should not repeat past mistakes.
Update 2: The 4 PM special council meeting has been canceled and rescheduled for tomorrow at noon.
Update 1: Council President Burrell contacted us later and said he "did not know yet" if the special meeting about the K-1 would be canceled.
POSSIBLE HURRICANE APPROACHING
The city council work session called for tomorrow at 4:30 PM by Mayor Wilson has been called off (by the mayor) due to the approaching tropical storm.
She is also asking that a special city council meeting called by the council president for just before (4 PM) concerning the K-1 purchase also be canceled, to allow more time for public input.
It is our understanding that only the city council or presiding officer may cancel a council meeting.
We have reached out to council president Burrell for comment, but have as yet received no reply.
MAYOR'S STATEMENTS
Wilson's statement late Monday afternoon:
"I have communicated with Council President Burrell about the K-1 Center property purchase and taking this opportunity to discuss all property owned by BCBE in our City (Nix Center land, K-1 “Fairhoper’s” Park and the Alternative School).
I expressed to him the importance of transparency with all possibilities for the best use of the K-1 property and how its future use needs to be communicated with all stakeholders. There should also be a feasibility study done. These decisions have long lasting effects on our City and should not be rushed. We should not repeat past mistakes.
This is why I was surprised to receive the notice at 5:05pm on Friday,
before the long Labor Day weekend, when people were busy getting ready
to spend time with their families and not concerned with City business,
about a Special Called City Council meeting to approve a “Resolution to
Authorize the Council President to execute a Real Estate Purchase
Agreement for properties owned by the Baldwin County Board of Education”
for Tuesday 4pm.
Rushing the city into real estate deals without public participation and input by stakeholders is an inappropriate way to conduct business. Fairhope citizens are unaware of the developments concerning these properties and alternate opportunities.
If the rest of Council truly wants to be transparent and make proper decisions, they will cancel this meeting and make certain all facts are presented in a public forum before we move forward on spending millions of tax dollars.
In addition, due to expected weather associated with Tropical Storm Gordon, I will be canceling the specially called work session to discuss the budget at 4:30pm."
Rushing the city into real estate deals without public participation and input by stakeholders is an inappropriate way to conduct business. Fairhope citizens are unaware of the developments concerning these properties and alternate opportunities.
If the rest of Council truly wants to be transparent and make proper decisions, they will cancel this meeting and make certain all facts are presented in a public forum before we move forward on spending millions of tax dollars.
In addition, due to expected weather associated with Tropical Storm Gordon, I will be canceling the specially called work session to discuss the budget at 4:30pm."
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