How Fairhope, AL was Founded

True Cooperative Individualism

    E. B. Gaston

    [an argument on the plan of Fairhope Industrial Association, prepared 1894]

    The present social and economic order is doomed. In the height of its marvelous achievements it bears within itself the seeds of its own destruction. Clear headed economists and warm hearted philanthropists long ago pointed out and denounced its enormous waste of human energy and natural resources and its hideous injustice and cruelty. It has been "weighed in the balance and found wanting." It must go! that is settled! but the very serious fear presents itself that we who now recognize and denounce its evils and are striving to unite a majority of its victims for its overthrow, may go before it goes -- in waiting the slow movement of majorities.

    To the one who has the true spirit of a reformer present conditions are almost unbearable. Even though his own financial and social standing may be secure; the injustice and attendant want, misery, hardships and despair everywhere apparent fill his life with sadness -- but the qualities of mind and heart which mark the reformer and philanthropist are a serious disqualification for financial success under existing conditions.

Daphne City Council Meeting 9-3-2013

At Tuesday night’s meeting, the Daphne City Council scheduled a special session to hear a reading of the proposed city budget after the Work Session on September 23 at 6:30. Council President Ron Scott requested the summary pages of the proposed budget be placed on the city’s website noting, “I think that would help the public to see in general what we are talking about.”

“We’ve gone through this fight in the past,” remarked Councilman John Lake, “... and we were told by the Attorney General’s office at that time through verbal communications and that, that the proposed budget even though it was not passed was public information. I would like to have a copy of the proposed budget on display in city hall and the library.”

Tar Sands Oil Mobile Coalition Meeting

      

 The third organizational and information sharing meeting of the citizen coalition group Tar Sands Oil Mobile was held at the Five Rivers complex on the Causeway at 7 PM on Tuesday September 3, 2013. Mobile County Health Officer Dr. Bert Eichold, University of South Alabama Surgeon Dr. Charles B. Rodning, MD and Vascular Specialist Dr. Ralph Pfeiffer, MD were three doctors recruited by the group to give a presentation on the risks of petroleum chemicals in an urban area as well as health risks and side effects of being exposed to the substances commonly carried on the streets, railroads and pipelines of MobileCounty.

Fairhope's ACE Survey Results

  “Fairhope has never had a strategic plan,” Mayor Tim Kant said at a recent Alabama Communities of Excellence meeting held at the Fairhope Civic Center on Friday September 6, at 9:00am. “We tried it a little bit four years ago and it kind of got stopped but now we are actually going to have one, I hope, when we get through with this in the next eight months. Our comprehensive plan, we are in the process of updating that, looking at what we can do to improve that.”

The Alabama Communities of Excellence is a non-profit organization designed to assist communities in achieving long-term economic success by providing them with technical assistance. The ACE program recently increased their maximum population requirement to 18,000 from 15,000 to be able to accept Fairhope as an applicant. Communities of at least 2,000 may apply and ACE selects communities for participation based on the level of local commitment and the individual community’s ability to support the ACE program.

Park City Water Authority -Daphne, Al

UPDATE 9-8-2013:

Calls to the Water Authority office on Thursday morning were answered by office manager Stacey Quaites, the only full time employee of PCWA, "Other employees are contract employees," she noted. When asked if the water authority had a public budget it operated under, "Yes," she replied. "They can give you all of the information you need at the next board meeting." The next work session of the board is Monday, September 9, and the next regular meeting is Tuesday, September 10. Both meetings start at 5:30pm. Emails to the board members have not been returned as of press time. Park City Water Authority meets the second Tuesday each month and is located at 6642 Park Drive Suite A, Daphne, AL 36526.

 ORIGINAL STORY 9-4-2013

     Park City Water Authority provides water service for approximately 410 customers located in a small community within Daphne city limits called Park City. It has been in operation since 1977 with an agreement from Daphne Utilities who provides the Authority with the water it then resells to its customers. Current water rates at the Authority are $22.28 for the first 1,500 gallons and $7.00 for each additional 1,000 gallons. This compares to Daphne Utilities rates which as of October 1^st are $12.77 for the first 1,000 gallons and $2.78 for each additional unit of 1,000 gallons.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates the average American household family of four can consume up to 400 gallons of water per day. This equates to an average of 12,000 gallons per month. If the average household consumes 12,000 gallons of water per month, the average Daphne Utilities customer would pay $43.35 while the average Park City Water Authority customer would pay $99.28.