Reapportionment

You may have read about redistricting of the Alabama legislature. You probably haven't yet seen how Chickasaw fared. As you may know, I worked very hard to protect our interests in the reapportionment process. As we have seen with water and education issues, the makeup of our legislative delegation is critical for our future as a city. I was in constant contact with legislators, and I even formally addressed the  joint reapportionment committee. At the end of the day, we did fairly well. We came out of the process with more legislators, which is a plus for Chickasaw, and we ended up with a bipartisan delegation as well. That will ensure that Chickasaw residents who identify with either party will have representation. That will also provide our city with a voice in both caucuses. Introducing our new legislative delegation, per Rep. Davis:

Senator Rusty Glover, R-Semmes
Rep. Randy Davis, R-Daphne
Rep. Napoleon Bracy, D-Prichard
Rep. Yvonne Kennedy, D-Mobile

The biggest change is that we have a new senator. I have been very pleased with Senator Figures' prior representation. However, in the long-term, Senate District 34 is probably a better fit for Chickasaw, given that the majority of our citizens typically vote in Republican primaries. Reps. Davis and Bracy have done a good job for us, and I am pleased that we will continue to have them represent us. Another change is that Rep. Kennedy will represent a portion of our city going forward. Rep. Kennedy's seniority and experience in the House should be of benefit to our city.

Click here to read about our new representatives and to obtain their contact information.

Council Meeting

Summary from tonight's meeting:

$25,333.16 in accounts payable approved.

$3,313,118 in revenue, October through March, 2012.

0 fires reported for the second month in a row!

I seconded a motion to send a letter of support for an upcoming dog park contest.

Reappointed Diane Ingram to the City School Board.

I seconded a motion to purchase new fencing for the city pool at a cost of only $800.

Council Meeting

We discussed several public safety issues during the work session. Tough law enforcement continues to be a priority. On a related note, we commended three public safety officers for saving the lives of two men in Chickasaw. There is perhaps no higher calling than protecting friends and neighbors, and I am so thankful for our police and fire personnel, who do such a great job day in and day out. Three derelict houses were condemned and torn down this week. Little by little, we continue to clean up our city. I reported on $33,910.65 in accounts payable. I also gave a report about recent upgrades at the city library.

Yesterday's Local 15 News

Thoughts on the School Split

In reflecting on the recently finalized school split, I remembered the obstacles we have faced and overcome as a city.  We had to educate people and ourselves about Alabama's complicated, state-based education financing system, recognizing that the city school system is its own public entity with its own funding sources, with no relationship to the budget of the city government.

We had to beat back a proposal in the legislature that would have stopped the school separation in its tracks.  We had to fight a large public relations machine at the county school system to get information out to the people.  We even had to stop a threatened lawsuit, while we awaited an attorney general's opinion favorable to our position as a city.

We have come out of that process with a positive separation agreement that will aid Chickasaw in its efforts for years to come.  Now, our school board is working to recruit a top notch superintendent who will help us put the rest of the pieces of this puzzle together. 

I know there continue to be skeptics out there, and that is OK.  We need that input as well.  I only ask you to remember that education is the foundation of any community.  When education is not up to par, the entire community is at risk of failure, with more public safety challenges and steadily declining property values.  As a city government and as a community, we knew we could not complete the revitalization of our city without excellent community schools.  We are almost there, and our city is about to break through to the next level.  Our people built the ships that won WWII and manned the paper plants that are now too a part of history.  We can certainly build a school system for the next generation.