WILMER COMMUNITY SEEKS FIRE DISTRICT STATUS
Wilmer residents and Fire Department volunteers are seeking petition signatures from Wilmer residents to establish a Wilmer Community Fire District. This petition, requiring the signatures of 100 landowners, would be presented to the Mobile County Commission in order to formally request a "Fire District" designation. Once the Fire District designation is granted, voters within the Wilmer Fire District boundary would be given the opportunity to vote for a Fire District assessment. Any assessment, if approved by voters, would be levied for the specific purpose of supporting the Wilmer Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) with safety equipment and other needed resources.
According to Alabama law, the Fire District would be governed by a Board of Directors consisting of five members elected at large within the Fire District. The Board would be responsible for setting VFD policy and approving annual budgets. Wilmer VFD currently utilizes 30 volunteers and, at present, receives no reimbursement for medical supplies used in patient care. There are over 80 calls per month and typically 65% of them are medical calls. The call volume, according to Wilmer VFD Deputy Chief Bill Donovan, has increased dramatically over the past two years due to responses to medical calls, fires, wrecks, and emergency citizen assists.
Seventy five percent of the Wilmer volunteer firefighters are trained first responders and include CPR instructors, Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), a fire investigator and instructor, and a Hazmat instructor. Volunteer firefighters enrolled in paramedic and EMT training pay training expenses out of their own pockets.
According to Deputy Chief Donovan, several members of the department are qualified to do technical rescue but cannot perform a technical rescue because the department does not have the necessary equipment.
"The source of funding that can be obtained by a Fire District through community support and a commitment to public safety can make the difference in a life or death situation." - Deputy Chief Bill Donovan
Please contact Laura Ayers at 605-0137 for petition information.
DISTRICT 2 ROAD
PROJECTS UPDATE
District 2 road projects are moving along toward completion. A summary follows:
*Firetower Road- Mobile County Project Number MCR-2008-202
The project's construction is substantially complete, with the exception of having a firm stand of permanent vegetation on the shoulders. Final documentation is 95% complete. In the spring vegetation will be established.
*John Shinn Road- Mobile County Project Number MCR-2004-205
Currently in design and construction for minor drainage modifications. 99% complete.
*Cody Road- Mobile County Project Number MCR-2006-010
Finishing placement of the remaining wearing surface, pavement striping, and establishing vegetation. 85% complete.
*Jeffrey Road and Wiggins Lane- Mobile County Project Number MCR-2008-203
Began work in January. 10% complete.
*Mack Hinton Road- Mobile County Project Number MCR-2008-204
Project is in design and bidding is anticipated to begin in early spring, 2011.
*Ziegler Blvd- City of Mobile and ALDOT Project
Forest Hill to Athey Drive 60% of design completed. Schillingers Road to Cody Road 40% of design completed.
*Old Shell Road- Mobile County and ALDOT Project
Anticipating completion in mid-April. 90% complete.
*Hwy. 98- ALDOT Project Improvements from Big Creek Lake to the Mississippi state line will begin this spring. This four-phase project has an expected completion date in late 2012.
*Big Creek Lake Bridge extension will begin in the spring of 2011.
*The Glenwood Overpass and the Connector (which will connect Schillinger to the end of the Big Creek Lake Bridge) phases are expected to begin in late 2011.
*The final phase is a base and pave project that is expected to be completed in late 2012.
UPDATE: COUNTY FUNDED ROAD PROJECTS IN THE CITY OF MOBILE
According to City Engineer Nick Amberger, improvement or resurfacing road projects in the city limits of Mobile, paid for through the Mobile County Pay-As-You-Go Program, are tentatively scheduled to start construction as early as May.
"We are grateful for the Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) Program and for the direction of dollars into City infrastructure. It has advanced the resurfacing needs significantly," said Amberger.
Click Here to view a complete list of the streets within the city limits of Mobile included in the PAYGO program using the Mobile County PAYGO funding.
COUNTY FINANCES AT A GLANCE
According to Michelle Herman, Mobile County Finance Director, the County General Fund ended fiscal year 2010 with revenues of $121,757,350.76. The budget was amended during the fiscal year as result of a 2% budget reduction. The County ended the fiscal year with a 2.12% positive variance to the amended budget. Click the links below to view a breakdown of the County's year end financial update.
Executive Summary EOY Report 2010General Fund Revenues 2010Sales Tax Chart 2010 EOYGeneral Fund Budget Report 2010 EOYFuel Chart 2010 EOYPLANNED EXPANSION OF RECYCLING SERVICES
Plans are in the preliminary stages to expand recycling services by providing a recycling drop-off facility in or near the densely populated area of west Mobile City/County. Currently, Commissioner Hudson is working with Mobile County Environmental Services personnel to identify a possible location to build a recycling drop-off center. Funding for the project would be obtained through a Conservation Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) federal grant designed to directly or indirectly benefit the natural coastal environment. Once constructed, the center's services would be contracted out to a private or non-profit entity. Stay tuned for progress updates!