MESSAGE FROM COMMISSIONER CONNIE HUDSON      

September 11, 2011 marks the 10th Anniversary of the most devastating attacks ever perpetrated on our Country. To honor the memory of the victims and the responders who lost their lives fighting terrorism on September 11, 2001, Mobile Bay Remembers September 11, 2011: Tenth Anniversary will showcase a series of exhibits, events, community involvement and demonstrations to remember and honor the victims and heroes of 9/11. Activities will include the Tunnel to Towers Run/Walk and a Sunrise Service at the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park. Also, the Museum of Mobile will host an exhibition, "Recovery: September 11, 2001, The World Trade Center and the Aftermath", which opens September 11. Certainly as life in America has been dramatically affected for us all by the events of 9/11, let us set aside a quiet time for reflection and remembrance and also celebrate life, our many blessings, and the resilience of the human spirit.   

Please send this newsletter to your family and friends so we can better communicate with them!

Georgetown area residents will be asked next month to vote on a proposal to create a fire district for the Georgetown/Fellowship Volunteer Fire Department. The vote which will be held October 4, at Georgetown Baptist Church on Lott Road, requires two ballot issues to pass, one to create the District and one to fund it in the amount of $35 per year for each residence and business in the District. Anyone who is exempted from property taxes will also be exempt from the District Fee. The District will be managed by a board of five community members, who will be elected from the community. The first board will be composed of the following five members: Paul Burch, Janeth Lord, Jack Hann, Michael Davidson and Norman Turner. 

• October 27: Orientation and Overview led by Commissioners Merceria Ludgood, Connie Hudson and Mike Dean.
• November 17: Public Works led by County Engineer Joe Ruffer.
• January 19: Law Enforcement led by Mobile County Sheriff Sam Cochran. 
• February 16: County Finances led by Director of Finance Michelle Herman with License Commissioner Kim Hastie, Revenue Commissioner Marilyn Wood and Treasurer Al Sessions.
• March 15: Animal Control/Environmental Control and Probate Court led by General Services Director Donna Jones and Probate Court Judge Don Davis.
• April 19: Youth Crime led by Juvenile Judge Edmond Naman.
• May 17: Parks and Graduation Ceremony led my Commissioners and Park Manager Tom Hudson.

The City of Semmes recently annexed the following roads by city ordinance. Per Alabama law, streets annexed by a new municipality after the original incorporation will not fall under the two-year maintenance agreement with the County. They will immediately enter the City of Semmes road inventory for maintenance.

-Firetower Road beginning at a point 1460 feet south of the center line of Moffett Road and 1073 feet to the Semmes City limit.

-Summit Drive East beginning at a point 60 feet south of the center line of Sunman Drive.

COUNTY FINANCES AT A GLANCE

The July 2011 Budget Report reflects expenditures and revenues through 83% of fiscal 2011. Through July we collected 76.90% of budgeted revenues. The budget report shows budgeted and actual expenditures by function. Through the end of July, 74.45% of the budget was expended. Other uses and transfers stand at 48.75%. Health and Welfare expenditures are paid on a quarterly basis so the percentage expended is within the expected range.

Financial Update as of July 2011 

DISTRICT 2 ROAD  

DISTRICT TWO

SUMMER CALENDAR

BROWN BAG IN BIENVILLE   

When: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays, September 7 through October 26    

Where: Bienville Square, Downtown Mobile 

Bring your blanket and bagged lunch and enjoy free entertainment featuring local and regional artists playing a mix of blues, pop and jazz.   

For more information Click Here to view the City of Mobile Neighborhood and Community Services website.    

LODA LIVE MUSIC FESTIVAL

SUNRISE SERVICE IN HONOR
MEMORY OF 9/11 VICTIMS 

When: 6:30 a.m. Sunday, September 11 

Where: Battleship Park, 2703 Battleship Parkway, Mobile

As a kick-off to the Tunnel to Tower Run, this service will be held to honor those who lost their lives during the events of September 11, 2001. 

TUNNEL TO TOWER RUN HONORS HEROES OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 

PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK AUDITIONS FOR FALL AND HOLIDAY SHOWS 

Those auditioning for the October production of "Nightmares II" should be ages 13 and up to mid-20's and be prepared to read from a provided script.   

Those auditioning for the holiday production of "A Christmas Carol- The Musical" should be ages 6 through mid-20's and be prepared to sing a short song (may bring a CD for accompaniment) and possibly read from a provided script.

JULIEN MARX DOG PARK GROUNDBREAKING

4TH SATURDAYS DOWNTOWN  

When: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, September 24     

Where: Cathedral Square Gallery, 612 Dauphin Street, Mobile 

Featuring artists at work; sidewalk sale; scavenger hunt, printmaking, prizes for kids; lemonade, and refreshments; silent auction; live music. 

For more information call 251-694-0278 or Click Here.  

GOODWILL EASTER SEALS WALK WITH ME FUNDRAISER  

BAYFEST MUSIC FESTIVAL 

When: October 7 through October 9 

Where: Downtown Mobile  

Come see over125 live musical acts including 3 Doors Down, Blake Shelton, Duran Duran, and Jill Scott at the 17th annual Bayfest.  

Cost: $45 Weekend Pass, Group discounts available, Children 12 and under admitted free with a ticketed adult.

For more information or to purchase tickets Click Here or call 208-7835. 

MOBILE BOTANICAL GARDENS  

Mobile Botanical Gardens is pleased to announce a schedule of new classes and programs for fall. A variety of opportunities for horticultural fun and education will be offered. Brief descriptions of the one day class series follows, and more information is available at www.mobilebotanicalgardens.org. To register for any of these programs, call 342-0555 or Click Here to visit the MBG website. All classes will be held at Mobile Botanical Gardens unless otherwise stated.

One Day Classes

Cost: $25 MBG members; $35 non-members (unless noted).

Fall Vegetable Gardening

9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 10  

A Fall garden provides many delicious winter vegetables, plus a head start on Spring planting. Get yours off to a good start with Bill Finch's low maintenance veggie garden strategies.

Shade Gardening

6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. 
Tuesday, September 13 

No sunlight in your yard? No problem! Create a beautiful landscape with shade-loving plants.

Herb Day 2011

9:00 a.m. to noon Saturday, September 24    

Sponsored by MBG and the Gulf Coast Herb Society. Includes seminar, cooking demonstration with Bill and Vikki Finch, light lunch and door prizes. Hard to find herbs and gifts will be for sale. Cost: $25 Advance registration required. Click Here to register.  

For additional information on City of Mobile calendar events, please Click Here.   

SPOTLIGHT ON COUNTY SERVICES

Each edition of the District 2 E-Newsletter will highlight an area of service, service agency, or a county service that is funded by the Mobile County Commission.

PROBATE COURT    

The Mobile County Probate Court under the direction and authority of Judge of Probate, Don Davis, is the third branch of the Mobile County government system.  Alabama's probate courts are unique because the judge of probate has ministerial responsibilities in addition to judicial responsibilities. Judge Davis has served in his present elected position since 2000.  

In the Alabama legal system the probate court is a family court, touching citizens literally from "cradle to grave". The court has judicial responsibility for adoptions, the involuntary commitment of seriously mentally ill adults, guardianships and conservatorships for orphaned children, guardianships and conservatorships for incapacitated adults, eminent domain matters (condemnation of privately owned property for public use), name changes of children and adults, and estate administration when persons die with assets to be distributed.   

The Judge of Probate is  the custodian of the public records of the County. Important documents such as deeds and mortgages are filed in the Court and must be indexed and maintained in a manner to enable convenient public access to these documents.  In this role the Court, along with the Revenue Commissioner and License Commissioner, collects taxes and fees which fund  Mobile County's operations and also provides funding to the State of Alabama.  The Judge of Probate is the chief election officer of the County and along with the Sheriff and Circuit Court Clerk, serves on the boards which appoint poll workers and count the votes at elections.  The judge is also responsible for organizing elections and training the poll workers, a fundamental role in the protection of Mobile County citizens' constitutional rights.

Additionally, the Judge of Probate is  responsible for the issuance of marriage licenses and the appointment of notaries public in the County. As a courtesy to Mobile County citizens, an administrator of the Court performs wedding ceremonies at the Court at no expense to the marrying couple. 

For hours of operation call 574-8502 or for more information Click Here to visit the Probate Court website.

KUDOS AND CONGRATULATIONS!  

Mr. Bill Donovan recently accepted an appointment as the acting Chief of the Wilmer Volunteer Fire Department. Chief Donovan has served the Wilmer Community as a certified firefighter, fire investigator, and fire instructor for 18 years.