Only in Fairhope can someone with a high school education become the utility director with absolutely no experience at the job. Mayor Sullivan gets a $25,000 utility salary as well as her second check as Mayor.
No other job classification among Fairhope employees exists where “No Experience” is needed.
Mayor Wilson refused the dual salary and position of utility director for the much more prudent decision to hire a qualified utility engineer, with education and experience.
One thing you can say about Fairhope City Council, is that they are consistent. Council President Jack Burrell, who has stained the seat as President of Fairhope Council for two terms, is now beginning his third term, as President. For 9 years Jack has monopolize a position that is normally shared by the whole council, but they do things different in Fairhope.
Mr Burrell and Council was sued, in Federal court, for denying public speech:
Fairhope is seeing the results of a Council and Mayor more dedicated to special interests than the majority of their constitutes.
It is an absolute shame the Fairhope Waterfront Project became such a divisive tool, used by elected officials, to distort the project and lie to the public. The vast majority of Fairhope citizens have no idea what the original plan was and the opportunity they have lost.
https://rippreport.com/redneck-renovations/
Fairhope’s, $6.
DOLLARS The City of Fairhope’s 6.2 million dollar waterfront project became a political hot potato during the last municipal election. Politicians put their feet in their mouths and now are trying to spin a new narrative. The new narrative will be what Mayor Sullivan and the, other Mayor, Jack Burrell want.
https://rippreport.com/howling-rains-passing-gas/
The Ripp Report has filed a foia, freedom of information request, for the past results of a charrette where 164 participants, and the 570 people participated.
The Mayor of Fairhope and the City Council got hammered by the public, medical professionals and first responders over the city’s decision to have a large public gathering for the lighting of the trees.
I must say that it was quite satisfying to see such a response from a community that often is not paying attention to city affairs.
https://rippreport.com/take-a-chance/
Baldwin County Doctors and Nurses are advising the general public about masks, social distancing, and to avoid large public gatherings.
Fairhope City Council President Jack Burrell said he heard birds, and the sky was blue, that he felt Fairhope was going to have peace and calm in the next 4 years. CSB, Catalyst Scott/Boone, owns Fairhope, the council, the municipal judge, the city attorney and the Mayor. Complete total control, everyone is in bed with one another. They will make the decisions not the citizens of Fairhope. Just watch and see.
Tomorrow citizens of Fairhope will go to the polls, rain or shine. Most citizens do not understand some of the inner political workings of the city, like appointments.
The Municipal Judge is appointed by the City Council, as well as the Municipal Attorney. Both these positions are hold overs from the past corrupt administration. Mayor Wilson pleaded with the council to consider a new appointment for each position. The council, led by Burrell for the last 8 years, ignored the citizens seeking change and immediately appointed Marcus McDowell as Attorney and reinstated Judge Snedeker.
When the triangle lawsuit was going on, Fairhope’s insurance company, sued the city saying that the city’s bad decisions led to the lawsuit and they were not going to cover the legal expenses.
This is a simplification of two long stories.
The attorney for the city on the Triangle lawsuit was Cain O’Rear. He came to a council meeting and turned to the audience, held his right hand high, and promised the city would not have to spend a dime on attorney fees, Fairhope paid his firm 3 million dollars and we lost the lawsuit and had to pay 8.
Last night Spanish Fort played Fairhope in football. The stands were full, social distancing was all but impossible.
When one of the High School Principals was asked why most of those in attendance did not have masks? He explained that they tried to enforce the use of a mask, however once the people got seated they removed their masks.
Another event across town was underway, the Fairhope political forum hosted by the Common Sense Campaign.
DEAR NEW FAIRHOPE VOTERS: This municipal elections can be won by the young voters that have not voted before and those of you who have moved to Fairhope in the last 10 years. PLEASE READ
Today, less than a third of Fairhope’s citizens can say they are actually from Fairhope. Most of us are not from here; but we all call it home. We were drawn to the Eastern Shore because of its picturesque, postage stamp vitality, quaint quality of life, and eclectic nature.