Today the Dothan City Commission voted 4-2 to approve a tax incentive plan for Smart Bank to add a new branch across from the Dothan Country Club at the intersection of Cherokee and Main Streets. The total value of these incentives are hundreds of thousands of dollars and they’re in effect for the next 20 years.
This site has been vacant for some time, and it’s my understanding that SmartBank got a good deal on it because it’s a former gas station.
D4 Commissioner Stock and D3 Commissioner Bedwell voted against the resolution because it doesn’t meet the standards that have been previously stated. It’s not something new that will generate sales tax revenue and it’s not in a part of town that needs economic incentives for development. In fact, it’s been said that Smart Bank was going to build there no matter what, so why would the city give away sales tax revenue on the building supplies and property tax for the next 20 years if it was going to be built anyway??? Are they going to do that for every bank or business at a vacant lot or is this just their buddies???
There were also some false statements made by certain commissioners today. Maybe D5 Pierce didn’t read his packet where it clearly states the total value of the project is $3 million, not the $4 million dollar amount he claimed. He also said the city would be getting more tax revenue with this proposal…that is also false. The city just forfeited any right to its property tax on the land for the next 20 years. The only thing that remains is the school’s portion of the property tax, which does not flow to the city. So Commissioner Pierce may need to get himself educated before he starts spouting off “facts” that are anything but facts. Yes the schools will get a little more tax revenue, but the city would have gotten even more tax revenue for decades to come without this “incentive”. Today’s vote no doubt cost the city big money!
D3 Commissioner Bedwell also brought up a good point during the meeting, with all of the talk lately about new arenas and projects, how are we ever going to fund these things if we keep giving away our future tax revenue to businesses that would build here anyway. These commissioners have no problem giving tax breaks to their banker buddies while they get ready to raise your garbage fees, business license fees, and other fees that are being discussed.
D2 Commissioner Kirksey wants $4M to build a new pool in his district, but he doesn’t have a plan to pay for it. He stated in the meeting that this bank was going to bring in 9 high paying jobs. It’s my understanding that this space isn’t going to generate all new jobs but rather relocate people from other Smart Bank locations and maybe a couple new teller positions….and those teller positions won’t be making a lot of money, but I’m sure their VPs who convinced the commission to help fund this pet project will be!
What Dothan residents need to understand is who keeps fighting for them day in and day out, and who keeps showing them they only care about their buddies and helping “the right people” as D5 Commissioner Pierce likes to say. The right people are those with money and power in their eyes, not the everyday people who work hard to make ends meet. Just wait Dothan, the city will claim they need more revenue and will want to raise everything from your electric rates, garbage rates, and license fees. Commissioners Bedwell and Stock appear that they won’t backdown and won’t give away your tax dollars for no reason, even when other commissioners want to joke and say they don’t understand the long game. I think Bedwell and Stock do understand the long game…the long game is taking care of our people and keeping the cost of living low, while encouraging and promoting growth…not giving away hundreds of thousands of dollars for things that would be built anyway. I wonder if those commissioners or mayor who voted for this have any business or accounts with Smart Bank…nobody recused themselves so that might be worth looking into…
3 employees salary of 180,000 and total cost of building in commissioner packet. Commissioners really ought to read their packet.
REHOBETH: 7:14 PM. Tonight Rehobeth Mayor Kimberly Trotter and other Adults with a host of young people were meeting on Rehoobeth’s RED, WHITE and BOOM!
Look at the young people in the picture who do a lot of physical work to make RED, WHITE and BOOM event. And the young people get out and raise money to help cover some of the expenses of RED, WHITE and BOOM.
Rehobeth Mayor Kimberly Trotter and others gets a lot young people involved in what is happening in Rehobeth.
ASHFORD: 1:05 PM Houston County Sheriff 911 dispatched Ashford Fire, Ashford Rescue, Ashford Police, Houston County Sheriff and ALEA – Troopers to a critical injury accident. The accident in on Old Highway 84 and Pleasant Grove Road.
There was entrapment. Extrication is complete.
Dothan Fire Engine 4 ( Southside ) is enroute mutual aid. At 1:25 PM Ashford Rescue is enroute, trauma alert, to Southeast Health.
DOTHAN: 11:59 AM Dothan 911 dispatched structure fire at 205 Morgan Street.
12:03 PM Dothan Fire Engine 10 ( West Main ) arrived on the scene. Single story, residential structure, nothing visible. All units go to level 1 staging.
12:04 PM Dothan Fire Battalion 1 arrived on the scene. And staging.
12:05 PM Dothan Fire Engine 10 reports can not find anything.
HOUSTON COUNTY: 7:31 PM Tornado Warning issued by text from Dothan-Houston County Emergency Management.
7:45 PM Kinsey Police Chief reports a roof off a house on Peacock Road. All residenets are reported ok.
Tree down on a car at 5260 Old Webb Road. All residents ok.
Otis Buie Road, reports of a porch removed from a house. All residents appear ok.
7:46 PM Cottonwood Rescue has a medical emergency on South County Road 55.
7:46 PM A tree reported down on Hwy. 52 in front of WDHN, the east bound lane reported closed beccause of tree.
7:55 PM Henry County Emergency Management Director Matt Hatcher out in the weather in the field.
7:56 PM Houston County Sheirff Donald Valenza is in service and on the road.
7:56 PM Volunteer members of Webb Volunteer Fire Department on the road in this weather serving others.
8:00 PM Lovetown Volunteer Fire on the road in this weather, serving others.
8:01 PM Dothan Fire has non emergency lift assist, on Antenna Avenue.
8:02 PM Headland Central Dispatch radio out of service. Service is provided by SCI Communicatons. Headland Central dispatch handles all emergency communications, law enforcement, fire, EMS for all of Henry County.
8:04 PM Kinsey Volunteer Fire Department is in service
8:04 PM Motor vehicle accident, no injuries, 11172 U.S. 231 South. Madrid Volunteer FIre Department dispatched.
8:06 PM Headland Central Dispatch operating again.
8:07 PM Reports are a tornado came through, 1366 County Road 15 in Henry County. Residents out of town but residence a total loss.
8:08 PM Power lines down on Hydraulic and Hwy. 52, across from WDHN, lines down on Hydraulic Road.
8:10 PM Reports of damage in Buckhead Subdivison which is off County Road 22.
8:11 PM Wiregrass Electric on Skipper Road making repairs. Rehobeth Fire -Rescue has been on the scene.
8:12 PM Lonnie Road – a house flooding due to drains stopped up.
8:16 PM Houston County amd Henry County Road and Bridge is out.
8:17 PM Webb Volunteer Fire Chief has damage at his residence, however Chief Jamar Ivey is continuing to serve his community.
8:17 PM Cottonwood Rescue transporting patient emergency to Southeast Health with a 2 year old child, medical emergency. Not due to the weather.
8:17 PM Webb Police Chief Jim Holley and other members of Webb Police out in weather.
8:17 PM Henry County Sheriff Eric Blankenship and Chief Deputy as other deputies on duty and out in the field.
8:22 PM Headland Police Chief Mark Jones on the streets working.
8:27 PM Multiple Houses down on County Road 15, debris on Highway 134. Sheriff Blankenship has deputies riding the roads checking area for damage. Appears came into Houston County, then County Road 22, County Road 15, to County Road 49 all in Henry County. A house is completely gone.
8:30 PM Houston County is under a flood warning.
8:45 PM Outdoor fire 1920 Center Church Road, a tree on power lines. Columbia Police Chief en route to check.
8:45 PM Wreck with no injuries, County Road 22 at Buckhead. A vehicle turned into Kinsey Police Chief vehicle.
8:52 PM Henry-Houston County Road 22 is open at this time.
8:53 PM Henry County Road 20 multiple power lines down.
DOTHAN-HOUSTON-GENEVA COUNTY: A chase is underway. Was in Dothan, then into Houston County, now in Geneva County.
3:57 PM the chase turned left on Alabama Highway 103.
3:58 PM the chase turned left on Bethesda Road, a dirt road.
3:59 PM just went through a stop sign, continuing on Bethesda Road, in Geneva County.
4:00 PM Traveling north on Geneva County 49. Permission has been granted to pit vehicle.
4:02 PM Suspect vehicle threw a backpack out.
4:02 PM Dothan Police Officers are now in a foor chase at County Road 49 and County Road 30. A black male is running on foot. A white female also is on foot running.
4:08 PM Dothan Police, Houston County Sheriff Deputies, ALEA – Troopers, Taylor Police, Webb Police are searching.
4:09 PM Houston County Sheriff Deputies have suspect at gunpoint.
4:10 PM Webb Police have white female in custody. A black male is still on foot.
4:14 PM Last seen south on County Road 49, on foot.
4:19 PM Officers have cleared an abandoned house. A perimeter is set. Officers still searching.
4:23 PM Update description, black male, blue jeans, black shirt, tattoo on neck.
4:31 PM Dothan Police has suspect in custody. Officer coming out of woods with suspect.
