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3:10 PM    The Right Choice For Dothan City Manager

3:10 PM The Right Choice For Dothan City Manager

DOTHAN:      It was in March 2024 when four Dothan Commissioners made the decision not to renew the employment contract of Kevin Cowper as City Manager of Dothan. Since that time Randy Morris, who was serving as Assistant City Manager, took over the reins. For the past 11 months Randy Morris has led the charge of Dothan City Government.

GUESS WHAT?   The operations of the City of Dothan have run very smoothly under Randy’s leadership. He is a detailed man who studies each issue and project and sets a steady patch. There have not been any controversies or significant issues since Randy Morris became the captain of the ship on April 18, 2024. When Morris took the reins he has worked on communications with the Mayor and Commissioners. He has been up front, kept each of them informed, and showed respect to each elected official and to the public.

Randy Morris has been with the City of Dothan for about 26 years (plus or minus). He attended and graduated from Carroll High School. Morris attended and graduated the University of Alabama. Morris also served in the United States Military and is a veteran. So, Randy Morris has the local advantage (raised in Ozark), attended an Alabama college, has the military experience of serving and protecting these the United States of America, has the government experience, and knows the City of Dothan. Morris has the respect of the Dothan Department Heads and staff of the City of Dothan. He does his homework on issues.

Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba and members of the Dothan Commission have been conducting interviews. One candidate from Ft. Novosel has withdrawn his name. A second, who is the Chief Operating Officer at Ft. Novosel, has been interviewed. And Randy Morris is one who has applied for the full time job as Dothan City Manager.

A decision is expected in the immediate future on who will be the new Dothan City Manager. If the Dothan Mayor and Commissioners do not select Randy Morris, it will be Randy Morris’s job to train the new city manager and get them up to date. It will take a new city manager about two years to get up to date on the operations of the City of Dothan.

Some Commissioners are sold on the military-type as City Manager. Randy Morris has proven he is more than capable of managing the City of Dothan, keeping and maintaining the steady course of the ship, and has a vision of how things should go. Randy Morris has the Military experience and is a Veteran.

So why would the Mayor or any Commissioner select someone out of Dothan to become the City Manager?

Alabama Senate committee targets illegal immigration in barrage of bills

Alabama Senate committee targets illegal immigration in barrage of bills

A Senate committee Wednesday approved a barrage of bills lawmakers say will crack down on illegal immigration in Alabama, but the committee chamber was packed with opponents who insisted the proposals were against Biblical principles.

Some of the measures approved to go to the Senate include:

  • SB53 makes it a crime if someone conceals, harbors, shields from detection, or transports into Alabama someone “they know or should know” is an undocumented immigrant
  • SB55 would make Alabama not recognize out-of-state driver’s licenses issued to people who did not prove their legal status at the time of issuance
  • SB63 requires law enforcement to fingerprint and obtain DNA from undocumented immigrants in custody and turn them over to state law enforcement
  • SB66 expands forgery laws to make it a Class D felony to knowingly present forged documents to government agencies and officials
  • SB77 tacks on extra fees for wire transfers out of the country; taxpayers would get fees back in the form of tax credit

The bills were sponsored by legislators who visited the country’s southern border last year.

Lawmakers defended SB77 by saying people were sending money they didn’t pay taxes for. The bill was created to capture tax revenue from those working for cash and not paying state income taxes who are wiring money to family in other countries.

Supporters insist all the bills would strengthen law enforcement. Furthermore, legislators have identified illegal immigration to be a top issue for 2025’s session.

At public hearings, opponents of the bills said the measures were anti-Christian, unnecessary, and cruel.

One attendee quoted Leviticus 19:33-34, which reads, “When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt.”

Opponents of SB53 said the bill criminalizes good Samaritans who may simply give someone walking on hot or rainy days a ride; one attorney for the Sothern Poverty Law Center said the bill would make a teacher taking a class on a field trip could be penalized for the trip if any of the students or accompanying parents are undocumented.

But the immigration bills were approved after the public hearing, the proposals now put in line to be considered by the Senate.

Dothan’s Saliba and Houston County’s Shoupe share progress, goals

Dothan’s Saliba and Houston County’s Shoupe share progress, goals

Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba and Houston County Commission Chairman Brandon Shoupe shared progress and goals for their respective governments Thursday morning at the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce.

Dothan

Saliba described a brief history of Dothan, which started with a vision for the future and the community to support that vision — and he said neither notion had gone anywhere.

“What we need to be doing now is put it into context and learn from the things that have happened, especially when it comes to finances,” he said.

He said one of Dothan’s duties was fiscal responsibility.

When it comes to spending, he shared that Dothan spends the largest chunk of its money on public safety — just under 30% of its spending — which goes not only to law enforcement but also to other emergency response efforts.

Although public safety doesn’t generate revenue, Saliba said it was a worthwhile expenditure.

While Dothan has what may seem like a significant amount of debt, he said the city had never even come close to the debt limit set by the state.

“The city of Dothan has never come close to within 100 million of (the debt limit),” he said. “We are NOT in any kind of trouble with debt… the city’s over a hundred years old, and we got a plan for the next 50 years.”

Saliba lauded the city’s opening of new fire stations, renovations of Rip Hewes Stadium, and Water World’s consistent revenue earnings after its renovations.

He said spending the money on quality of life projects was well worth it, noting the successes of Wiregrass park fields, the Grandview flag football field, BMX renovations, the Forever Wild dog park and the Doug Tew Therapeutic Rec Center.

Moving forward into “Tomorrowland,” he said millions of dollars in investments were going to allow the upcoming successes of the Opera House, events plaza, and Wiregrass Innovation Center. Plus, the city didn’t have to entirely foot the bill for the structures.

The Opera House and events plaza are expected to be completed this summer.

Dothan is also planning a new city hall project, but it will require the Dothan Eagle building to be torn down. Saliba said it would have cost much more to renovate the building rather than start from scratch.

Over $56 million was invested in the Dothan community in 2024 and over 400 jobs were created.

Furthermore, with incoming industrial projects, Saliba said the significant industry gains could change the scope of the city in the coming decade.

Saliba insisted the City of Dothan was thriving as the municipal government focused on infrastructure, entrepreneurship, innovation, agricultural emphasis, healthcare and education.

But he was adamant that Dothan’s community is integral to all its developments, a trend since the city was founded.

Houston County

Shoupe started by saying one of his favorite parts of his job is meeting new people. When he meets new residents from outside the area, he always asks what the biggest culture shock is for moving to the area; he said the most common culture shock for transplants is the kindness and welcoming attitude of the Wiregrass.

He said the Houston County Farm Center was in the forefront of the county’s priorities, and his goal was for it to be completed next year.

Shoupe also thanked the community for approving the lodging tax, highlighting at least ten recreational developments the county was planning around the area.

The county and the city are on the same page when it comes to quality of life improvements.

‘We’re going to have to elevate our game county-wide,” he said.

The investments in industrial parks was also a hot topic for Shoupe, highlighting upcoming industrial projects and the County Distribution Park’s addition of water access.

A large portion of the county’s budget goes to law enforcement as well. The county plans to raise the salaries for the sheriff and coroner.

He said the county’s debt is expected to go up this year for recreation projects and a much-needed expansion of the county jail. The county jail’s capacity has risen significantly since Covid.

He said the county also supports the Stepping Up initiative, a national move to reduce overincarceration of people with mental illness and provide better support for those with mental illness.

“The mental health issue has not gone away — the mental health issue is in our county jail,” he said.

The county also plans to support Rep. Paul Lee’s All Health measure to expand healthcare access and improve rural healthcare, without having to spend a penny of taxpayer money for 20 years.

Some areas especially in the eastern part of Houston County see a lack of health insurance and EMS access.

He praised the 17 volunteer fire stations around the county, but he said volunteer firefighting is underfunded and understaffed — not because of a lack of desire to volunteer, but because of the lack of ability to volunteer due to family and work obligations.

Some stations also have immediate needs for new pumper trucks and improvements to stations, some of which don’t even have restrooms.

Shoupe said he doesn’t think increasing funding for the current system or passing a large tax is ideal, but he does support a modest increase of financial resources to an independent body and strategically staffing departments. The county is working with local experts to design a system taxpayers would be willing to fund.

“We are going to have to raise some money,” he said.

Shoupe suggested an extra tax on vapes and adjustments of fire fees.

He said development around the county was increasing, particularly in Rehobeth. His goals were to increase infrastructure around the county to allow for that growth.

“The towns in Houston County are the growth engines of opportunity,” he said. “We have to invest in those. When (the towns) grow, we grow as well.”

Hot Sheet Cases Filed in 20th Judicial Circuit February 5, 2025

Hot Sheet Cases Filed in 20th Judicial Circuit February 5, 2025

NOTE: JUVENILE RECORDS ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO POST. JUDGE LORI COLLIER INGRAM & JUDGE BUTCH BINFORD HANDLE ALL JUVENILE CASES:

HOUSTON COUNTY:
CV-Circuit-Civil:
38-CV-2025-000004.00 Liberty Personal Insurance Company Vs Amanda Kirkland (Other CV
Case) with Judge Kevin Moulton
38-CV-2025-900057.00 Derrick L Sorey Vs John Doe (Negligence Motor Vehicle) with Judge
Todd Derrick
38-CV-2025-900058.00 Jessica Craven Vs Jarrod Craven (Other TORT) with Judge Butch Binford
38-CV-2025-900059.00 Barclays Bank Delaware Vs David St Hilaire (Account Collection)
$21743.46 with Judge John Steensland
DV-District-Civil:
38-DV-2025-900116.00 Anna West Butler Vs Pamela Marie Daniela (Auto Damages) with Judge
Benjamin Lewis
38-DV-2025-900117.00 HH Bel Aire MHP Dothan Alabama LLC DBA Bel Aire Vs Terri Austin
(Unlawful Detainer) $2012.00 with Judge Benjamin Lewis
38-DV-2025-900118.00 HH Bel Aire MHP Dothan Alabama LLC DBA Cayman Bay Vs Zenovia
Cook (Unlawful Detainer) $1933.17 with Judge Benjamin Lewis
38-DV-2025-900119.00 HH Bel Aire MHP Dothan Alabama LLC DBA Cayman Bay Vs Tamesha
Harris (Unlawful Detainer) $2050.00 with Judge Benjamin Lewis
38-DV-2025-900120.00 HH Bel Aire MHP Dothan Alabama LLC DBA Cayman Bay Vs Alicia
Godfrey (Unlawful Detainer) $2141.00 with Judge Benjamin Lewis
SM-Small Claims:
38-SM-2025-900465.00 Crown Asset Management LLC Assignee of First Bank & Trust (Mercury)
Vs Devondra Square (Account Collection) $1505.11 with Judge Benjamin Lewis
38-SM-2025-900466.00 Mainstreet Loan Company Vs Carol Turner (Account Collection)
$2303.29 with Judge Lori Collier Ingram

38-SM-2025-900467.00 Mainstreet Loan Company Vs Shonta L Hatter (Account Collection)
$1362.00 with Judge Lori Collier Ingram
38-SM-2025-900468.00 Mainstreet Loan Company Vs Jeremy Rashawn Dent (Account Collection)
$774.29 with Judge Benjamin Lewis
38-SM-2025-900469.00 Mainstreet Loan Company Vs Shalanda M Page (Account Collection)
$1193.07 with Judge Benjamin Lewis
38-SM-2025-900470.00 Craig G Litten Vs Robert C Smith (Misc SM Case) $6000.00 with Judge
Benjamin Lewis
38-SM-2025-900471.00 Triad of Alabama LLC DBA Flowers Hospital Vs Tammatha Ward
(Account Collection) $561.10 with Judge Lori Collier Ingram
38-SM-2025-900472.00 Triad of Alabama LLC DBA Flowers Hospital Vs George Rice (Account
Collection) $501.86 with Judge Benjamin Lewis
CC-Circuit-Criminal:
Judge Moulton had 3 cases for Possess/Receipt Cont, Possess marijuana 1st, Judge Derrick had
19 cases ranging from Possess/Receipt Cont, Use/Possess Drug Par, Possess Marijuana 2 nd ,
Pistol Carrying W/O Perm. Judge Derrick had 2 cases for Theft of Property 4th, Possess /Receipt
Cont.
DC-District-Criminal:
Judge Lewis had 2 cases for Possess/Receipt Cont, Use/Possess Drug Par.
TR-Traffic:
Judge Lewis had 4 cases for No Drive’s License, Speeding, DUI, Improper Lane Usage.
Henry County:
CV-Circuit-Civil:
37-CV-2025-000001.00 CH Kinsey and Jamie Kinsey Vs Fredrick Culver (Real Property) with
Judge Todd Derrick
SM-Small Claims:
37-SM-2025-900052.00 Crown Asset Management LLC Assignee of First Bank & Trust (Mercury)
Vs Elizabeth Barnes (Account Collection) $2684.74 with Judge Spencer Danzey

CC-Circuit-Criminal:
Judge Binford had 1 case for Expungement Petition.
DC-District- Criminal:
Judge Danzey had 7 cases for Theft of Property 3rd, Dom Viol 3rd-Harassment X 2, Assault 3rd,
Crim Mischief 2nd, Interfere W/DV Emergency and Dom Violence 1st-Burglary.
TR-Traffic:
Judge Danzey had 1 case for Speeding.

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