DOTHAN: 8:52 PM. Dothan 911 dispatched a structure fire at 1705 Keating Road. At the time of dispatch it was reported to have smoke and flames visible.
Three Dothan Fire Engine Companies, Rehab Truck, Dothan Fire Battalion Chief, Pilcher Ambulance, and Dothan Police responded.
The fire is reported to be contained to the front room. Dothan Fire has water on the fire and fire knock down. Dothan Fire has a verbal all clear but Dothan Fire is making a primary search inside to make sure all occupants are out. They have done a quick and aggressive offensive attack on the fire.
Kyle Scott wrote a post below, accusing district three commissioner Bradley Bedwell of stealing his yard signs and placing his signs in their place. But Bradley had permission from the property owner, to place his signs on that property. In fact his property manager Sam wrote on the post that Bradley was in the right and that Scott did not have any signs there this morning, when he drove by on his way to James Oates Park. Could have been a simple owner tenant misunderstanding, but it is not. As you can see by the screenshot of Kyle’s post at 1007 pm, Scott deleted Sam’s message after learning the truth, just to slander Bedwell’s character. People you better get out and vote August 5th, this proves this man doesn’t care about the truth or telling lies to get in that commission chair. Messages are time stamped, so how are you going to make this Bedwell’s fault, like you do with all of your other shortcomings Scott.
While I was writing an article for a forum held by the Houston County Republican Party, I wrote a part about not being an official, but to be a public servant. It got me thinking about the time in the past where District Three Commissioner Bradley Bedwell voted down his own raise.
The Dothan City Commission voted down a measure to give raises to the mayor and commissioners in an uncomfortable discussion after an amendment was proposed to increase the amount originally considered.
The original cost of living adjustment would have increased the mayor’s wage to $43,260, with commissioners making half that number, effective in October. It would have been a 3% increase from the mayor’s current $42,000 salary and commissioners’ $21,000 salary. The yearly cost of living increase would have been the same that city employees receive — and the commission and mayor haven’t gotten a raise since 1989.
But Commissioner Kevin Dorsey proposed an amendment which would have raised the salaries to a cost of living adjustment since 1989 — which would have raised the mayor’s salary to $74,000 and commissioners’ salaries to half that number.
After uneasy discussion, the measure was voted down, thus locking the mayor and commissioners into the same salary they’ve been earning. Raises and compensation changes must be voted on six months before the new commission is seated. Today was the last day for the commission to vote on a compensation increase. This measure would have gone into effect after elections, so there was a chance the sitting commission and mayor wouldn’t see raises themselves.
Dorsey and Kirkland both voted yes on the amended measure, but the rest of the commission and mayor voted no in a 2-5 vote.
Bradley Bedwell, one of the no votes, said he would’ve possibly been in favor of the original resolution, and he agreed the city commission needed raises, but he said he couldn’t justify the significant pay hike.
“It was originally a modest cost of living adjustment equating to about $600 per commissioner,” he said. “I don’t think my constituents would mind that, but I do think they would mind a double in salary for an area about 20% of the size of a county commissioner. The county is running a district three times the size of ours. Even though they may not have a big workload, there is a difference. They got a whole lot more customers to call and complain.”
He said such a large pay raise could entice people to run for local office — but for the wrong reasons.
“If you put the mayor’s job at $80,000, you’re going to have people running just for the salary. This ought to be a gift of public service,” he said.
He said while the extra money would have been nice, he was glad the commission didn’t go for the amended amount.
“I would applaud our commission for doing it. It’s a win-lose situation. Yes, you did the right thing to not give yourself a 100% raise,” he said. “It would’ve been great for me, but not best for Dothan.”
The last-minute aspect of the amendment made him less inclined to vote yes.
“It was too much way too soon.”
Mayor Mark Saliba said he was comfortable with the original measure, as no raise since 1989 justified it, but he wasn’t in favor of the last-minute larger amount.
“When the amendment came and changed and it went way up, I could not be for that. I think there’s a certain amount of servant leadership that has to be done,” he said.
Dorsey, who introduced the amendment, said he wanted to make the city commission’s wages comparable to the county commission’s.
“The city commission is doing more work than the county,” he said. “Ask the average person who your county commissioner is and see if they know. The people that’s helping, everybody knows who’s helping and doing their job. It’s a part-time job, but ride around Dothan and look at all the projects we have going. We have a lot going on. It’s really full-time, honestly. It’s part time when it comes to the meetings, but it’s a full-time job the way your phone rings, the text messages, the emails.”
He said he’s also paid his constituents’ utility bills, helped with gas, changed flat tires, and done oil changes.
Kirkland, one of the two yes votes, said he was inclined to support the measure since Dothan’s leadership hasn’t gotten a raise since 1989, but also because of the high demand for work.
“This is supposed to be a part-time job, but as commissioners, your phone rings 24/7,” he said.
During the meeting he also noted that county commissioners receive yearly cost of living adjustments.
Furthermore, county commissioners can draw retirement — but city commissioners can’t.
City commission raises were discussed at the previous strategic planning meeting, and Dorsey said he intended to bring the matter up again at the next planning meeting.
“(The next city commission) will feel the pressure,” Dorsey said. “You’re supposed to make it better for the person behind you.
“We just failed the future and the commissions of the future.”
This event is hosted by Houston County Republican Party for Republican Mayor and Commissioner Candidates.
WIREGRASS: The qualifying time to seek election for 2025 has passed. The candidates are off and running.
UNDERSTAND – the only offices which are up for election in 2025 are municipal offices for Mayor, Commissioners, and in some municipalities for school board. The Office of Governor, Lt. Governor, Senators, State Representative, County Commissioners, Sheriff, Coroner, etc. will be in 2026.
The City of Dothan Municipal Election is August 5 for Mayor, Associate Commissioners, Dothan School Board Chairman and Dothan School Board Members.
Other municipalities election is August 26, for most every other municipality such as Kinsey, Webb, Columbia ( all municipalities in Houston County ), Abbeville, Headland, Newville and Haleburg in Henry County, Ozark and all Dale County municipalities, Enterprise and all Coffee County, Geneva County municipal… ALL MUNICIPALITIES.
Why Dothan is August 5 and others August 26, I have no clue. But there are no county or state offices on the ballot.
The candidates have done their job, qualify. Now they are campaigning. It is up to you, the registered voter to know who they are, what they stand for, and to cast your vote. If you are not a registered voter, it is your duty to get registered and to vote. It is important who is in office and for those elected to understand they are not an “official” but a “public servant”. They are to roll their sleeves up, go to work, not blame others, but to get things accomplished to make the communities they serve better.
It is their duty not to rubber stamp, but to discuss, set aside their personal differences – not set aside their convictions, of what will best serve the citizens and community as a whole. Remembering there is no “ I “ only “WE” to move forward.
Come August 5 and August 26, each candidate will have done all they can do and it is then our job as registered voters to cast our votes for who we think can best be a public servant and lead the community forward.
On Monday, June 30, 5:00 PM there is a meet and greet on the 3rd floor of the Houston County Administrative building in the 400 block of North Oates Street, and a forum at 6:00 PM of the candidates for the City of Dothan Municipal elections. Come out, listen to what each one has to say so that you can cast a vote as someone informed.
REGISTER to VOTE if not already registered and cast your vote. Each one counts one.
