A Message from Mayor Stimpson - October 19
Oct 19th, 2020
Good evening,
It is 8:45 p.m. on Monday, October 19, and I am writing to give you an update from the City of Mobile.
Today, the Mobile County Health Department reports 14,322 COVID-19 cases, an increase of 11 cases. To review the detailed report, click here.
Following a productive weekend of clean-up from Hurricane Sally, our teams have collected 92% of the estimated 381,360 cubic yards of trash and debris we anticipate seeing on our first pass through the City. By the end of the week, crews will have been to every street at least once. Debris that has not been picked up by then will be collected during the second pass through the city beginning on Monday, Oct. 26.
You can help speed up this cleanup effort by separating trash into three piles: one for vegetation, another for plastic bags and a third for construction debris. We're also continuing to accept bagged yard debris at two locations. You can really help us speed up the process by dropping off your plastic bags filled with vegetation from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at James Seals Community Center at 540 Texas St. or Langan Municipal Park at 4901 Zeigler Blvd.
In closing, recently, there have been accusations about the fairness of the allocations of money for capital improvements across city council districts. Fairness can be in the mind of the individual. What seems fair to one, may not seem fair to another. There is seldom unanimity on every decision made by elected officials, that's why a majority rules. In the case of Mobile, a super majority. What has been proposed and accepted was fair when weighed on the balance of what has been done over the last seven years.
Every year since 2015 (the first year for the Capital Improvement Fund during my administration) each council district has received $3 million for capital improvement projects. Projects chosen are determined through a collaborative effort with the City Council member, the public works department and the administration.
In addition to the CIP fund, there are several other sources of income allocated to capital improvements each year. (i.e., the stormwater fee, various gas taxes, Alabama Trust Fund, Pay-Go, as well as State and Federal grants.) Furthermore, when the City has an operating surplus and has fulfilled its statuary obligation of funding its reserve account, those monies in excess can be converted into capital to be spent in future years.
Capital projects funded by sources other than the CIP funds are recommended by the Administration to the City Council for their approval. Priorities are determined by an in-depth assessment of the impact of the project, the cost of the project, and an analysis of the historical capital spending within a geographical area of the city. Additionally, input is sought from the City Council leadership.
In the final analysis, the City Council has to approve the proposed spending. This year's capital spending from surplus capital was approved by the City Council 6-0-1. Six voted affirmatively, none against and 1 abstained.
Within the approved spending plan, funds are being allocated to address rehabilitation and improvements to several of our parks that have been largely neglected for years. Other important projects include repairs to the cruise terminal, construction of the Greenway Trail; and funding partnerships with Mobile County in the extension of Nevius Road, and the construction of the Africatown Heritage House.
These projects were selected because they will have the greatest impact on our City based the amount of money we have to spend at this time. We have also focused on projects that did not have any other near-term identified funding source and that otherwise might not have the necessary funding to move forward for years, if at all. Most importantly, every decision related to the spending of these surplus dollars was made what is best for Mobile in mind.
Sleep tight!