Fairhope Entertainment District Declined Again as Council Reappoints Municipal Judge
At its last meeting of 2018, the Fairhope City Council declined to approve an entertainment district, swore in Municipal Judge Haymes Snedeker and hired outside counsel in the Breland case.
FAIRHOPE, Ala. — At its final meeting of 2018, the Fairhope City Council declined to approve a proposed Fairhope entertainment district. Members of a local Baptist church spoke against the proposal during the meeting.
Municipal Judge Reappointed
The council swore in Municipal Judge Haymes Snedeker for another two-year term. The council president supported the reappointment.
Legal Counsel in Breland Case
The last item on the agenda was a resolution authorizing Mayor Karin Wilson to sign an engagement letter with Tobias McCormick and Comer Lawyers LLC for legal services representing the city on a third-party complaint against Charter Oak Fire Insurance Company in Charles K. Breland Jr. v. The City of Fairhope, et al., case number CV-2013-901096. Council members did not discuss the item or ask questions about it.
The underlying dispute began about 11 years ago, before the current mayor and council members took office. The Alabama Supreme Court ruled 9-0 in favor of the property owner and returned the case to Baldwin County.
Triangle Lawsuit Costs
In a separate case, the Triangle lawsuit, the city previously incurred $11.25 million in costs, including $3 million in legal fees. The city’s insurance carrier dropped it in that matter, and the costs were paid with taxpayer funds.
