Fairhope Council to Vote on Tatumville Land Transfer as Sewage Spill Hits Nearby Gullies
The Fairhope City Council will consider final adoption of an ordinance transferring an acre of city land to the Fairhope Single Tax Corporation for the Tatumville Subdivision.
FAIRHOPE, Ala. — The Fairhope City Council is scheduled to consider final adoption of an ordinance transferring an acre of city-owned land to the Fairhope Single Tax Corporation for the Tatumville Subdivision when it meets Thursday, Feb. 15, at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chamber.
Surplus declaration
The ordinance would declare the property surplus and not needed for public or municipal purposes. The ordinance was introduced at the council’s Jan. 22 meeting.
A petition opposing the project has collected more than 2,200 signatures.
Councilman Kevin Boone has recused himself from voting on the matter. Lee Turner, who is president of both the Fairhope Planning and Zoning Commission and the Fairhope Single Tax Corporation, has been a leading supporter of the project.
Sewage spill nearby
The property is in the same area where the health department issued a public notice this week about an ongoing sewage spill. According to a report from City of Fairhope Utilities, the spill near the Valley Street Lift Station, at Middle Street and Dogwood Avenue, sent an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 gallons of sewage into a drainage ditch that leads to Big Head Gully, Tatumville Gully and Mobile Bay.
The health department urged residents to use caution if they use those waters for recreation, to cook any fish or seafood caught nearby thoroughly, and to wash their hands after handling fish or seafood.
