This whole thing reeks of a money-making scheme by the county commissioners and the city of Mobile.  No doubt someone is seeing dollar signs here and wants to dress up the area for tourists (not the local people, really, as they are telling everyone) and probably have undisclosed plans to add things like concession stands, ticket/admission booths, and possibly even their own bait and tackle shop.  All of this would be geared toward bilking the tourists and public of their money.  Why doesn’t the city buy land somewhere near downtown Mobile and build a public beach that rivals Gulf Shores?  I’m sure that they are envious of all of the tourists that go there instead of coming to Mobile to see an old battleship and fort. Building a boat ramp and pier and paving a parking lot will hardly bring in tourists like they might think. But a nice beach would bring in lots of local people as well as tourists.  A waterpark like Six Flags would be a plus, too.

If you got back right before the bait shop there is a county owned/maintained park. Years ago there we’re houses on the bay between the park and the bait shop a dirt road between the main road and the bay. But they were all torn down. (weren’t there legally). So maybe that is the land they are joining with?

I was just checking this place out on Google Earth and it is just a small blip of land on 193 kind of jutting out on the bay side.  Nothing before it or after it for quiet a distance.  Not sure why that particular spot is so important to Dean.

On one of the newscast last night one of the reporters said that there was a 90 day clause in the contract?  Why not just move the bait shop over? I agree there is more to this story!

HI, I’m looking to be the next commissioner. the bait shop will be on pilings, by the new pier, right in front of the parking lot with the new sign “Jemison’s Bait and Tackle Shop ” i thank you for your votes!

”@wkrg Commissioner Mike Dean says Jemison’s Bait Shop will one day be a parking lot.”

Sounds like Dean has it in for that bait shop!  What good is a parking lot with boat ramps if ya ain’t got no bait?

T. Craig says Tyson showed up at the meeting as a fisherman this morning and he wants the bait shop to stay put.  Another lawyer also wants the place left alone.  So, they are getting some weight behind their opposition.

Will be interesting to see how this turns out.

Take a look north they bought Dead lake Marina and were all over the news for their green swimming pool that is still not fixed.But there is all kind of construction.Agree with Bama Bob follow the money I don’t know if it’s property or the construction but it’s fishy

I’m willing to bet that we are not hearing the entire story from either party.  While I do not doubt the “fishy” intentions of the county, I also tend to believe that this news was not sprung on the current tenant as abruptly as he would like everyone to believe.  I am sure that there has been ongoing communication and correspondence regarding this situation long before it was made public.  I am sure that we will never know the entire story but be careful jumping to conclusions here.  I often work with the county and state regarding contracts and I can assure you that they do not normally move this fast.

That would be my bet, because the whole thing could have been dealt with in a better way.  Someone specifically wants to break this guy’s lease and push him out of the way.  When stuff like that starts to happen, there is usually money involved.

Are there any other bait shops in that immediate area?