After watching the small piece on the news tonight about the "plans for Dauphin Island" I just had to sit down and laugh. The "mayor" sounds like he himself is concerned about the negitive impact that some things would have on this Island, but I assure you he could care less. No community can move forward when their politicians throw up blocks to avoid contact with the "little" people and are only concerned about agreeing with the "movers and shakers". I assure you NO thought goes into the BIG picture. I have lived here for a long time and have seen so many great folks turn their backs on the Island because our so called leaders are so very self serving. NO environmental studies are done if the Money will be affected. Some rules are for the poor and some for the rich but NONE are enforced with any regularity. One huge example is that builders are BANNED from using red clay on the WEST end, the rich end, of the Island because it is so very destructive to the Island. However, red clay is used in huge quantities on the East end as a cheap alternative to other building materials. Lots are purchased in wooded areas and swiftly clear cut to make development easier. Where is the environmental impact study that will show the future of the Island aquifer if this practice continues? PLEASE call the Town!! Ask the right questions. HELP SAVE DAUPHIN ISLAND from those intent on pushing the poor and the long time residents off the Island!! KEEP Dauphin Island in the news, don't quit fighting to preserve this Island as one of Alabama's true treasures.

I didn't see the piece you mentioned on the news, nor do I live on the island. However I LOVE Dauphin Island and have made regular Saturday trips there for many years, enjoying your beaches and friendly people. If not for hurricanes, I would so want to retire at DI.

Since I don't live there, I don't know much (okay, anything) about the politics you're discussing. But since DI is your home, maybe you can tell me what lots of us who visit would like to know. What's the deal with the west end and its closed access?

I've never understood why such a beautiful expanse of snow white beach is not available for visitors to enjoy. It used to be completely fenced off but now we find there're signs everywhere. Let's face it, the island is not Gulf Shores and never will be. There's a different flavor, a different appeal to different people. (In my opinion, the island is way better than Gulf Shores.) Even on holiday weekends, Dauphin Island is never what anyone would describe as crowded. Opening the west end to visitors is not going to result in this huge influx of outsiders encroaching on what many island dwellers consider their private paradise.

I am a courteous and respectful visitor. When we walk the beaches we carry plastic bags and pick up trash. Why shouldn't we? Just because we don't live there doesn't mean we don't want to help keep it clean. I'm sure y'all have to deal with other visitors who may litter but at the same time, I suspect much of the litter is left behind by residents as well.

Dauphin Island has the reputation for always wanting funds but being selfish to people who don't live there. I'm not saying that's a deserved reputation or that I feel that way, but all one has to do is read Sound Off or talk to visitors to know that...I'm sure you hear the same thing yourself. And again, I'm talking about a perception that I don't believe to be true. It's like the perception many people have of Fairhope as a snobbish little town of rich folks. That's not true either, but there are pieces of truth in every generalization.

What are your opinions about what should be done with the west end of the island?

-nab

Thank you for your reply to my post. I will be perfectly honest giving you an answer about the west end. VERY few residents ever go to the west end as we have been told so many untruths about what is going on there. First we were told that it was owned by a "VERY wealthy " Mobile family and thats when the fence went up. But when funds became available for coastal clean-up of PUBLIC beaches, we were told that the west end would be opened and we all would have access to the beach....NEVER HAPPENED, but that beach got cleaned up.
The residents here are just as limited as visitors. When I wanted to take my Grandchildren to the beach I had to go to the police department and get a parking sticker for my car so it would not be towed. Again, the governing body is made up of movers and shakers and their interest's for the future of this Island can be summed up in two words......FINANCIAL GAIN.
As a resident I would love to see more visitors here. There are 3 large events when we see folks from off the Island, Sail Boat races, Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo and Marti Gras. Out side of that the selfish and self serving leaders here could care less about inviting people to enjoy all Dauphin Island has to offer. They keep destroying the land to put up huge dwellings and condos and yet we have only 3 restaurants to serve them. Everyones favorite the Seafood Galley closed after being totally destroyed in Katrina because they couldn't get sufficient help to make it worth rebuilding. We have nothing to support the visitors here. Unless you are a drinker you will rarely see people gather for any reason like we use to. Years ago EVERY weekend we had tons of folks gather at the Marina for BBQ and fish fry and just tons of fun. Those days are gone forever.
Tons of homes are for sale but none are selling. Who wants to live in a place where you feel your not wanted. Where will the Island go from here? To the rich thats where.

I'm confused as to why you had to get a parking sticker to go to the beach on the west end. Isn't that where the public beach is? I love the island too. We have actually been looking for a vacation home down there for several months, unfortunately, everything is WAY too expensive. We really don't even want to be on the beach, just on the water on the sound side or canal access to the bay. Anyway, we were told residents could go to the beach anywhere there was a cut-through and as long as you had your resident sticker, you could park too. I know the extreme west end used to be open back when my husband and I were dating, 20 plus years ago. We enjoyed going down there to night fish and fish for sand shark. I heard it was an erosion issue now. I know we were also told that concreted pads are no longer allowed, because so many washed under with Katrina. We still have our dream of having our get-away down there, but it may stay a dream for a long time.

And one thing I was quick to say about the island is I love it's charm, the quietness. I would hate to see it turned into another Gulf Shores-which I can't stand going to. It's too crowded and too commercial. Though so many houses over at Gulf SHores have been foreclosed on and are therefore cheaper, I will hold out for the island any day!

For Your Information

As a resident of Dauphin Island I recently received our monthly newsletter about the city hiring a Mr. John Robert Weichman as our new Town Clerk/ Manager . I must say that I was surprised that although several of our neighbors had applied for the position, Mr. Weichman was chosen as the best candidate. Our news letter indicated that Mr. Weichman was a Restaurateur. Having heard several questionable rumors about Mr. Weichman I decided to look into his background:

(CV1995 0229) The City of Mobile filed a tax injunction against John Weichman for the amount of $5480.21 for failure to pay sales tax collected and levied on his Mercedes to attempt to collect.

(CV1997 2739) Regions Bank sued John and Maria Weichman for default on a $625,000 loan. Mr. Weichman countered claiming Negligence and Abuse of Process Respectively.

(DC2002 0642) Southtrust sued our Town Clerk for default on a $7267.22 loan. Mr. Weichman could not be found to serve and June 2002 the motion was dismissed with prejudice.

(SM2002 06134) Mobile Press Register filed suit for $146.09. The sheriff made the return noting that Mr. Weichman had moved to Iowa then later the action was dismissed.

Mr. Weichman’s personal financial problems would certainly not eliminate him as a prospective city employee but not the Town Clerk/ Manager in my opinion. While I am not knowledgeable in the selective process of new hires for our city, I would be inclined to assume that a reasonable check of prospective employees might be in order lest a Manager of the Town Business. I would be hesitant to apply the word Successful Restaurateur to our new Town Clerk/Manager and very concerned that he will be handling our towns day to day affairs. I wonder what effect Mr. Weichman will have on the town dealings with the City of Mobile and unknown banks and creditors? It is my personal opinion that our council and mayor while understandably are part time, might want to spend more time in decision making for the city than their full time other jobs or possibly return to private life or playing golf.

I am most concerned that while this maybe an isolated case of poor judgment, it is suggestive of more infractions and hopefully not an Orange Beach Scandal It might be a wise move on the part of council and mayor to assure the resident’s of our city that they are on the job and explain how this happened and correct their error in judgment.

Claude Pittle

THAT is frightning ... BUT true to form for this Island

You may want to also join/visit the Dauphin Island Bulletin Board if you're trying to stay abreast of latest news. The message board is invariably far ahead of the town gov't and other entities when it comes to know what is going on due to it's collective membership providing info.

http://www.di-bbs.com

Jason - co-Admin.

PS. Thank you for the above posted information Claude. I've not reprinted it as of yet, as it not being my own intellectual property, but will be happily posting a link to it to allow others to see it in it's original context for themselves.