Dale County Commission Chairman and Commission - Working For The Future Of Jobs

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
Date: Mar 02 2013 7:34 PM

DALE COUNTY: This January marked the beginning a new changes in Dale County government. For the first time Dale County went from a dual position of Probate Judge/Commissioner Chairman to separate positions of Probate Judge and Chairman of Dale County Commission.

The first ever Chairman of Dale County Commission where their entire focus is on the duties of Commissioner is Mark Blakenship. Blakenship was a sitting Ozark City Councilman when elected to serve. Blakenship was in the construction business. Not sure if he is still in the construction business while serving as Chairman or not.

RSN has attended the pre-meeting recently of the Dale County Commission which was followed by their regular meeting. On Monday RSN attended a special called meeting of the Dale County Commission.

The special called meeting was short, about 6 ( six ) minutes but yet a powerful meeting. It was powerful because it marked the beginning of a working partnership between Dale County Commission and Dothan City Commission. While one of the first joint efforts for economic development, it will lead to future working relationships for jobs.

Some of the City of Dothan rests in Dale County. The airport and Wallace Community College are both in the City of Dothan and rest in Dale County.

The Dale County Commission agreed with the project that Dothan Mayor Mike Schmitz and Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce President Matt Parker were working on. The Executive Director of Ozark – Dale County Economic Development Corporation, Mr. Eric Basinger, has worked both with Dothan Commission, Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce and Alabama Governor Robert Bentley in economic development.

This effort is the beginning of a great partnership in the future to bring jobs.

The joint venture that was the focus of the meeting on Monday has been postponed. Hopefully the year long efforts will result in jobs.

However new ground has been broken, that together, the Dale County Commission, Ozark – Dale County Economic Development Corporation, Dothan Mayor and Commission, Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce, Houston County Commission and surrounding areas are focused and determined to bring jobs. The unified effort can and will bring results.

Thanks to Chairman Blakenship and Executive Director Basinger and your teams, joining with Mayor Schmitz and Chamber President Parker and their teams, the citizens will be the benefactor.

Roll Back of Fee

Congratulations are also in order to Dale County Commission for one of the first. It is rare, extremely rare, to see ANY government entity roll back “fees” ( which are usually taxes ) for any reason. The recent action of the Dale County Commission to roll back the $ 2.00 fee with mail in license and boat renewals are welcomed.

The Dale County Commission is partnered with Revenue Commissioner Eleanor Outlaw in cutting down the lines of people waiting to purchase license plates and boat license plates. In the past there has been a $ 2.00 fee to mail in and renew your license.

The $ 2.00 was stopped in an effort for the Dale County residents to mail in renewal notices and hopefully eliminate some of the lines.

Applause to the commission in rolling back fees.

Dale County Commission Members

Chairman is Mark Blakenship. Commissioners are Wes Strickland, Charles Gary, Steve McKinnon, and Douglas Williamson.