BREAKING AND DEVELOPING NEWS 10:48 AM Dothan Commissioners ADD UNEXPECTED ITEM To Agenda

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
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Date: Dec 21 2021 11:10 AM

DOTHAN:    10:48 AM   As the Dothan City Commission regular agenda was about to adjourn, D-4 Commissioner John Ferguson asked the City Clerk the proper procedure to add an item to the Commission agenda.

The City Clerk explained that procedure. Then D-5 Commissioner Gant Pearce pulled out a resolution and passed it out to the Mayor and Commissioners.

Dothan City Attorney Freddie Len White appeared in shell shock.

Motion by D-4 Commissioner John Ferguson, second by D-5 Commissioner Gant Pearce, the resolution was read by the Mayor. In summary the resolution was to make a offer to Houston County to purchase the Houston County Farm Center from Houston County in the amount of $ 2.5 million dollars.

Following some brief discussion which caught Mayor Saliba, D-6 Commissioner David Crutchfield, the City Manager and City Attorney by surprise, the item was called for a vote. And the item passed unanimously.

The Houston County Commission attempted to slip in the sell of the Houston County Farm Center "in the darkness of the night." Then they found out the City of Dothan owned 16% of the Farm Center.

The Houston County Commission voted to accept a offer of $ 2.2 million from a Tampa Florida developer. Chairman Culver, during the Administrative Meeting which was held out of the normal procedures, said the commission could add if anyone wanted to purchase the Farm Center for $ 2.5 million and "leave as is", they could before the City of Dothan granted a Quit Claim Deed of their 16% to Houston County at the next Dothan Commission Meeting.

D-4 Houston County Commissioner Brandon Shoupe made a motion if someone else wanted to purchase for the $ 2.5 million by the Dothan Commission Meeting they could do so. Shoupe's motion did not contain Culver's language "leave as is".

The City of Dothan did not have on the agenda to Quit Claim their 16% or anything about the Farm Center on the agenda.

When this was added there was shell shock. D-3 Commissioner Bradley Bedwell, who represents the District the Houston County Farm Center sits in, said he thinks this is a good decision. The citizens have a right for a transparent process on the Farm Center and with the City of Dothan purchasing the Farm Center is allows the citizens time to process the sell and allows the City of Dothan to make sure development plans are consistent with the master plan for the City of Dothan.

When Bedwell ran for D-3 Commission, he promised representation of District 3. This is the biggest economic development in District Three in decades.

With that said ... GREAT JOB to these commissioners.

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