SPANISH FORT, Ala.—The City Council will have a new face Monday when 13-year Spanish Fort resident Dennis Dismuke takes the District 1 seat to begin his four-year term. He had defeated 15-year councilwoman Wanda Finch in the Aug. 26 election by a vote of 174-119.

Dismuke said he decided to run for the council when the city contracted with Baldwin County Sewer. Some resident’s rates doubled after the change was made, he said.

He and his wife, Maura—a Spanish Fort Planning Commission member—decided they would retire in Spanish Fort and he said they were “concerned about the direction the city was going.”

“If you’re going to be vocal and complain you need to be involved,” Dismuke said after he explained his involvement during public hearings at council meetings regarding the sewer issue.

“One thing is that I want to make sure to get citizens more involved in the process,” Dismuke said. “I believe that more good can come out of a spirited debate.

“I want the citizens to know that what they say really matters,” he added. “I want to hear it.”

Other concerns he has of the city is the ability for easy zoning changes, accountability with the building department and he wants to ensure  the city adopts a plan to prepare for growth expected over the next 50 years with The Highlands, he said. The  Highlands is the largest planned unit development in Baldwin County; it will comprise schools, community centers and  neighborhoods.

Dismuke has said he believes the city is unprepared for rapid growth, which he feels is the city’s biggest challenge.

“I really think we need to make sure we adopt a plan and we can control that growth,” Dismuke said. “We’ve got to stay ahead of infrastructure.”

Dismuke said he is also a strong proponent of impact fees—a percentage charged on new developments that pays for public improvements. He believes the city should use these more, to benefit the police and fire departments.

Dismuke works as the field service leader for the southeast region of Honeywell Automation and Control Solutions; he has worked in the computerized processing industry for about 23 years.

Dismuke is a graduate of the University of Akron in Ohio. 

During is campaign, he said he believes the city needs a long-term plan that includes widening U.S. Highway 31, a community center, library and landscaping.

“I would like to see better recreational opportunities for our kids and would like to see the police and fire department(s) meet the demands of a growing city,” Dismuke has said.

When he is not working he enjoys riding motorcycles, hunting, fishing, scuba diving and anything outdoors, he said.

The father of three—Daniel, Matthew and Rachel—said he wants Spanish Fort residents to know “I work for them, I’m available to them; all they’ve got to do is contact me with problems and I’ll do whatever I can.

“I just to thank them for the opportunity they gave me to serve them.”