SPANISH FORT, Ala. — With municipal elections only a day away, Westminster Village – a continuing care retirement community – held a forum for the municipal elections to allow residents to become more familiar with whom they can pick to lead the city. The forum was the only known, public forum of its kind for this year's municipal election.

Candidates were put on the spot to answer questions assembled by residents at Westminster.

Mayoral candidate Terry Reeves, up first, was asked how quickly the city can have a strategic plan in place, and whether a moratorium should be placed on buildings until plans are voted in to secure safety and health standards equal or better than national standards.

Reeves said he thinks Spanish Fort needs a strategic plan put in place immediately. He said he believes the city is growing too quickly with apartment developments that, once opened, would increase population by 2,500 in just one year. Reeves said he is a very proactive person and he believes the city has been very reactive as far as growth is concerned.

Joe Bonner, the incumbent, said he thinks apartments are part of the Spanish Fort community. He believes a strategic plan is past due, but he thinks the city will focus on the issue in the next two months. He believes The Highlands of Spanish Fort — an 11,000-acre mixed-use development — will help the city match infrastructure as it grows over a 40-year period.

The next question asked as to explain how future budgeting can develop financial stability that can afford the cost of building public service facilities and manage the debt load for a proposed library, civic center, city government offices and law enforcement. Residents wondered, “Is there any chance of the city defaulting on bond issues floated for the town center or Eastern Shore Centre? If so, will citizens have to vote to increase taxes? How would this be handled?”

Bonner said the only obligation the city has with the bond issue is at the Eastern Shore Centre, which they pay monthly. The city has set aside a year’s worth of cash reserve in case anything happens with the city, according to Bonner, who said the city government could be operated for a year with close to $3.5 million set aside. “That’s good business,” he said. He also said the city’s credit rating is excellent. “If elected I will continue that approach, along with help with the City Council; to this day we have been side-by-side with that.”

Reeves gave the reply to the same question: “No new taxes.” He said he operates his family under a budget and will lead the city in the same direction. “The city must stay within the budget,” he said. He also said he thinks the city needs to catch up with the uncontrolled growth its facing. He thinks the city has far too much infrastructure to catch up with before a city complex is in the making. “We have a lot of needs rather than go build a city hall we already have,” Reeves said. “I don’t need a $2 (million) or $3 million City Hall to have meetings at.” He said he believes the city needs to take care of the police because they are the lowest paid police in Baldwin County with the worst benefits and he believes crime is on the rise.

The next question asked candidates how demands — such as road connections, law enforcement, schooling and transportation — will be met with the coming Highlands subdivision.

Reeves said The Highlands will have 27,000 homes — and 1,000 apartments — planned for the next 40 years and added that the real estate market — which is fraught with insurance problems — will not allow much more development.

He said he came to Spanish Fort 12 years ago for good schools and low crime. “We can put a lid on it,” Reeves said. “We can zone areas to control this growth; we’ve got to, the citizens of Spanish Fort deserve it.”

Bonner said the police department gets the same benefits as other police departments in the county. He added that The Highlands does not have to build a road or install a water line because developers will be responsible for those tasks. International Paper Company — which is affiliated with The Highlands — has set aside property for public use at no charge and the city can plan and save money and position themselves to meet those needs, Bonner said.

The next question asked the mayoral candidates if they foresee the need for an additional source of revenue soon. “What would you recommend and what would be on the list to tax? Does it pair with the ‘fairness’ act?” residents asked.

Reeves echoed his stance against any tax increases on residents and  said he would favor a tax on developers. “We would find another way; we’re not going to tax our citizens.” Bass Pro Shops is a great boon for the city, he said. “It’s great revenue for the city.” 

Bonner also said no to new taxes. “It’s up to the City Council to broker some infrastructure,” he said, adding that the council has brokered “a very good situation.” The direction of $1 million by the council, as well as $650,000 for a city complex with emphasis on the senior citizens, has been a plan for two years, he said. The city is also proud of $950,000 it appropriated to buy a new ladder truck.

Next question: “Alabama leads the nation in regressive sales taxes that hurt education funding and in bad years put the budget in preparation. How can Spanish Fort provide support for education and for civic responsibilities without regressive, unfair sales taxes being added to foot the bill. Alternatives?”

Bonner said the school board operates under a state program. “Each year our City Council goes to each principal in our schools in our community and we ask that principal, ‘How can the city help you?’” He said the city has carried that out for the past four years, providing computers and sports at Spanish Fort High School. The city last year directed close to $4.5 million toward facilities.

Reeves said schools are the lifeblood of the city. “To say that schools are important is an understatement,” he said. He is, however, concerned with the city’s relationship with the Baldwin County School Board. “Who is supposed to do what,” is a concern of his, he said. He also questioned why a four-year-old high school doesn’t have proper weight facilities or showers. He said he believes that some members of the football team broke out with staph infections because it gets dressed in a small trailer sitting beside the field.

District 1 candidate Dennis Dismuke, the lone contender against incumbent Wanda Finch, was absent from the forum.

Finch — asked how she would attract businesses and industries to the area that would be safe for our ecosystem — said “Everybody wants to locate here.” She said several businesses have sought to build in the city, and she feels fortunate that the businesses won’t hurt the environment.

Finch — asked how she would priortize a list of funding for city projects not funded by the city budget — said she would ask if it was something that could be afforded now and would then see how it would benefit the citizens. She said she would make sure the proposal would be good for the city as a whole.

The following, unopposed candidates — who were recently appointed for another four-year term — also answered questions at Monday’s forum.

Mike McMillan – District 2 – was asked how he could enhance Spanish Fort schools with the “bare-boned” budget the schools get each year. He said the council has helped fund the schools and have contributed more than $200,000 in computers, laptops, projectors and security systems.

McMillan — later asked what he could do on the council to help citizens with traffic problems — said several plans are in place including widening of U.S. Highway 31 and making that into a downtown area including streetlights and sidewalks.

Joe Thomas – District 3 – was asked how he would improve public relations and communications if he was asked to serve on the mayor’s committee. He said he would get to know everyone that he would be working with because a better job is done when you know the people you’re working with.

Thomas was also asked how Spanish can Fort create an image to stand out as a beacon for a choice-place to locate a business. He said having places such as Bass Pro Shops and Eastern Shore Centre will help the city from increasing taxes down the road.

Tom Sawyer – District 4 – was asked: “With the Eastern Shore Centre nearly full and the Town Center nearly open, how can the city pay for and provide all the infrastructure required such as bridges, sidewalks, schools … etc.? Is a strategic plan ready to go?” He said there is a “wonderful” quality life in Spanish Fort and high demand of potential residents. Bass Pro, restaurants and other businesses are going to help the city with growth, he contended.

Sawyer was also asked how he would carry out his responsibility with the budget and funding if asked to serve on the finance and budget committee. He said the council works together on the budget and finance committee. He said they all look to approve or disapprove items — and take it very seriously. “We’re very careful in what we borrow,” Sawyer said. “We have to have that money in reserve, but I say we’re in great shape.”

Mary Brabner – District 5 – was asked if she favored further business development on the Causeway and what her idea is for acceptable growth plans. She said business development on the Causeway has been done carefully. “We have been very adamant and held together as a group to maintain the 40-foot height down there,” she said. She said the council will continue to be very cautious on what is put down there. Additional restaurants and boardwalks are also things she can see being placed down there.

Brabner was later asked what pros and cons she believes  help set up and assist the council in keeping a finger on the pulse of the community. She believes the pros would outweigh the cons. “The more people get involved the more knowlege they have at what we’re doing in our city,” she said. “I would love to have citizens involved.” She encourages everyone in the city to get involved.

Voting will be held  from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26 at the Gathering Place – intersection of highways 98 and 31– with proper ID required to vote.