Let's Revisit the City Dump Cum Country Club

This is not about Florence purchasing the land--it already has. It's not about creating a dump from pristine and landscaped acreage--that will obviously come later. It's about money, land, the university, and is the current plan of the Florence City Council some slight of hand designed to fleece the citizens of Florence.

Previously on As the Dump Turns:

* Florence Golf & Country Club decides to sell its entire facilities--a club house and 157 acres (sometimes described as 154 acres), including golf course.

*. City of Florence, University of North Alabama, and Lawrenceburg developer William Keelon all express an interest in the property.

* Only Florence and Keelon offer actual bids.

* Florence wins property with a bid of $2,030,400.00.

* UNA offers Florence $1,200,000.00 for 60.5 of the acres--presumably the acreage on which the club house, golf course, and other amenities now sit.

* Assuming the sale if finalized, the City of Florence will be left with approximately 95 acres of land in which it has $830,400.00 invested.

Now the question seems to be: Did Mayor Bobby Irons or anyone else orchestrate the purchase of the entire country club acreage in order to give UNA a "sweetheart" deal on just the land the university wanted, leaving the city holding 95 acres which would never be of use to Florence or its citizens?

Those who read us regularly know how we feel about a dump being placed so closely to Cypress Creek. Just because Florence has always had its own dump doesn't mean it should continue to have one in the 21st Century. That is, of course, a subject for another day.

The second salient question now seems to be: Just what will Florence do with the remaining 95 acres if not use it for a dump?

We appreciate all our city council and mayor, even when we don't agree with them. We do wish they would provide a monthly, or even quarterly, question and answer session for the public. It might clear up some great and long-held misconceptions about our local government.

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This October, First Friday in Florence falls on the first day of the month. What more fitting a way to celebrate this magical fall month than an excursion to downtown Florence. After looking at the array of artists and craftsmen set up on Court Street, you still have time for the season's first Ghost Walk.

The walk will begin at 7:30 p.m. Meet Shoals historian Debra Glass, BA, MA, at the Handy statue in Wilson Park. The trek is about one mile and lasts approximately 90 minutes, so wear some walking shoes and enjoy. The tour is $10.00 for adults or $8.00 for children under 12. You may bring along the family ghost for free.

More info here: Link

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Above is the Jefferson Hotel--sorry this post card isn't available on eBay, but is in the UNA collection. The Jefferson was succeeded by the Negley Hotel, which was razed to make room for the current Florence Municipal Building.

We understand once The Connection is finally launched, it will be publishing several articles on the Negley family in Florence. Translation: We can't wait to see it!


Shoalanda



Connecting October 7th. This time we mean it!