Asking Bernie Delinski...

 

Bernie Delinski is a very good writer. He could do much better than the TimesDaily, but we assume he likes living in this area and the job security the TotallyDecatur provides. If we have one complaint about Bernie, it's something we've mentioned before: He fails to dig!

Many local stories don't require any investigative reporting, but surely a quickie real estate deal involving the City of Florence and the Lauderdale County Commission would fall into the bad smell category. What Bernie should have asked and reported in his recent article on the proposed ECM land sale:

1. How long has this land been up for sale?

2. How much interest has the possible land sale produced from would-be buyers?

3. Did Joel Anderson Jr. initiate the sale?

4. How was the sum of $300,000.00 arrived at?

5. Why was this land not placed up for bids?

6. Did current Mayor Andy Betterton enter into discussions about the sale before he was duly elected?

Perhaps these questions can be asked by Our Voice Shoals. This is a relatively new organization, but it seems intent on keeping Florence/Lauderdale politics honest.