Aerial images proposal attracts crowd at County Commission

BY HANNAH GOLDFINGER

FOR THE OBSERVER

LEE COUNTY —The Lee County Commission chambers had been stuffed with involved residents on the Monday, Jan. 12 assembly.  Many had been there to talk about an aerial images contract for the county.

A web page from the Lee County Commission on-line packet was shared broadly on social media locally concerning an aerial images contract for property analysis and evaluation. The contract will permit an organization, Pictometry International Corp. doing enterprise as Eagleview, to conduct aerial images from planes over Lee county and the cities of Auburn and Opelika. It is a joint contract with the county, cities of Auburn and Opelika and Auburn University. 

The photograph of the packet was circulated, and drew issues about totally different points comparable to an invasion of privateness, elevating of property taxes and using drones. 

However, the fee and Lee County Revenue Commissioner Oline Price addressed these issues Monday night time through the Lee County Commission Work Session. 

“Bottom line is … this is something that we have been doing for decades in Lee County, this is nothing new,” Price mentioned. “Absolutely nothing is new — there are no drones.”

Despite rumors, Price mentioned, that is one thing that her workplace should adjust to based on Alabama code and one thing the county has been doing each three years since 1973. 

“The primary purpose for aerial photography, or digital imagery, is to provide base maps, base layers, for our maps,” she mentioned. 

Price mentioned her workplace makes use of aerial images for property data, for assessing conditions following pure disasters — just like the 2019 Beauregard tornadoes — or to be used in legislation enforcement or firefighting conditions. 

She additionally addressed the rumor concerning property tax will increase and mentioned this was not true. 

“This has nothing to do with raising people’s taxes, absolutely not,” she mentioned. “Because I want you to remember that [the legislature] put a 7% cap on there.”

The solely means the taxes could be raised is that if there are “significant improvements” to property, Price mentioned. The objective of that is to find properties and assess them. 

Price additionally clarified that this course of doesn’t use drones in any respect however airplanes.

Leading as much as the fee assembly, District 1 Commissioner Doug Canon mentioned he had acquired 51 cellphone calls, 18 texts and 9 emails opposing the decision on Monday. 

Canon mentioned he was not involved about drones as they aren’t talked about in any respect within the contract, however that he’s involved that the merchandise is over price range. 

Ultimately, the merchandise was pulled from the agenda. 

Several residents expressed concern throughout residents’ feedback over the contract following the work session, with one, Robert Wilkins, calling for the merchandise to be postponed for a yr. 

One Lee County resident, Susan Bolt, expressed disagreement with aerial images, arguing residents want much less intrusion and “less government.” Bolt additionally requested the fee how the knowledge shall be made protected.

Barbara Gilmer known as the contract “an infringement on my private personal rights and my property rights.”

Crawford Fire Department 

Many different residents had been current Monday night time to debate an agenda merchandise associated to the Crawford Volunteer Fire Department.

The Crawford fireplace chief and residents expressed their issues that the division has been shut down or taken over by Salem.

The fireplace division has been working and serving the group since 1974. The situation was added to the agenda by request of citizen Robert Blanton. 

“I don’t understand how on Oct. 1 we lost Crawford Fire Department,” he mentioned. 

Jeff Drury, Lee County Commissioner District 3, shared that the county didn’t have a vote associated to the division remaining lively or not because it was an settlement between Crawford and Salem.

Most of the dialogue stemmed from one explicit situation which occurred earlier than Christmas, the place a home burned down and no fireplace division confirmed as much as combat the blaze, based on residents. The Smiths Station Fire Department confirmed as much as provide mutual aide however weren’t the principle division to reply.  

“We need Crawford,” mentioned one resident, Ed, Monday night time. “Anything y’all can do to help Crawford… would be greatly appreciated.”

Most residents had been involved due to the gap and period of time it might take them to get assist.

One resident who lives in Wildberry, Joy Heard, mentioned she purchased her dwelling due to its proximity to the Crawford division.

As a toddler, she skilled her dwelling burning down.

“My mom and my dad, we lost our home due to the fact that [the] fire truck could not get to us quick enough,” Heard mentioned.

She mentioned that she is afraid understanding that Crawford will not be an possibility anymore in case of fireside. 

“If you lived in Salem, in Crawford, close to that fire station, would you want it gone?”

Other Business

– District 1 Commissioner Ross Morris offered a decision declaring January Human Trafficking Prevention Month and designated Lee County a “Trafficking Free Zone.”

– Richard LaGrand acknowledged the upcoming Bell Baptist Missionary Church Centennial.

– County Engineer Justin Hardee offered the Rebuild Alabama Fund Annual Report 

– The fee authorized ABC License purposes (050 and 070) for Anna’s Way in District 4.

– The fee authorized ABC License Applications (011 & 990) for Anna’s Way (D4).

– The fee authorized an ABC 140 particular occasions license utility for Premium Pours.

– The fee authorized the ACCA Liability Longevity Bonus and Resolution.

– The fee authorized the property division for Sandra Claire Fuller Noe.

– The fee authorized the Preliminary Plat Approval for Magnolia Estates, Phase II.

– The fee authorized the Lee Road 54 and 146 intersection velocity restrict reductions.

– The Dream Day Foundation additionally approached the fee to share about their upcoming MLK Day celebration.

– Loachapoka Mayor Ricky Holder offered Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones with a verify from the Loachapoka Syrup Soppin’ Day for the Lee County Sheriff’s Reserve Deputy Sheriff Fund.