Commissioners push Fort Rucker, local needs in DC

While Dothan city commissioners were in Washington, D.C. to tout Fort Rucker at the Association of the U.S. Army’s annual meeting, they took the opportunity to discuss an ambitious array of funding needs with the area’s Congressional delegation.

Commissioners met with U.S. Sens. Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions as well as U.S. Rep. Martha Roby Tuesday, armed with a list of issues local leaders believe will need a boost through federal funding.

“We just wanted to make our representatives aware of the projects that are important to us, with the idea that they may need federal money to move forward,” District 5 commissioner Taylor Barbaree.

Issues discussed with the delegation include:

» I-10 connector funding. Shelby has secured funding for various I-10 connector studies over the past several years. Local leaders, however, feel the need for a major road connecting the Wiregrass to I-10 is more critical than ever since major road initiatives have been announced and discussed in many other parts of the state.

» Reservoir for Southeast Alabama regional water supply. Leaders have discussed needing an intermediate and long-term water supply plan for the area. The reservoir would be a costly, long-term project. Early estimates place the cost around $200 million. Wiregrass leaders would like to see starter funding to move the project forward.

» Improvements to Dothan Regional Airport. Dothan would like federal funds to assist in hangar and ramp improvements at the airport in order to make the airport more attractive for use in large aircraft maintenance.

» Houston-Love Memorial Library Complex. The city has committed $10 million to the project, one it believes could be a cornerstone for downtown redevelopment.

» Roadway Lighting for Ross Clark Circle.  The city would like to have $3 million in federal funds to install enhanced lighting. The Alabama Department of Transportation has begun the first phase of its 231/circle improvement project by adding additional lanes to Highway 231, north of the circle.

New District 4 commissioner Critt Snellgrove made his first trip to the AUSA convention and came away impressed with the Army’s structure. He said it is important for the commission and other Wiregrass leaders to continue to support Fort Rucker on all fronts. He said Army leaders stressed the importance of aviators in the branch’s future. However, keeping that mission at Fort Rucker is not guaranteed.

“The BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) committee rears its ugly head every once in a while,” Snellgrove said. “They are subject to moving stuff around. That’s why we need to stay on top of it and do our part.”

Barbaree said he hoped Fort Rucker would be successful in landing responsibilities for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

“I believe that is going to be important to our future,” Barbaree said.