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1. Ditto the interstate thing.

2. Fire ALL who are now and block anyone with local ties to the local governments. Fire all in the state gov't from this area. Time for new blood and ideas. Import a city manager who has a proven record and a new board of directors that also have proven records.

3. Get rid of the illegals. That is a blight on the area.

4. Ditch the "retirement community" mentality. That is a massive sign of "young people not welcome" and results in brain drain. See the Brain Drain series from NOV 2004 in the TD.

5. Prevent Bonner and company from doing their get rich for themselves quick schemes.

Those 5 are just a start. I know there is more.
Work with UNA to either add programs of study (preferably engineering) or find out what their top students are

majoring in. Pick industries that coincide with this and give these industries the incentive dollars to come here.

Sudents intern with these industries & have a job right out of college in Florence. If I understand correctly,

internship = free labor for the new industry, which is another incentive for them to come to our area.
Last edited by _Joy_
I was just waiting Shoals to see what other posters would suggest, all are good and exactly on point. I have to give my opinion from another post: SCRAP EVERYTHING! Disband SEDA with a firing of Forrest (Wrong) Wright, elect an entirely new unified council not divided by districts and combine both Lauderdale and Colbert counties to become the 4th, yes 4th people delegation to the state legislator! Of course, Sam the Man Pendelton couldn't get services for free anymore (mentioned this in reference to one of his tirades in a past council meeting when consolidation was discussed) but the CITIZENS of the are would benefit! Seperately, we are doomed!
Tueplo, has been mentioned lately in some topics. Just take a look at their highway system. 78 east and west new 45 north and south a HUGH loop yhat goes around the town, it changes names every so ofton but it's still the same road. But one needs to understand that this "old" southern town was destroyed in the 30's. A terrible tornado almost wiped out the whole town. Thus making room for a slow growth with the needed infrastructure plan in place, because of men with a vision. Do we have men willing to buck the old to give hope to the young. Not just in the next 5-10 years but the next 50.
Good question Max, until we get the people of the Shoals area fired up enough (and what in the hell will it take?) to protest long and loud against the system that is: We will only have more of the same. That is apparant in the so called "new" city council. With the exception of Scott Carrier, who is the only one I could vote for in my district, and no one else of substance ran against "Save the Shoal" Booby Irons (and a lot of folks are regretting that vote) the money folks will keep this area as it is! Poor and underdeveloped so families like the Anderson's and others who own "local" industry can get rich at the expense of the populace.
quote:
Originally posted by logical:
Combine Florence, Muscle Shoals, Tuscumbia, and Sheffield into a single city.

Finish Hwys 157 and 133


While combining all four cities would be best, the reality is; that's almost impossible. Mainly because it involves two neighboring counties. That would require something on the order of an amendment to the state constitution. The two counties would have to be combined and a new county seat determined. I just don't see that happening. However a Metro government combining the three cities on this side of the river with the Colbert county commision would be a major step in the right direction. And it's doable.

There are several things that stand in the way of this unification. One is te loss of identity. No one wants to lose their place in the world. The residents of each city think that their town has the most to lose. Even Sheffield residents, as poor as that city is, are against the move deep down if their city were to lose it's identity. Unfortunately this simple obstacle is going to be a major thing to overcome.

The next thing is the assumption of debt. Muscle Shoals is currently the most solvent of the three cities in question. They are growing, slowly but growth none the less. If they aren't careful though they could find themself in trouble. Sheffield is boxed in. Built up all around. Muscle Shoals could wake up in the same shape if they mess with Harvey Robbins enough. He's still on the move in Tuscumbia and south of Muscle Shoals with the Industrial Park/Longhorn Arena area. He's also moving on the east side with the golf course development. He's got the money to pen Muscle Shoals in if he wants to. Tuscumbia is growing but not enough. I'm happy to see the improvement being made but we need more.

Combining the three city governments and the county commission would be awesome. Just think of all the benefits. Better city services for everybody. Better fire protection with more fire fighters and better training and equipment. Bigger and better police department with more officers and better training. One utility department, one street and sanitation department, one parks and recreation department all with more money and therefore more grant money to spend on further improvements.

I know it's easy to ennumerate the plusses of combining these different government entities. I also know the hard part is actually doing it. The only way I know of to address a problem is to decide where I want to go, make a list of all the things that stand in the way, then try to figure a way to overcome them. That's what I'm doing here. Making the list of the what. Now let's start to work on the how. We already know why.
THEMAX is right on. Tupelo and the Golden Triangle is experiencing good growth primarly because it has a highway infastructure without a stop light on every corner. Their officials fought and got approved the upgrade of hwy 78 to interstate status. Just think, they don't have to fight with people in 2 counties in Ala and several in Tennessee as to where a new interstate will go, they just get approval to upgrade an existing 4 lane hwy. Trouble is , here in the Shoals, if they had an interstate this bunch would want to put stop lights on it. Look at the new bridge!! A stoplight at each end!. You would think somebody designing our road system would take a drive out of town and see there are such things as entrance and exit ramps instead of the necessity to use so many stop lights.
1) Great post - much better than the cartoon/race thing

2) Get an interstate - at least like the I565 spur

3) Incorporate "The Shoals" as one and get rid of the duplication of services and number of politicians and the infighting among cities.

4) Emphasize the TVA power grid as a great source of cheap electricity - something California can't offer.

Do this and they will come.
Thanks Excel, but don't get me wrong. Tupelo has a much worse drug problem than we do here. The city took over some apts. on I think Ida St. in order to try to clean up its act. The dealers just moved south to Verona. It's been a while, but the city did renovate some of the Apts.and put in place a background check on who rented in those apts. When I left there were already coming back with other peoples ID. In places there we were not allowed to be after dark. Safty reasons, yes I carried, all the time.
quote:
Originally posted by excelman:
THEMAX is right on. Tupelo and the Golden Triangle is experiencing good growth primarly because it has a highway infastructure without a stop light on every corner. ...
Trouble is , here in the Shoals, if they had an interstate this bunch would want to put stop lights on it. Look at the new bridge!! A stoplight at each end!. You would think somebody designing our road system would take a drive out of town and see there are such things as entrance and exit ramps instead of the necessity to use so many stop lights.


I HAVE THE ANSWER!

The Shoals should offer incentives to the company that makes all the red lights to locate here! We have invested enough in them to own half the company!
quote:
Originally posted by Brentenman:
1. Ditto the interstate thing.

2. Fire ALL who are now and block anyone with local ties to the local governments. Fire all in the state gov't from this area. Time for new blood and ideas. Import a city manager who has a proven record and a new board of directors that also have proven records.

3. Get rid of the illegals. That is a blight on the area.

4. Ditch the "retirement community" mentality. That is a massive sign of "young people not welcome" and results in brain drain. See the Brain Drain series from NOV 2004 in the TD.

5. Prevent Bonner and company from doing their get rich for themselves quick schemes.

Those 5 are just a start. I know there is more.


First off... I sure am glad I am not on that list... YET, lol... Still a few more years to retire.

Secondly... I think you have marvelous answers Brentonman!!
The fact that Lowell Barron has resigned his candidacy for President Pro Tem of the AL Senate is a step in the right direction.

Now, north Alabama and other needful areas can get some things done that have been needing to be done for a long, long time!

Short of constructing an Interstate (remember Corridor X? One's a'comin', y'all) and that long-term plan, what can be done in the interim to promote the Shoals, and to bring industry to the area?

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