Posted on 04/10/2002 6:08:12 AM PDT by Inge_CAV
Senate OKs 2-cent gas tax
By Dana Beyerle
Montgomery Bureau
April 10, 2002
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The Senate’s passage of gas-tax bills puts RSA’s proposal for a golf complex and luxury hotel in Colbert and Lauderdale counties one step closer to becoming a reality. File photo by TimesDaily Photo Editor Matt McKean
MONTGOMERY - The Senate on Tuesday approved legislation allowing governments in Colbert and Lauderdale counties to increase gasoline taxes to pay for a proposed economic development project.
The Senate, on a 16-1 vote, approved a bill by Rep. Nelson Starkey, D-Florence, that will give the Lauderdale County Commission authority to approve a 2-cent-per-gallon gasoline tax to raise money for the project.
"I'm glad the legislation is in place,'' Starkey said. "Now, we've got to wait for TVA to see what they're going to do.''
The Senate, on a 14-0 vote, then approved a bill by Rep. Marcel Black, D-Tuscumbia, that would authorize the Colbert County Commission to impose a 2-cent-per-gallon gasoline tax in the portion of Colbert County represented by Black.
The area includes three largest cities - Sheffield, Tuscumbia and Muscle Shoals - and Leighton.
"This is a major step toward seeing this project happen in the Shoals,'' Black said. "It's a major element of the project.''
The economic development project involves construction of a Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail complex in Colbert and a luxury hotel in Lauderdale that would become the cornerstone of a convention complex.
Retirement Systems of Alabama pledged to spend at least $40 million on the project.
The area's financial obligation is estimated at about $16 million, which would be paid for through the gas tax.
The tax will not be imposed if the project fails.
Black's bill had some rocky going after Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow, D-Red Bay, whose district includes the western portion of Colbert County, said a gasoline tax in his part of the county would be unfair. He said the 12,000 people in his district wouldn't get any benefit from the project.
Black originally introduced legislation for Colbert County that was identical to Lauderdale County's, but he and Morrow eventually agreed to compromise legislation that passed the House and then the Senate.
"I had a problem with the original bill because there was no correlation between the tax and economic growth in my district,'' Morrow said.
The Shoals' two senators, Sen. Roger Bedford, D-Russellville, and Sen. Bobby Denton, D-Muscle Shoals, both voted the bill out of committee, sending it to the full Senate. The bill is now being presented to Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, who must sign the legislation into law.
Siegelman previously told local leaders he supports the project.
Local officials, quoting two university surveys, say the project will have an economic impact of more than $123 million during construction and an annual impact of between $21 million and $41 million when operations begin.
The Trent Jones Trail, known in golfing circles worldwide, is hailed by state tourism officials as a major cause for the explosion of the tourism industry in the state.
The course would be built on the Tennessee Valley Authority Reservation in Muscle Shoals. TVA officials are conducting an environmental assessment on the land to make sure it is suitable for development as a golf course.
They are also monitoring the property to make sure a significant historical and archeologically significant sites are preserved.
Starkey's and Black's bills are permissive and would earmark proceeds for a "Shoals Economic Development Project.''
The gas tax will no longer be collected once the local financial obligation is met.
Sen. Jeff Enfinger, D-Huntsville, cast the lone opposing vote Tuesday after requesting a roll-call vote be taken on the Lauderdale legislation.
He said he voted against it because "environmental people in my area were opposed to using TVA land for a golf course."
He said the land is used for passive recreation and he's unaware of any plans to create passive recreation opportunities to replace the ones that will be disrupted.
Course designers say they will maintain as much of the walking trail and nature area as possible.
"It was a vote to remind people there are environmental concerns," Enfinger said.
Dana Beyerle can be reached at (334) 264-6605 or dtb12345@-aol.com.
In accordance with local customs and the approval of the Alabama Golf Commision, the following rules changes have been approved:
Golf carts on this course will be 4x4 pickup trucks. Any disputes on playing thru will be decided by the Pickup with the largest tires. Cutting donuts on the fairways is not allowed.
There will be no ball washing stations for obvious reasons. Spittoons will be supplied at the greens though.
Pig pens will be used rather than sand traps.
Water Hazards will be stocked with catfish and Water-Moccasins.
Three new irons are approved, they are 410, 20 and 12 gauge.
Pars for courses will be marked by sips of moonshine to finish the hole.
The clubhouse, known as the Boars Nest, will have Saturday Night Dances with a live string band. The three newly approved golfclub irons will not be allowed into the dances.
A Golf Pro is available for lessons. You may recogonize him as the one in bib-overalls, slouch hat, barefooted and carrying a doublebarreled 12 iron.
/Humor.
: )
And will they require the course to use gas powered golf carts and not electric ones?
Ya right. And tolls booths come down after they have collected the cost of the highway. Not gonna happen.
LOL!
The three new irons are approved for birdies.
They're not really priced at munincipal rates. The last time I went it cost about $65 to ride 18 @ Hampton Cove. You are correct though. It is the best system of public courses in the country, maybe the world. If you've never played one it is worth the effort. These course are immaculate and extremely challenging. Some states have begun to copy the idea because of the rather large increase in tourism the state has realized.
I agree, there is already nine or more golf courses in the same area.
The idea for and the funding of these courses was made by the State Employees Retirement Fund, another of the actually successful state government agencies. The Retirement System has been featured in the financial press on numerous occasions for its exceptionally successful operation.
The funding is provided by the Retirement Systems of Alabama - probably the most successful pension plan in the nation. Back in the 70s, the Alabama Legislature made a decision to allow the State Employees Pension fund to be invested in the private sector. The result is a pension fund that is nearly to the point that the State no longer needs to make contributions. You'll be happy you have the RTJ Course. They are a good partner.
It wasn't built with tax dollars, it was built using retirement system funds. It was an investment and it has turned out to be a good one.
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