Is Ft. Morgan pier ever going to reopen?

I know the story behind the closing but I was hoping there would've been a plan by now to rehab / reopen the pier. Anyone heard any reliable news? Miss my old girl...

Not until they find the money to fix it.
Given the budget situation, the entire site may close, let alone fix anything.

It really amazes me they (GOV) have money trouble with both a sales tax and state income tax:bang

When will people have had enough?

Alabama has been in a fiscal crisis for years and our legislature has been "borrowing from Peter to pay Paul" to make ends meet. Now Peter is broke and has bad bunions and can't kick the can down the road any more. Non revenue generating projects naturally take a back seat when funds are scarce (Perdido Pass sea wall for instance).

Its quite simple, we don't collect enough in taxes to support our State government services. And as Chillinfish stated, they've been robbing peter to pay paul and cutting agency budgets for years. There is nothing left to cut without agencies cutting services. Its that simple.
If these budget cuts and user fee "re-allocations" take place like proposed by the legislature, parks will close, some WMA's will most likely close, troopers will be laid off, license offices will close, health services will be cut, etc...

If you had your budget basically level funded or cut every year for the last 7 years, could you keep the lights on without tightening your belt? At what point does it tip your budget over the edge? That's the point the state agencies are right now.

Ask yourself: How can we have new airplane factories, expanding auto factories, new auto suppliers being built every year, ship yards that are so busy they can't find employees, lowest unemployment since 2007, etc.., and yet our state government can't collect enough money to even level fund state agencies from year to the next?
Not give increases mind you, no agency is expecting increases, even though some (like state trooper desperately need it), they simply cant find the money to even level fund our state government.

HOW????

Simple: Our tax code is broken and we have no leadership in the legislature that is willing to be honest about it.

Little more simple than that. The problem is earmarking funds there is over 300 mil in excess in the treasury for earmarked projects that don't need it. However due to the way earmarking is done it cannot be touched. Need to rewrite the way the money is handled. In addition Medicaid is growing exponentially the program and recipients need to be reviewed I believe many are receiving money and food stamps fraudulently.

Thanks for the reply fellas. See you at the pier in 3 weeks!

I wonder how multi-million dollar tax breaks for multiple years to large companies help.

Bodebum, the "logic" of the corporate tax breaks was that the extra income tax, and boost to the economy from payroll & spending (sales tax) by the new employees associated with the new plants would make up for the tax breaks.
Obviously it ain't working.

So after making this post I'm excited to hear there was a plan for rebuilding the Ft. Morgan pier. Read an article stating construction was going to begin last month and be completed by the end of the year (I saw they completed the new boat launch). However, I haven't seen any photos or recent articles stating construction had indeed begun. I fear there has been a delay or hiccup. Anyone have any news?

https://www.wkrg.com/news/baldwin-co...ure/1270964695

I will check, last time I heard anything is was in the engineering and design phase. I do know the permits have been applied for, not sure if they have been issued.
We should be getting close to going out to bid for construction.

BTW, the rebuild is being funded by DWH-NRDA Recreational Use/Public Access funds.

I suspect more 'money' will begin to become available for projects after Oct 1st...

ahhhh...makes sense...the “fish”cal year!

Nope, the flow of DWH-NRDA funds is not constrained by fiscal year turnover.

Thanks for the info fellas!

This is being paid with Federal funds. There was a plan to start on it after the ramp was finished. I was told that by Director Bannon in the early spring. Obviously, It is not on track to proceed as planned. Be patient...blueprints can change, bids have to be redone, etc, Lots of reasons things could be delayed.
FYI...after working for the state for 25 years I can't recall any projects that got done ahead of time LOL! It would be beneficial for them to wait til December to start so that the bull red folks in boats would have full acess during prime time I think.

LOL You're singin to the choir Jay.
Remember this is the same group that had to wait almost 5 years while 'our' pier was rebuilt ;-)